Stillness in the Storms

Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukI just turned 50 this week, and man, that’s a big deal for me! I’m feeling a lot of gratitude for my life, especially considering I’ve been in a wheelchair for over 30 years. In this episode, I dive into what it really means to become whole. We talk about how embracing all parts of ourselves—good, bad, and everything in between—can totally change how we live and love. Plus, I share how reflecting on my life and the people I’ve lost has shaped my views on legacy and connection. So, let’s explore how we can integrate all those messy feelings to create a life we love!No sponsors but you can treat me to a coffee at stevenwebb.ukTurning 50 is a milestone that brings a lot of reflections. I just celebrated this birthday, and it’s wild to think of all the years I’ve lived, especially considering I’ve been in a wheelchair since I was 18. There were times I thought I wouldn’t make it to this age, but here I am, feeling grateful for every moment. I spent my birthday evening at a carol singing event at a crematorium, which sounds heavy, but it turned into a beautiful celebration of life and a reminder of the legacy we leave behind. I’ve lost many friends along the way, and it’s a poignant reminder that every moment counts. In this podcast, I want to discuss the importance of reflecting on our lives and the legacies we create.The conversation about legacy is intertwined with our journey of becoming whole. I’ve struggled with feelings of shame related to my disability for years, and it held me back from asking for help and embracing my life fully. This episode is about recognizing those feelings and integrating them into our lives rather than pushing them away. Becoming whole is about accepting all parts of ourselves, the good and the bad. When we acknowledge our struggles, we can learn to move forward and grow. It’s about understanding that it’s okay to feel vulnerable and that asking for help is a strength, not a weakness.As I reflect on my experiences, I encourage listeners to think about their own journeys and how they can embrace their true selves. We often look for others to complete us, but true wholeness comes from within. This episode is a call to action to integrate all our experiences and emotions into a coherent self. Let’s support each other in this journey, acknowledging our past while looking forward to the future, and celebrating the lives we’ve lived and the legacies we’re building.Takeaways: Turning 50 is a milestone, and I celebrate it because I've made it this far. Having been paralyzed since I was 18, I never thought I would reach 50 years old. Reflection on life and loss happens on birthdays, especially when attending funerals. Becoming whole means embracing all parts of ourselves, even the uncomfortable ones. Integrating our feelings leads to better relationships and a greater appreciation for life. It's essential to listen to the quiet voices within us and not rely on others.

Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukThis week, I’m diving into a really heavy topic: the moment I hit a low so deep that I actually understood why someone might consider euthanasia. It’s not something I ever thought I would feel, but life threw some serious challenges my way this week. I’m sharing my experiences, which have been tough and raw, to show that life can really swing from the highs to the lows in no time at all. We all go through these difficult times, and it’s important to recognize that they are part of being human. I want to embrace the reality of these feelings and remind you that they are temporary, and that there’s always a way back up.In this podcast I share my experience of a really hard week. Probably one of the toughest weeks I've had in many years. Which fits perfectly with a podcast that helps you through the toughest times. stevenwebb.ukNavigating the complexities of life can sometimes lead us to dark places we never expected. This week, I found myself in a very low state, grappling with thoughts about euthanasia—something I had never considered before. It was shocking to realize just how low I had sunk, feeling overwhelmed by my physical struggles and the emotional toll they took on me. I want to share this experience with you all because it highlights the reality of living with a disability. Life isn’t always a positive journey; it’s filled with challenges that can feel insurmountable at times.As I recount my week, I experienced severe dysreflexia, which caused extreme discomfort and pain. It was during these moments of suffering that I truly understood why some might view euthanasia as an option. It was not that I was advocating for it, but rather that I finally grasped the depth of despair that can accompany such conditions. I want to emphasize that while I understand these thoughts, I also recognize that they come from a place of pain, and my life is still filled with moments of joy and hope. This podcast aims to bring awareness to the struggles many face and to encourage a conversation around embracing the full range of human emotions—both good and bad.Next week, I’ll be diving into the theme of becoming whole, particularly in the context of being single. For now, let’s acknowledge that hard times are part of life and that feeling low is a human experience. It’s okay to sit with those feelings and to share them with others. By opening up about our struggles, we can build a community of support that helps us all navigate the storms of life together. Remember, tough days are temporary, and each experience helps us grow stronger.Takeaways: This week, I experienced a really tough time that made me reflect deeply on life. I had moments where I understood why some people consider euthanasia as an option. It's important to embrace both the good and bad times in our lives as they are temporary. Life is all about experiencing a wide range of emotions, not just the happy ones. Even during the most painful experiences, we can find moments of joy and connection later. It's okay to acknowledge hard times; they are part of becoming a whole person.

Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukCan we really take someone else's perspective? That's the big question we dive into today. I share my thoughts on whether we can truly feel what others feel or understand where they're coming from. We explore the idea that while we might think we can relate, the truth is we can never fully walk in someone else's shoes. I talk about the difference between unhealthy and healthy ways of trying to empathize with others. By the end, we’ll look at how to approach understanding others better, focusing on asking questions and listening instead of assuming we know what they feel.We like to think we can take someone else's perspective, and maybe it's possible – let's discuss. In this podcast I talk about whether or not we can really walk in someone else's shoes, and whether there is a healthy or an unhealthy way of doing that.Exploring the depths of human connection, the discussion focuses on the age-old question: can we truly understand another person's feelings? We dive into the nuances of empathy, emphasizing that while we might think we can put ourselves in someone else's shoes, the reality is far more complex. Personal stories, like those shared during Remembrance Day with veterans, highlight that hearing someone's experiences doesn't equate to actually feeling what they felt. The conversation underscores how films and books can provide context but ultimately fall short of substituting for lived experience. The realization that our interpretations of pain and struggle are unique to our backgrounds and situations leads to a thought-provoking conclusion: genuine understanding comes not from assuming we know what someone else feels, but from asking questions and allowing them to share their story in their own words. The emphasis is on finding a balance between empathy and self-preservation, learning to listen without jumping to conclusions about shared experiences.Takeaways: We often think we can understand someone else's feelings, but that's not true. Even if we share similar experiences, our reactions and feelings can be very different. The healthy way to empathize is to ask questions and listen to their stories. It's important to recognize that we can't fully take on someone else's perspective. Trying to relate our experiences to others can sometimes diminish their feelings. Real empathy involves understanding that everyone's experience is unique and personal.

Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukWe really dive into how we tend to overcomplicate everything in our lives. It's wild how we make things more difficult than they need to be, especially when it comes to our thoughts and feelings. I share some straightforward ideas on simplifying practices like meditation and mindfulness to help reduce anxiety. It's all about realizing that sometimes, we don’t need to do anything with our thoughts or feelings; we can just let them be. So, join me as we explore how to take a step back, breathe, and not make everything into a big story.We complicate everything. Very often we don't need to, and when we choose not to we can reduce our anxiety. In this podcast I give you a couple questions that will help you to find a little more balance in life. My website StevenWebb.ukTakeaways: We often complicate our lives by overthinking simple situations, which can increase our anxiety. Finding ways to simplify practices like meditation can help reduce stress and improve well-being. It's important to recognize that we don't always need to react to every thought or feeling that arises. Life’s challenges can be viewed as opportunities to reset and improve, rather than burdens to bear. When faced with difficulties, we should ask ourselves if we are overcomplicating our responses to situations. Recognizing that not every thought needs action can create mental space and reduce anxiety.

Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukOne of the skills for meditation is becoming more aware. Being aware of the gap between what is arising and your response to it is a great skill to have. In this episode, I discuss the gap and how to develop it.

Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.uk31 years paralysed, and I still haven't done half the things I want to do. Enough is enough, I need your help is a podcast episode I've needed to do for a long time.

Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukOne of the things that lead to depression and anxiety is trying to control what is out of your control. Very often we don't realise what is within our circle of control, just knowing this can help to reduce our suffering and especially our anxiety. In this episode, I go through some of the things that are in our control, and more importantly the things that are not in our control.

Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukIn this episode the host Steven Webb talks about what you can do when the world is burning, and everything seemed to be going wrong yet you feel you are unable to help in any way.The war is just broken out in Ukraine, and sitting almost the other side of the world and wanting to do something to help can often leave us with a feeling of negativity and worthless. Especially when we see others doing what they can in the media and nearer the situation.

Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukI am a people pleaser, and I'm fed up with people telling me it is a bad thing. I'm Steven Webb, your host and I am learning to embrace my ability as a people pleaser. So, I asked the question is it possible to be a good or healthy people pleaser when so many people often perceive it to be a bad thing.I mentioned an episode about dropping the word is good and bad, and replacing them with healthy and unhealthy, here is the link: 2 words you should drop and stop using

Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukFor most of my life, I have preached to people to think positive, it wasn't until I hit my rock bottom that I realised this is impossible. So, if thinking positive doesn't work what should be done instead?Healthy Unhealthy vs Good and Bad Episode