The aim is not to grow into someone other than who you are; the goal is to work through the layers of doubt and fear that you’ve accumulated on this earthwalk to remember who you truly are.

Use any fear surfacing to heal, grow and strengthen yourself. Hard times activate hidden wounds that can be remedied. Making you stronger, wiser and more loving when the pandemic ends.

Remember — times of discomfort are periods of elite growth. We don’t expand so much when everything’s fabulous.

Recode Your Emotional Architecture for Fearlessness

Hidden City - Harpal Mudhar

Summer Weekend Chill Out – Summer Vibes of Chill Out Music, Relax, Open Bar, Spring Break, Summertime Chill, Electronic Music, Sunrise

Relax

We've all asked "what if" questions about our life: What if I had majored in art instead of business? What if I had let my best friend know I liked her as more than a friend? What if I had taken the job offer in Colorado? Sometimes contemplating the imagined possibilities of these alternative histories fills us with sharp pangs of regret.

My guest today says that's not necessarily a bad thing. His name is Neal Roese and he's a professor of psychology and marketing and the author of If Only: How to Turn Regret Into Opportunity. Neal and I begin our conversation by unpacking how asking "what if" is to engage in something called "counterfactual thinking," and how you can create a downward counterfactual, in which you imagine how a decision could have turned out worse, or an upward counterfactual, where you imagine how a decision could have turned out better. Neal then explains why living without regret isn't actually that healthy, and why even though regret is an unpleasant feeling, it can be an important spur towards greater improvement, action, and agency. We then do get into the circumstances in which regret can become a negative force, before turning to what Neal's research says are the most common regrets people have in life. At the end of our conversation, we pivot to talking about how imagining how your life could have turned out worse, can make you feel happier. 

Get the show notes at aom.is/regret.

#620: How to Deal With Life's Regrets

When he was nine years old in 1872, Black Elk, a member of the Lakota tribe, had a near-death vision in which he was called to save not only his people but all of humanity. For the rest of his life, Black Elk's vision haunted and inspired him as he took part in many of the seminal confrontations between the Lakota and the U.S. government, including those at Little Bighorn and Wounded Knee. 

My guest today is the author of a biography of this native holy man. His name is Joe Jackson and his book is Black Elk: The Life of an American Visionary. We begin our conversation with a background of the Sioux or Lakota Indians, including how the introduction of the horse turned them into formidable hunters and warriors and how their spirituality influenced their warfare. Joe then introduces us to Black Elk and unfolds the vision that he had as a boy which would lead him to follow in his family's footsteps by becoming a medicine man and guide him for the rest of his life. We then take detours into the seminal battles between the U.S government and the Lakota that Black Elk witnessed firsthand, as well as the Sun Dance and Ghost Dance rituals which helped catalyze them. Joe then explains why Black Elk converted to Catholicism after the Indian Wars and how he fused Lakota spirituality with his newfound faith. We then discuss why Black Elk decided to tell his vision to a white poet named John Neihardt and the cultural influence the resulting book, Black Elk Speaks, had on the West in the 20th century. We end our conversation discussing whether Black Elk ever felt he fulfilled his vision. 

Get the show notes at aom.is/blackelk.

#633: The World and Vision of Lakota Medicine Man Black Elk

Life isn't an easy road to navigate. We're moody creatures, susceptible to an array of psychological setbacks, emotional ups and downs, fruitless searches for meaning, and trials posed by anxiety, depression, and despair. It's the kind of journey one needs a survival guide for, and my guest today says one of the best can be found in the writings of existential philosophers. 

His name is Gordon Marino and he's a football and boxing coach, a professor of philosophy, and the author of The Existentialist's Survival Guide: How to Live Authentically in an Inauthentic Age. Gordon and I begin our conversation with how he personally found existentialism, and how his coaching intersects with his teaching. We then get into what existential philosophy is all about, and the thinkers and authors who are considered to be existentialists. Gordon shares what he thinks is the greatest existential novel, and which of Soren Kierkegaard’s books he most recommends reading. From there we delve into what Kierkegaard has to say about anxiety, how he thought existential angst was the ultimate teacher, the distinction he drew between depression and despair, and why he argues that procrastination is one of our greatest moral dangers. We then unpack the different models of living an authentic life that the existentialists espoused, and what Nietzsche meant with his injunction to "live dangerously." We then get into the existentialists’ take on love, why love is actually hard to accept, and why you should presuppose love in others. We end our conversation with what boxing can teach about existential philosophy. 

Get the show notes at aom.is/existential.

#635: The Existentialist's Survival Guide

When people start on a self-development journey, they'll sometimes create a bucket list -- all the things, all the typically exciting and pleasurable things, they hope to do before they die. My guest started his own self-improvement journey very differently, by creating an anti-bucket list consisting of things he didn't want to do, and embarking on a "year of adversity."

His name is Ben Aldridge and he's the author of How to Be Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable: 43 Weird & Wonderful Ways to Build a Strong, Resilient Mindset. Ben and I begin our conversation with how his struggle with debilitating panic attacks inspired him to study philosophical and psychological ideas on how to fight back against his anxiety, what he learned that can benefit anyone looking to be more resilient, and how he was particularly inspired by the Stoic idea of intentionally practicing adversity to prepare for adversity. We then talk about the project Ben set for himself of embarking on a year of mental, physical, and skill-based challenges designed to push himself outside his comfort zone, how he decided what kinds of challenges to do, and how doing hard things changed him. From there we get into the specific challenges Ben completed, from taking cold showers to learning Japanese, and what they taught him about self-discipline, facing your fears, and the human potential for growth. We end our conversation with the ways he's continued to push himself after the year of challenges was through, even in the midst of the pandemic lockdown, including climbing Mt. Everest from inside his house.

Get the show notes at aom.is/getuncomfortable.

#640: Weird and Wonderful Ways to Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

Indigenous peoples burned their land for thousands of years to prevent much larger fires. Why it might be an important part of future wildfire prevention.

Science Friday

How Indigenous Burning Practices Could Prevent Massive Wildfires

Inspired by thoughts of green shoots sprouting in a previously industrial landscape.

Image by Holger Schué from Pixabay

Reforest

We typically think of fear as a negative emotion. Something that feels terrible, and not only keeps us away from true danger, but also inhibits us from going after our life's goals and passions. 

Fear can indeed be an unwelcome hindrance, but, my guest today argues, it can also be a powerful propellant and a signpost towards success. His name is Patrick Sweeney, he's a tech entrepreneur, a university lecturer, a coach and consultant to CEOs, professional athletes, and Navy SEALs, and the author of Fear Is Fuel: The Surprising Power to Help You Find Purpose, Passion, and Performance. We begin our conversation with how a diagnosis of leukemia forced Patrick to confront the fact that he had led a life dominated and shrunken by fear, and inspired him to face those fears and to spend six years talking to leading neuroscientists about how to live more courageously. He explains how fear should be thought of not only as an early warning system for danger, but as an early warning system for opportunity. We then unpack the three kinds of fears which exist, and how you can be fearful in one area but courageous in another. Patrick then explains how it's possible to train the brain's courage center to control and reprogram its fear center, so you can get the best from fear, rather than letting it get the best of you. We discuss how uncertainty creates something called "free energy," how free energy creates fear, and how to reduce both forces by exposing yourself to a wide range of experiences. We end our conversation with how to find the motivation to take the first step into a fear, and three things you can do to gain the confidence to take action in the face of uncertainty.

Get the show notes at aom.is/fearisfuel.

#651: How to Turn Fear Into Fuel

#2527: Nov. 14, 2020: Man hideth not
Today's pure primal piano music here. Happy if this music makes you feel peaceful.. : )　
Looking for absolute natural beauty every day for Piano Ten Thousand Leaves. Target number is 4536 and 2527(55.7%) achieved. Find my project.. : )

#Full video of 18th selection album with piano score
https://youtu.be/PEIG-PnI7oM

#Free & Full Piano Score PDF Download of 18th Selection Album 
https://ff48510b-4957-470e-9d8b-243cccf9c223.filesusr.com/ugd/324d6e_2f941d0351f8429f9b1f2e76957c5a23.pdf

#New Selection Album 18th is now available in every streaming services all over the world. Happy if you enjoy it.. : )
spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/2RG7TgoUws3Q4vBEJ4RyUV?si=9bUiRlmpSFG0grpcP60h1w
apple music:
https://music.apple.com/jp/album/%E3%83%94%E3%82%A2%E3%83%8E%E4%B8%87%E8%91%89%E9%9B%86-%E7%AC%AC18%E9%81%B8/1539255451
amazon music:
https://www.amazon.com/Piano-Ten-Thousand-Leaves-Selection/dp/B08MXD17DR/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=chair+house+Piano+Ten+Thousand+Leaves+-+18th+Selection&qid=1604876988&s=dmusic&sr=1-1

all service URL link:
https://linkco.re/YDz2qbv4?lang=en

#SYNTHESIA view or Cubase Piano-Roll  in my English Youtube
https://youtu.be/evUP0lhYBdE
https://youtu.be/xtvObJds4ho
https://youtu.be/dEPset9Vi3Q

#chair house artwork related Net Shop here (Today start this service)
https://artofwhere.com/artists/chairhouse

#my home page renewal.. : ) currently super simple
www.chairhouse.club/

#DAW SOFT(Cubase) Piano Roll video for recent three pieces. (sorry Japanese only) but you can see pianorolls.
youtu.be/Rs0YwWEv1xk

#spotify playlist: 310 pieces 12.5 hours
open.spotify.com/playlist/0zy2Xup…6hTaipjPOf2kLvoA

#new Full Music Video (2 hours, 50 pieces):
I created new music video with forest environmental sounds and uploaded to Youtube.
50 my piano music and 2 hours calm piano music video.
Music from 14th, 13th and 12th selection album of piano ten thousand leaves.
I believe it's very good for your sleep, consentration and life environment.. : )
Happy if you enjoy it.
youtu.be/7pHbEMLvdVM

I think this type video, which contains 2 hours music and environmental sound and beautiful motion picture, is best media for my activities.
Best videos for your relax, gentleness, hapiness, sleep, and concentration.. : )
Preor Full Music Video with ocean waves is also available:
youtu.be/v58rU0I23zw

#640: Weird and Wonderful Ways to Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

The Art of Manliness