December 25, 2023 • 36 mins
Reflect on the moments that truly shape us: quiet introspection and the triumphs of overcoming personal battles. We've realized how such reflections are cornerstones for forging resilience and were thrilled to share this journey with you. Alongside our candid discussions, Zaw provides a heartfelt perspective on nurturing self-compassion and discovering strength through our connections with others. Together, we navigate the landscapes of mindfulness, celebrating milestones like my own path to sobriety and the unexpected ways we grow when we take the time to look inward.
The evolution of relationships is a profound experience, and we are sharing our own; I hope to illuminate the intricate dance of fatherhood and partnership. Stepping into a more active role with my children and maintaining the spark with my spouse has been both a challenge and a joy. The stories from the past year, including my daughter's eye surgery and the warmth of the holiday season, highlight the nuanced ways we find meaning and direction in our lives.
As we wrap up the episode, the spotlight turns to the community with us, thick and thin, emphasizing the importance of shared experiences in recovery and resilience. My daughter's health journey and the way it has fortified our family bond is a testament to the power of support systems. As we close the book this year, the surprise success of our podcast stands as a reminder of the small wonders that come from gratitude and introspection. Join us in embracing the qualities that prepare us for a new year filled with clarity and appreciation.
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Recovery Collective — Annapolis, MD (recoverycollectivemd.com)
Zaw Maw — Recovery Collective — Annapolis, MD (recoverycollectivemd.com)
Luke DeBoy — Recovery Collective — Annapolis, MD (recoverycollectivemd.com)
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Greetings, cherished listeners.
Welcome back to With AirpistBuddhism.
You're brought to you by theRecovery Collective in Annapolis
, maryland.
Feel free to check out our siteand the Recovery Collective.
You can find a lot of ouroriginal articles written by
myself in Zoll, and we have abunch of great things to offer
on our website.
So go ahead and check out theRecovery Collective.
So, zoll, as we stand on thebrink of a new year, there's no
(00:38):
better time to embark on ajourney of reflection and
retrospection.
Today, we're delving into theart of self-discovery and how it
can be a transformative toolfor your overall well-being.
So, listeners, we want you toparticipate in this exercise
with us.
I will ask a question for youand for us to think about
retrospectively.
That has happened in these pastyear, 2023.
(01:03):
And we'll answer it too.
How's that sound?
Speaker 2 (01:06):
That sounds pretty good, let's do it.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Let's look at the importance of reflection.
In the fast-paced hustle of ourlives, the simple act of
pausing to reflect can be apowerful catalyst for positive
change.
We want you to join us as weexplore the significance of
introspection and its directimpact on your mental and
emotional well-being.
Reflecting on your experiencesallows us to unearth valuable
(01:30):
lessons, fostering personalgrowth and even build resilience
In a world that constantlydemands our attention.
This intentional pause can be acornerstone for your well-being
journey.
So discover how the practice ofretrospection can serve as a
mindful sanctuary, reducingstress and cultivating a
(01:51):
heightened sense of awareness.
So unwind with us as we explorepractical ways to bring
mindfulness into your everydaylife.
Zo, I hope you had a wonderful2023.
It's certainly been up and downfor me, but I can still look
back at it.
Finally and I haveretrospection and reflection on
(02:14):
a lot of emotions and feelingstowards this past year, but I do
think it's important to pauseand be okay looking it back at
the year that was, you agree.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Yeah, this is a good space and trying to feel that
energy of the year and it's agood space to do that.
So thanks for bringing that up.
And yeah, I guess it's alwaysgoing to be ups and downs in
life, but if I think about myyear, there has been more
(02:49):
stability than not and I thinkthat's a good place to be.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Yeah, it's.
I think you and I in ourrecovery, we have this other
yearly landmark or benchmarkwhere we can look at the year
that was and that is oursobriety date, and I think that
is a time where I moreintentionally look back at my
(03:16):
year.
That was, whether it's for myrecovery or just all the things
that have happened, and thatroundups 365 days, because it's
a time where I look at that yeah, I'm sober, I'm not taking a
substance, but it's also a timefor me to celebrate because I am
an alcoholic and addict andpart of me is previously at a
(03:38):
cellular level, at a brain level, designed to drink and drug,
and I no longer do that.
So not only do I celebrate thatyearly landmark, but I also
look back at what happened inthat year.
But for me now, gosh, what itwas like 17 years from that day
and what I was going through theday before.
(04:01):
And I look back retrospectivelyand reflectively and I'm able to
look at that time in the pastHoly cow, it's been 17 years and
what this year has been.
I remember that first year,sobriety, where I felt like my
brain had the ability toremember one thing out of every
(04:23):
day of those 365 days because Iwasn't numbing out for the first
time in a long time and Iremember retrospectively,
looking at like I'm not used tohaving this kind of memory not
being on groundhogs a day anddoing the same thing every day
and functioning around numbingout or getting higher, trying to
get high, so that certainly wasa landmark for me.
(04:47):
And now being able to do thatfor this year, the year of 2023,
and sit in silence and bemindful of the year that was.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Yeah, I'm grateful for this opportunity, because
taking time and talking reallyhelps, because it's all about
clarity.
Clarity as in knowing where Iwas, knowing where I am, gives
me an opportunity to know whereI'm going, or at least where I
want to go.
That's what I like about this.
You use the terms of, whichkind of struck me about
(05:23):
introspection, retrospection.
There's something about thespectrum, retro, intro.
So maybe we can start fromthere.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Yeah, I get to inspect, I get to look at it
with intention of this past year.
So, listeners, remember we wantyou to participate with us.
So, whether you're driving,whether you're at the gym,
running, doing dishes, whereveryou're at while listening, take
the time to inspect the yearthat was with us.
(05:53):
So here's my first question.
And we're acknowledging thegrowth in this past year.
So reflect on a dimension ofthe past year where you've
experienced personal growth, sobe it in accomplishment and
achievement and enhancement,regardless of its scale.
So I don't really care how bigor small you feel this
(06:14):
improvement has been in thispast year.
I want you to reflect andrecognize your progress and the
growth that has happened thispast year.
So I'd like to hear from you.
First, zalph.
A knowledge of growth period inyour life that you felt like man
.
This is an enhancement.
(06:36):
This is an achievement that Ihave experienced, that I am
proud of this past year.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
That's a great question.
I have lots, but I guess thesummary is some kind of
expansion in my self-compassionpractice.
That's been really good for meand that's also something that
gives me a reference point whenI was struggling or when life
was hitting me pretty hard.
I did this exercise, which mademe realize that my
(07:05):
self-compassion was nearly zerocompared to that.
Also paradoxically, too, theway I gained self-compassion has
been not through isolation butthrough connecting with others.
So for me that's been thebiggest growth in my year, where
I've gained more friends, butI've gained more depth in these
friendships, which paradoxicallyhelped me to practice more
(07:31):
compassion.
I've become more in tune withwho I am and looking deeper into
it.
So that's been something thatI'm very proud of and want to
acknowledge.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
That's a good one, that self-compassion for
yourself and for others.
But it sounds like you'resaying that grace, that
compassion, that tolerance foryourself in this past year, and
what does that jump out to you?
(08:04):
Are you able to have this levelof self-compassion and growth
because of the things you'vegone through this year?
Are you comparing it to theyear before?
Why does that jump out to you?
Speaker 2 (08:18):
I think about my routine and my actions and it
definitely is like a build-upfrom the previous year.
But yeah, it struck me becauseif I think about my week, it's
very properly balanced, which tome is like there's some
self-care thing.
I think they're all intentionaland I don't question it that
much and it affects my how.
(08:40):
The effect being produced bythat schedule is how I feel
about myself.
So that's why it came.
I mean, there's also theschedule that's.
A big part of my schedule nowis also going to yoga classes,
which hasn't been there before.
That's also, for me, is a wayof self-compassion.
Whenever I go to a class, it'slike quality time for myself,
taking care of myself bothphysically, mentally and
(09:02):
spiritually.
So that's why it stood out tome.
But how about you, luke?
Speaker 1 (09:10):
I think the thing that jumps out to me the most
this past year, 2023, is thegrowth of the enhancement as my
role as a husband and a father.
I think that's true for acouple of reasons.
One, it's the second year of myyoungest daughter.
(09:31):
She's two, so we're past thatbaby, baby, infantile stage with
both my children right.
So they're getting older and myability to proactively jump in
and play the role of father hasbeen really fun and enjoyable in
(09:53):
a bunch of different ways,whether it's giving them the
quality time being present intheir lives, being that safe,
secure male figure, whether it'sjust tackling and laughing and
all the things that come withthe early, early experiences
(10:15):
past the baby stage with thekids that I'm really enjoying
being the role of father, pastthat baby stage, and I have both
of them past that baby stagenow.
So it's in some ways I don'tknow if this is just a stigma or
stereotype it's, I guess, justgetting more fun, not just the
(10:36):
diapers and how do I support mywife in terms of her
breastfeeding and doing allthose things but really get to
proactively play a fun role andbe present in their life.
And that's why I also sayhusband and the reason why I say
(10:56):
husband, it's because I can'tsacrifice that role, because
I've been so used to being thesupportive father in so many
ways to my wife andacknowledging which dynamic I am
.
I'm in with my wife andsometimes I am the role of
(11:18):
father to our kids together.
But I don't want to sacrificemy role as husband to my wife.
So sometimes I'm playing theparent role, as father, and I am
being more conscious and awarethat am I communicating to my
wife what I need from her ashusband, wife, or as I need in
(11:43):
that dynamic, which is a lot oftimes different from the father
role that I communicate to her?
So that's been something thatfull transparency that we have
worked on in the couple sessionswe had over the year, and
sometimes what role that I needto be more conscious of and not
(12:05):
sacrifice either.
So I think that's somethingthat I've been very mindful of
and it's been an enhancement interms of the bonding patterns
I've had with both my wife andmy kids.
So I'm pleased with that.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Yeah, that sounds really meaningful and fulfilling
and I wonder how the listenersare processing this question.
But I also wanted to kind ofrevisit what you've mentioned in
the beginning about thebenefits of retrospection, the
benefits of reflection.
Because whenever we pause andkind of look back it makes us
(12:49):
realize what's important for usand I used to use the journal
writing as a tool a lot andespecially when I write down
without any filter, when I pullit all down, it's like my
subconscious mind at work andthen when I read it again it
helps me realize these are thethings that are meaningful to me
.
So it gives me a perspectivebecause we can live our year
(13:09):
mindlessly, not having an idea,just like drifting around.
But when we pause andintentionally look back it makes
us realize oh, these are theactions that I took because
these things are important to me.
So bringing awareness to thathelps us to kind of understand
deeper level of who we are.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
Yeah, that's really really good and yeah, that can
be done for goal setting for thenext year, but is also really
good for journaling thoughts andexperiences and failings for
the year that was.
I agree that's good.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
I know you have another question, but can I
interject with a question, sinceyou were talking and I was
listening.
I also makes me think about,like what are the things that
makes you happy this year?
Are there things that you'vewhere you found genuine
happiness this year?
Speaker 1 (14:00):
In some ways it's been a trying, stressful year,
which I'll probably get in thechallenging part of last year,
but I think finding and it beingthe holiday season and
Christmas time, I think it'sbeen really really being
highlighted for me now andthat's some of the just the
(14:22):
quality time and being presentwith those family dynamics and
and not needing to escape oravoid stressful moments as a
father or a husband, becauselife gets real and stressful
sometimes and you know, justseeing now my four-year-old
really interact and play andseeing my Maggie, my
(14:46):
two-year-old, really come alongand make a lot of improvements,
with some of her delays, hasbeen really sparking a lot of
joy and and just reallyimpressive.
To see their relationship evolveand seeing their personalities
develop in different ways hasbeen really fun to see and just
(15:08):
that pure joy and connectionthat they have with each other
as sisters and then us asparents has been really fun.
And even this time of year youknow it's the first time that
the four-year-old is reallyexperiencing the spirit of
Christmas and exciting,decorating the tree and reading
(15:31):
you know the Grench and reallyengaging in all these activities
.
And my two-year-old that had aneye surgery last year and her
eyes were much better.
So in some ways, at two yearsof age she's experiencing a lot
of the things that she reallycouldn't see her first year
because of her eye challenges,and seeing that as a father is
(15:54):
just so cool.
So I think in some ways thethings that were really
stressful in the middle of theyear have now had kind of like
an exhale in my world and justseeing sparks of like joy and,
in some ways, normalcy whateverwe think of normalcy when we're
(16:14):
not experiencing it at themoment having a relief as a
parent and as support to my wifeas a husband, it's almost like
a sense of normalcy where wehaven't had for a while.
So it's been a good lastchapter to the year for us.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Yeah, that's great.
Thanks for sharing that, yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
So let's go to the next question.
All right, listeners, this isfor you too.
How have you coped with life'stwists and turns, especially
during challenging moments?
So like, reflecting onchallenges during retrospection
provides, I think, a reallyvaluable opportunity for
(17:00):
personal growth and resilience.
By acknowledging difficulties,you gain insights into your
coping mechanisms andidentifying areas of improvement
.
This self-awareness fostersadaptability, empowering you to
navigate future challenges moreeffectively.
Embracing setbacks inretrospection can serve as a
(17:21):
catalyst for positive change,fostering resilience and a
proactive mindset.
So, as challenging as it can beto look at these challenges,
it's important to do so.
That's a heavy one, it hits mehard.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Yeah, it's simply for me.
It's trust in patience has beenmy new coping skill and I was
at a 12-step retreat this pastweekend.
The workshop leader was sayingsomething and it was minor but
kind of related to what you'resaying with this question about
a traffic light.
(18:03):
You know, like when there is ared light, I stop and then I
know that it's going to turngreen at some point.
You know, I feel like that'sbeen my coping skill in the past
couple of years, but especiallythis year.
Whenever things get difficult,it's like trusting that there is
something out there, you knowwho has the best interest in me,
kind of like waiting for thatstop light.
(18:25):
It's not like, oh, it's unfair,I'm going to drive anywhere, you
know, but like being patientthat there is a reason for this
and I'm going to respect thisand I'll wait for my turn, you
know.
And then that's been a reallygood practice for me to trust
that it's going to turn greeneventually, but also finding an
opportunity to strengthen thetrust in that moment that let me
(18:46):
participate in, you know.
And yeah, I guess that's a goodthing about recovery and the
community is that if Iintentionally pause, relax and
take it easy, just like I saidin the 12 step literature, it
gives us an opportunity to kindof look back all the parallels
(19:07):
in the previous years that thisis just a different version of
the same thing that has alreadyhappened, that it always worked
out because there is something Imean for me in that fellowship.
My understanding of higherpower is a.
It's a benevolent force orunseen force that is always
eager to help me.
So it becomes that opportunityto pause and reconnect with that
(19:27):
.
Oh yeah, there's a reason whythis is happening and everything
is going to be okay.
So that's my long-winded answerto your question.
Trust in patience has been mycoping skill.
Speaker 1 (19:40):
That's a good one In challenging, especially when
there's sometimes patience isall that we feel that we can do
when we don't have the controlthat we want.
Yeah, and I just alluded to itin my daughter having an eye
surgery and that's certainlybeen one of the most challenging
(20:02):
things that my wife and I havedealt with in her life.
She's was diagnosed with adevelopmental disorder called
med-13L and it's a developmentaldelay that affects this
chromosomal med-13L, which canlead to developmental delays,
(20:24):
intellectual and minordeficiencies in facial features.
So that was a big kick in thegut for my wife and I and when
it comes to challenges, yeah,that was a big one.
And it's been certainly ajourney and we've been very
fortunate that we've got to ruleout any brain tumors or roll
(20:52):
out heart deficiencies and thoseare scary things to consider
and wait for doctors to tell usthat we're going to be able to
do that.
Wait for doctors to tell us ifthere are other bigger concerns
going on.
So, as both espouse to my wifein that role and as a father to
(21:13):
my children, yeah, that was atough one and there's a lot of
patience and a lot of unknown inthe journey of anybody that
your loved ones that may havehealth issues or special needs.
So it's been a big journey toto be there for her as she
(21:36):
learns how to walk and learnsfine motor skills and she's
doing wonderful.
And it's been a big journey forus and it's um wouldn't want to
repeat that part of 2023.
And she's a bundle of joy andshe embodies purity and love and
(22:01):
she has no suffering.
So we're very fortunate of that.
But it's been certainly achallenging time for my wife and
us as we attend a lot of PT, otspeech and appointments and our
world certainly got turnedupside down in the expectation
of what we thought normal is Umgrieving.
(22:23):
That has been a process too.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
Yeah, that's good stuff.
That's like the hidden gem ofchallenges, right?
It always ends up strengtheningthe bond that you have.
Um, even if you don't have alife partner, you end up
creating a stronger bond withinyourself, you know.
Uh, or if you have a family,that's where challenges really
shape the and then strengthenthe bond, because that's how we
(22:49):
get through things.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
Yeah, I think, whether I had my wife or not, I
couldn't fathom not having otherbonds, other supports, because
it's impossible to be the onewith the large shoulders all the
time, meaning sometimes whenyou're worried about a loved one
(23:14):
, whether it's your child oryour spouse, for, for whatever
reason it might be, whether it'shealth or other reasons, um,
it's not only is it challenging,it's impossible to be the the
quote unquote strong one.
So, allowing myself to be, uh,only 20%, um, only having 20%,
(23:38):
and, and my wife having the 80%,or maybe she only has 60%, but
it's more than my 20% and andand being able to communicate.
Well, that's all I got today.
Haha, during those stressfulmoments was was important for
our bond and our, our connectionto whether it's us helping each
other, us getting the supportand the services we need.
(24:01):
So it was, um, he definitelywalking through a journey of
okay, not being okay and notbeing angry at the other one.
Haha, during, you know, we justworried about the, the health
and the wellness of your, yourchild.
You know, just one of thosestressful moments, yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
Yeah, patience, that's a good, good thing that
came up from this conversationso far.
I like that.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
Yeah, that self awareness fosters adaptability,
that self awareness can lead toempowering through where we need
to be empowered through, andespecially during those
challenging times.
I didn't know I was going totalk about this today, so there
(24:54):
we go.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
That's the best part World.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
How about achievements, personal
achievements, times to celebratein this past year, personal
achievements, both big and small, recognizing these efforts that
we've invested in these skillsof our lives to develop along
(25:25):
the way.
I mean it's important to lookat these achievements.
Speaker 2 (25:31):
That's another good one.
Do you want to start at thistime?
Speaker 1 (25:33):
I need to think.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
You have time to think.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
Well, I'm really proud of this podcast.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
That makes us too.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
Yeah, we started this very beginning of 2023.
And this is something that wehave not just stuck with, but
invested time, compassion,intentionality, purpose, and I
(26:07):
think we've seen over this pastyear the good it's done for
other people.
I think I take a lot of pridethat our intention was to give
some more of our perspective ina way that we can't do just in
written form.
(26:28):
That we do, I think, very wellwhen it comes to our articles
and blogs that we put on ourwebsite and social media, but it
gives us a platform to sharenot only our vision or mission,
but our experience, our quoteunquote expertise, bringing in
people that we feel can helppeople in different aspects of
(26:51):
their life, and I feel it'sreally cool to do that.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
Yeah, I'm with you on that.
I'm glad you share about that.
That's really good because thatkind of related to the first
question you asked to.
Speaker 1 (27:02):
if I think about acknowledging the growth a lot
of growth happened within thispodcast for me, if I think about
it, because getting morecomfortable Even learning how to
read, read or snip it or anintroduction, or like hey, we
(27:23):
can talk about ourselves, butmaybe we should talk about why
the podcast listeners shouldlisten in the first two minutes.
Yeah, you caught on light tothat one, or at least I caught
on light to that one.
I mean, I think it's.
I'm not big on havingexpectations.
(27:44):
I'm big on intentions and I'mbig on goal setting, but I'm not
big on expectations becausethen I might be let down.
But I think I never couldimagine that we would have been
listened.
This podcast has been listenedon every continent in the world.
(28:05):
I never thought that we'd belistened to 45 different
countries and or territories.
I never would have fathomedthat we would have been listened
to, that we would be listenedto in over 550 cities in the
United States.
I never.
It wasn't my goal to havethousands and thousands and
(28:29):
thousands of listeners in a year.
That wasn't my goal setting forthis podcast.
And those are just some reallycool achievements that I'm proud
of.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
Yeah, that's great.
It does make me think aboutkind of to generalize this
question again, when you askthat question of achievements,
it's not contradictory toBuddhism, but it makes me think
about like it's not like acompetition at the same time.
It's more like the gaining of anew skill, like compared to
(29:07):
myself last year, something likethat, or setting out something
that means this meaningful to us, and then doing that anyway
like kind of like a healthyachievement, taemin, not like,
oh, I'm better than you, kind ofcompetition, you know.
So I think that was helpful toit would.
Yeah, it was helpful to kind ofclarify that too for myself,
because if I think about myachievement this year, which is
(29:30):
also kind of similar to thatself-compassion part, because
allowing yourself to celebratebecause if you don't practice
self-compassion when you achievethings, you're like I don't
deserve it or like I got lucky,you know but like learning how
to take pride, healthy pride,and celebrating, allowing
yourself to feel the joy of thethings you've done, that's also
a really good practice for us.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
Now, I'm not big on eighth place trophies, but I am
big on kids going to school andtheir job is literally to go to
school and get grades where theypass.
Now, if you were in work andyou hit measurements and you do
(30:14):
your annual review and youachieved or strongly improved or
above and beyond whatever themeasurements people use in their
annual reviews that two thingsoften happen when you do a
review with your job, you eitherget a bonus or a raise or you
(30:36):
do so well you grow in thatfield and you get other jobs in
your line of work often.
So when school grade kids getpassing in good grades, that's
worth celebrating.
And that's not something that Ialways did, because whether I
(31:01):
got a C or a B in the occasionalA, I didn't feel the need to
celebrate it.
That was just quote unquoteexpected.
Well, I'm beginning to over.
Took me over 10 years, 12 years, to like yeah quote unquote
supposed to say sober.
But during my anniversary it'sworth celebrating because not
(31:24):
only do I not drink and drug,I'm able to live life.
That, whatever happens, notonly do I don't have to drink or
drug, but I have a way of lifeto.
I don't have to numb out when Iget a diagnosis for my child.
But I get to be there and usethese principles to help me and
my recovery is giving me a wayof living life.
(31:45):
So, yeah, it's worthcelebrating that measurement of
time and for me, I believe I putin the work to do that.
So, yeah, I'm not big on eighthplace trophies or things like
that.
But when it comes to, you know,children getting good grades,
or is it at work?
When I was a clinical director,well, I celebrated by getting a
(32:08):
raise or a promotion.
So, yeah, I am big oncelebration.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
Yeah, that's important, that's important.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
So why don't we do just kind of?
I might put all of these in theshow notes, but for the
listeners I'll just read throughthis, but this is just a way to
take a moment and reflect onthe past year.
You know, I encourage you guysto get in a comfortable position
, even close your eyes and justtake a few deep breaths to send
(32:44):
yourself, as long as you're notdriving, and consider these
following steps.
As you give yourself fiveminutes, like we did around 30
minutes to do an introspection,a retrospection of this past
milestone of a year, a gratitudeinventory, begin by recalling
(33:05):
moments of gratitude from thelast year.
Identify experiences,relationships or personal
achievements that brought you ajoy or a sense of fulfillment.
We've done episodes ongratitude because of that.
Challenges faced acknowledge thechallenges you encountered.
Reflect on how these challengesshaped your character, teaching
(33:28):
you valuable lessons andcontributing to your growth,
that resiliency piece, learningsand insights.
Consider what insights you'vegained about yourself, your
values and your priorities.
Reflect on how these insightscan guide your decisions and
actions.
Moving forward, just like wepreviously mentioned, personal
(33:51):
achievements Really do celebrateyour personal achievements,
both big and small.
Recognize the effort you'veinvested in the skills you
developed along the way Areas ofimprovement.
Honestly assess areas whereyou'd like to see growth.
Frame these as opportunitiesfor learning and development,
(34:14):
rather than shortcomings andfuture intentions.
Set positive intentions for thefuture based on your
reflections.
Outline actionable steps orgoals that align with your
values and aspirations, based onthis inventory.
It's a good way to do theretrospection, isn't it?
Speaker 2 (34:37):
Yeah, that's good.
Speaker 1 (34:40):
Well, this is the last one of 2023 for us, and
this exercise is really designedto help you gain clarity,
appreciate your journey and seta positive trajectory for the
upcoming year.
And I think we did that.
What do you?
Speaker 2 (34:56):
think, yeah, this was really good.
I hope the listeners got achance to pause, reflect, relate
to what we're saying and also,maybe intentionally, sit in
silence or find some quiet timeand write things down or check
in with the loving force andthen, yeah, processing things.
(35:19):
I think that will build a good,solid foundation to stand on
and then to move forward.
Speaker 1 (35:23):
Absolutely.
Thanks for spending this timewith us guys.
We really do appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (35:28):
Thank you, goodbye, 2023.
Speaker 1 (35:30):
Absolutely.
We're excited and I think wecan set some goals for 2024, and
that'd be good for our healthand wellness and overall
wellbeing too.
Huh yeah, did we just shadowthe next episode?
Speaker 2 (35:43):
Yeah, I think that's what's coming up.
Speaker 1 (35:46):
Thanks everyone for listening and if you like what
you hear, please send us a likea comment.
It would be really helpful forthe algorithm so other people
can see this and, mostimportantly, share with others,
because collectively we can domaybe what we can't do by
ourselves.
My name is Luke and this isZauh.
(36:07):
We'll see you next time.
Bye, we will see you.
Greetings, cherished listeners.
Welcome back to With AirpistBuddhism.
You're brought to you by theRecovery Collective in Annapolis
, maryland.
Feel free to check out our siteand the Recovery Collective.
You can find a lot of ouroriginal articles written by
myself in Zoll, and we have abunch of great things to offer
on our website.
So go ahead and check out theRecovery Collective.
So, zoll, as we stand on thebrink of a new year, there's no
(00:38):
better time to embark on ajourney of reflection and
retrospection.
Today, we're delving into theart of self-discovery and how it
can be a transformative toolfor your overall well-being.
So, listeners, we want you toparticipate in this exercise
with us.
I will ask a question for youand for us to think about
retrospectively.
That has happened in these pastyear, 2023.
(01:03):
And we'll answer it too.
How's that sound?
Speaker 2 (01:06):
That sounds pretty good, let's do it.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Let's look at the importance of reflection.
In the fast-paced hustle of ourlives, the simple act of
pausing to reflect can be apowerful catalyst for positive
change.
We want you to join us as weexplore the significance of
introspection and its directimpact on your mental and
emotional well-being.
Reflecting on your experiencesallows us to unearth valuable
(01:30):
lessons, fostering personalgrowth and even build resilience
In a world that constantlydemands our attention.
This intentional pause can be acornerstone for your well-being
journey.
So discover how the practice ofretrospection can serve as a
mindful sanctuary, reducingstress and cultivating a
(01:51):
heightened sense of awareness.
So unwind with us as we explorepractical ways to bring
mindfulness into your everydaylife.
Zo, I hope you had a wonderful2023.
It's certainly been up and downfor me, but I can still look
back at it.
Finally and I haveretrospection and reflection on
(02:14):
a lot of emotions and feelingstowards this past year, but I do
think it's important to pauseand be okay looking it back at
the year that was, you agree.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Yeah, this is a good space and trying to feel that
energy of the year and it's agood space to do that.
So thanks for bringing that up.
And yeah, I guess it's alwaysgoing to be ups and downs in
life, but if I think about myyear, there has been more
(02:49):
stability than not and I thinkthat's a good place to be.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Yeah, it's.
I think you and I in ourrecovery, we have this other
yearly landmark or benchmarkwhere we can look at the year
that was and that is oursobriety date, and I think that
is a time where I moreintentionally look back at my
(03:16):
year.
That was, whether it's for myrecovery or just all the things
that have happened, and thatroundups 365 days, because it's
a time where I look at that yeah, I'm sober, I'm not taking a
substance, but it's also a timefor me to celebrate because I am
an alcoholic and addict andpart of me is previously at a
(03:38):
cellular level, at a brain level, designed to drink and drug,
and I no longer do that.
So not only do I celebrate thatyearly landmark, but I also
look back at what happened inthat year.
But for me now, gosh, what itwas like 17 years from that day
and what I was going through theday before.
(04:01):
And I look back retrospectivelyand reflectively and I'm able to
look at that time in the pastHoly cow, it's been 17 years and
what this year has been.
I remember that first year,sobriety, where I felt like my
brain had the ability toremember one thing out of every
(04:23):
day of those 365 days because Iwasn't numbing out for the first
time in a long time and Iremember retrospectively,
looking at like I'm not used tohaving this kind of memory not
being on groundhogs a day anddoing the same thing every day
and functioning around numbingout or getting higher, trying to
get high, so that certainly wasa landmark for me.
(04:47):
And now being able to do thatfor this year, the year of 2023,
and sit in silence and bemindful of the year that was.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Yeah, I'm grateful for this opportunity, because
taking time and talking reallyhelps, because it's all about
clarity.
Clarity as in knowing where Iwas, knowing where I am, gives
me an opportunity to know whereI'm going, or at least where I
want to go.
That's what I like about this.
You use the terms of, whichkind of struck me about
(05:23):
introspection, retrospection.
There's something about thespectrum, retro, intro.
So maybe we can start fromthere.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Yeah, I get to inspect, I get to look at it
with intention of this past year.
So, listeners, remember we wantyou to participate with us.
So, whether you're driving,whether you're at the gym,
running, doing dishes, whereveryou're at while listening, take
the time to inspect the yearthat was with us.
(05:53):
So here's my first question.
And we're acknowledging thegrowth in this past year.
So reflect on a dimension ofthe past year where you've
experienced personal growth, sobe it in accomplishment and
achievement and enhancement,regardless of its scale.
So I don't really care how bigor small you feel this
(06:14):
improvement has been in thispast year.
I want you to reflect andrecognize your progress and the
growth that has happened thispast year.
So I'd like to hear from you.
First, zalph.
A knowledge of growth period inyour life that you felt like man
.
This is an enhancement.
(06:36):
This is an achievement that Ihave experienced, that I am
proud of this past year.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
That's a great question.
I have lots, but I guess thesummary is some kind of
expansion in my self-compassionpractice.
That's been really good for meand that's also something that
gives me a reference point whenI was struggling or when life
was hitting me pretty hard.
I did this exercise, which mademe realize that my
(07:05):
self-compassion was nearly zerocompared to that.
Also paradoxically, too, theway I gained self-compassion has
been not through isolation butthrough connecting with others.
So for me that's been thebiggest growth in my year, where
I've gained more friends, butI've gained more depth in these
friendships, which paradoxicallyhelped me to practice more
(07:31):
compassion.
I've become more in tune withwho I am and looking deeper into
it.
So that's been something thatI'm very proud of and want to
acknowledge.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
That's a good one, that self-compassion for
yourself and for others.
But it sounds like you'resaying that grace, that
compassion, that tolerance foryourself in this past year, and
what does that jump out to you?
(08:04):
Are you able to have this levelof self-compassion and growth
because of the things you'vegone through this year?
Are you comparing it to theyear before?
Why does that jump out to you?
Speaker 2 (08:18):
I think about my routine and my actions and it
definitely is like a build-upfrom the previous year.
But yeah, it struck me becauseif I think about my week, it's
very properly balanced, which tome is like there's some
self-care thing.
I think they're all intentionaland I don't question it that
much and it affects my how.
(08:40):
The effect being produced bythat schedule is how I feel
about myself.
So that's why it came.
I mean, there's also theschedule that's.
A big part of my schedule nowis also going to yoga classes,
which hasn't been there before.
That's also, for me, is a wayof self-compassion.
Whenever I go to a class, it'slike quality time for myself,
taking care of myself bothphysically, mentally and
(09:02):
spiritually.
So that's why it stood out tome.
But how about you, luke?
Speaker 1 (09:10):
I think the thing that jumps out to me the most
this past year, 2023, is thegrowth of the enhancement as my
role as a husband and a father.
I think that's true for acouple of reasons.
One, it's the second year of myyoungest daughter.
(09:31):
She's two, so we're past thatbaby, baby, infantile stage with
both my children right.
So they're getting older and myability to proactively jump in
and play the role of father hasbeen really fun and enjoyable in
(09:53):
a bunch of different ways,whether it's giving them the
quality time being present intheir lives, being that safe,
secure male figure, whether it'sjust tackling and laughing and
all the things that come withthe early, early experiences
(10:15):
past the baby stage with thekids that I'm really enjoying
being the role of father, pastthat baby stage, and I have both
of them past that baby stagenow.
So it's in some ways I don'tknow if this is just a stigma or
stereotype it's, I guess, justgetting more fun, not just the
(10:36):
diapers and how do I support mywife in terms of her
breastfeeding and doing allthose things but really get to
proactively play a fun role andbe present in their life.
And that's why I also sayhusband and the reason why I say
(10:56):
husband, it's because I can'tsacrifice that role, because
I've been so used to being thesupportive father in so many
ways to my wife andacknowledging which dynamic I am
.
I'm in with my wife andsometimes I am the role of
(11:18):
father to our kids together.
But I don't want to sacrificemy role as husband to my wife.
So sometimes I'm playing theparent role, as father, and I am
being more conscious and awarethat am I communicating to my
wife what I need from her ashusband, wife, or as I need in
(11:43):
that dynamic, which is a lot oftimes different from the father
role that I communicate to her?
So that's been something thatfull transparency that we have
worked on in the couple sessionswe had over the year, and
sometimes what role that I needto be more conscious of and not
(12:05):
sacrifice either.
So I think that's somethingthat I've been very mindful of
and it's been an enhancement interms of the bonding patterns
I've had with both my wife andmy kids.
So I'm pleased with that.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Yeah, that sounds really meaningful and fulfilling
and I wonder how the listenersare processing this question.
But I also wanted to kind ofrevisit what you've mentioned in
the beginning about thebenefits of retrospection, the
benefits of reflection.
Because whenever we pause andkind of look back it makes us
(12:49):
realize what's important for usand I used to use the journal
writing as a tool a lot andespecially when I write down
without any filter, when I pullit all down, it's like my
subconscious mind at work andthen when I read it again it
helps me realize these are thethings that are meaningful to me
.
So it gives me a perspectivebecause we can live our year
(13:09):
mindlessly, not having an idea,just like drifting around.
But when we pause andintentionally look back it makes
us realize oh, these are theactions that I took because
these things are important to me.
So bringing awareness to thathelps us to kind of understand
deeper level of who we are.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
Yeah, that's really really good and yeah, that can
be done for goal setting for thenext year, but is also really
good for journaling thoughts andexperiences and failings for
the year that was.
I agree that's good.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
I know you have another question, but can I
interject with a question, sinceyou were talking and I was
listening.
I also makes me think about,like what are the things that
makes you happy this year?
Are there things that you'vewhere you found genuine
happiness this year?
Speaker 1 (14:00):
In some ways it's been a trying, stressful year,
which I'll probably get in thechallenging part of last year,
but I think finding and it beingthe holiday season and
Christmas time, I think it'sbeen really really being
highlighted for me now andthat's some of the just the
(14:22):
quality time and being presentwith those family dynamics and
and not needing to escape oravoid stressful moments as a
father or a husband, becauselife gets real and stressful
sometimes and you know, justseeing now my four-year-old
really interact and play andseeing my Maggie, my
(14:46):
two-year-old, really come alongand make a lot of improvements,
with some of her delays, hasbeen really sparking a lot of
joy and and just reallyimpressive.
To see their relationship evolveand seeing their personalities
develop in different ways hasbeen really fun to see and just
(15:08):
that pure joy and connectionthat they have with each other
as sisters and then us asparents has been really fun.
And even this time of year youknow it's the first time that
the four-year-old is reallyexperiencing the spirit of
Christmas and exciting,decorating the tree and reading
(15:31):
you know the Grench and reallyengaging in all these activities
.
And my two-year-old that had aneye surgery last year and her
eyes were much better.
So in some ways, at two yearsof age she's experiencing a lot
of the things that she reallycouldn't see her first year
because of her eye challenges,and seeing that as a father is
(15:54):
just so cool.
So I think in some ways thethings that were really
stressful in the middle of theyear have now had kind of like
an exhale in my world and justseeing sparks of like joy and,
in some ways, normalcy whateverwe think of normalcy when we're
(16:14):
not experiencing it at themoment having a relief as a
parent and as support to my wifeas a husband, it's almost like
a sense of normalcy where wehaven't had for a while.
So it's been a good lastchapter to the year for us.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Yeah, that's great.
Thanks for sharing that, yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
So let's go to the next question.
All right, listeners, this isfor you too.
How have you coped with life'stwists and turns, especially
during challenging moments?
So like, reflecting onchallenges during retrospection
provides, I think, a reallyvaluable opportunity for
(17:00):
personal growth and resilience.
By acknowledging difficulties,you gain insights into your
coping mechanisms andidentifying areas of improvement
.
This self-awareness fostersadaptability, empowering you to
navigate future challenges moreeffectively.
Embracing setbacks inretrospection can serve as a
(17:21):
catalyst for positive change,fostering resilience and a
proactive mindset.
So, as challenging as it can beto look at these challenges,
it's important to do so.
That's a heavy one, it hits mehard.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Yeah, it's simply for me.
It's trust in patience has beenmy new coping skill and I was
at a 12-step retreat this pastweekend.
The workshop leader was sayingsomething and it was minor but
kind of related to what you'resaying with this question about
a traffic light.
(18:03):
You know, like when there is ared light, I stop and then I
know that it's going to turngreen at some point.
You know, I feel like that'sbeen my coping skill in the past
couple of years, but especiallythis year.
Whenever things get difficult,it's like trusting that there is
something out there, you knowwho has the best interest in me,
kind of like waiting for thatstop light.
(18:25):
It's not like, oh, it's unfair,I'm going to drive anywhere, you
know, but like being patientthat there is a reason for this
and I'm going to respect thisand I'll wait for my turn, you
know.
And then that's been a reallygood practice for me to trust
that it's going to turn greeneventually, but also finding an
opportunity to strengthen thetrust in that moment that let me
(18:46):
participate in, you know.
And yeah, I guess that's a goodthing about recovery and the
community is that if Iintentionally pause, relax and
take it easy, just like I saidin the 12 step literature, it
gives us an opportunity to kindof look back all the parallels
(19:07):
in the previous years that thisis just a different version of
the same thing that has alreadyhappened, that it always worked
out because there is something Imean for me in that fellowship.
My understanding of higherpower is a.
It's a benevolent force orunseen force that is always
eager to help me.
So it becomes that opportunityto pause and reconnect with that
(19:27):
.
Oh yeah, there's a reason whythis is happening and everything
is going to be okay.
So that's my long-winded answerto your question.
Trust in patience has been mycoping skill.
Speaker 1 (19:40):
That's a good one In challenging, especially when
there's sometimes patience isall that we feel that we can do
when we don't have the controlthat we want.
Yeah, and I just alluded to itin my daughter having an eye
surgery and that's certainlybeen one of the most challenging
(20:02):
things that my wife and I havedealt with in her life.
She's was diagnosed with adevelopmental disorder called
med-13L and it's a developmentaldelay that affects this
chromosomal med-13L, which canlead to developmental delays,
(20:24):
intellectual and minordeficiencies in facial features.
So that was a big kick in thegut for my wife and I and when
it comes to challenges, yeah,that was a big one.
And it's been certainly ajourney and we've been very
fortunate that we've got to ruleout any brain tumors or roll
(20:52):
out heart deficiencies and thoseare scary things to consider
and wait for doctors to tell usthat we're going to be able to
do that.
Wait for doctors to tell us ifthere are other bigger concerns
going on.
So, as both espouse to my wifein that role and as a father to
(21:13):
my children, yeah, that was atough one and there's a lot of
patience and a lot of unknown inthe journey of anybody that
your loved ones that may havehealth issues or special needs.
So it's been a big journey toto be there for her as she
(21:36):
learns how to walk and learnsfine motor skills and she's
doing wonderful.
And it's been a big journey forus and it's um wouldn't want to
repeat that part of 2023.
And she's a bundle of joy andshe embodies purity and love and
(22:01):
she has no suffering.
So we're very fortunate of that.
But it's been certainly achallenging time for my wife and
us as we attend a lot of PT, otspeech and appointments and our
world certainly got turnedupside down in the expectation
of what we thought normal is Umgrieving.
(22:23):
That has been a process too.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
Yeah, that's good stuff.
That's like the hidden gem ofchallenges, right?
It always ends up strengtheningthe bond that you have.
Um, even if you don't have alife partner, you end up
creating a stronger bond withinyourself, you know.
Uh, or if you have a family,that's where challenges really
shape the and then strengthenthe bond, because that's how we
(22:49):
get through things.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
Yeah, I think, whether I had my wife or not, I
couldn't fathom not having otherbonds, other supports, because
it's impossible to be the onewith the large shoulders all the
time, meaning sometimes whenyou're worried about a loved one
(23:14):
, whether it's your child oryour spouse, for, for whatever
reason it might be, whether it'shealth or other reasons, um,
it's not only is it challenging,it's impossible to be the the
quote unquote strong one.
So, allowing myself to be, uh,only 20%, um, only having 20%,
(23:38):
and, and my wife having the 80%,or maybe she only has 60%, but
it's more than my 20% and andand being able to communicate.
Well, that's all I got today.
Haha, during those stressfulmoments was was important for
our bond and our, our connectionto whether it's us helping each
other, us getting the supportand the services we need.
(24:01):
So it was, um, he definitelywalking through a journey of
okay, not being okay and notbeing angry at the other one.
Haha, during, you know, we justworried about the, the health
and the wellness of your, yourchild.
You know, just one of thosestressful moments, yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
Yeah, patience, that's a good, good thing that
came up from this conversationso far.
I like that.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
Yeah, that self awareness fosters adaptability,
that self awareness can lead toempowering through where we need
to be empowered through, andespecially during those
challenging times.
I didn't know I was going totalk about this today, so there
(24:54):
we go.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
That's the best part World.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
How about achievements, personal
achievements, times to celebratein this past year, personal
achievements, both big and small, recognizing these efforts that
we've invested in these skillsof our lives to develop along
(25:25):
the way.
I mean it's important to lookat these achievements.
Speaker 2 (25:31):
That's another good one.
Do you want to start at thistime?
Speaker 1 (25:33):
I need to think.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
You have time to think.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
Well, I'm really proud of this podcast.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
That makes us too.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
Yeah, we started this very beginning of 2023.
And this is something that wehave not just stuck with, but
invested time, compassion,intentionality, purpose, and I
(26:07):
think we've seen over this pastyear the good it's done for
other people.
I think I take a lot of pridethat our intention was to give
some more of our perspective ina way that we can't do just in
written form.
(26:28):
That we do, I think, very wellwhen it comes to our articles
and blogs that we put on ourwebsite and social media, but it
gives us a platform to sharenot only our vision or mission,
but our experience, our quoteunquote expertise, bringing in
people that we feel can helppeople in different aspects of
(26:51):
their life, and I feel it'sreally cool to do that.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
Yeah, I'm with you on that.
I'm glad you share about that.
That's really good because thatkind of related to the first
question you asked to.
Speaker 1 (27:02):
if I think about acknowledging the growth a lot
of growth happened within thispodcast for me, if I think about
it, because getting morecomfortable Even learning how to
read, read or snip it or anintroduction, or like hey, we
(27:23):
can talk about ourselves, butmaybe we should talk about why
the podcast listeners shouldlisten in the first two minutes.
Yeah, you caught on light tothat one, or at least I caught
on light to that one.
I mean, I think it's.
I'm not big on havingexpectations.
(27:44):
I'm big on intentions and I'mbig on goal setting, but I'm not
big on expectations becausethen I might be let down.
But I think I never couldimagine that we would have been
listened.
This podcast has been listenedon every continent in the world.
(28:05):
I never thought that we'd belistened to 45 different
countries and or territories.
I never would have fathomedthat we would have been listened
to, that we would be listenedto in over 550 cities in the
United States.
I never.
It wasn't my goal to havethousands and thousands and
(28:29):
thousands of listeners in a year.
That wasn't my goal setting forthis podcast.
And those are just some reallycool achievements that I'm proud
of.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
Yeah, that's great.
It does make me think aboutkind of to generalize this
question again, when you askthat question of achievements,
it's not contradictory toBuddhism, but it makes me think
about like it's not like acompetition at the same time.
It's more like the gaining of anew skill, like compared to
(29:07):
myself last year, something likethat, or setting out something
that means this meaningful to us, and then doing that anyway
like kind of like a healthyachievement, taemin, not like,
oh, I'm better than you, kind ofcompetition, you know.
So I think that was helpful toit would.
Yeah, it was helpful to kind ofclarify that too for myself,
because if I think about myachievement this year, which is
(29:30):
also kind of similar to thatself-compassion part, because
allowing yourself to celebratebecause if you don't practice
self-compassion when you achievethings, you're like I don't
deserve it or like I got lucky,you know but like learning how
to take pride, healthy pride,and celebrating, allowing
yourself to feel the joy of thethings you've done, that's also
a really good practice for us.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
Now, I'm not big on eighth place trophies, but I am
big on kids going to school andtheir job is literally to go to
school and get grades where theypass.
Now, if you were in work andyou hit measurements and you do
(30:14):
your annual review and youachieved or strongly improved or
above and beyond whatever themeasurements people use in their
annual reviews that two thingsoften happen when you do a
review with your job, you eitherget a bonus or a raise or you
(30:36):
do so well you grow in thatfield and you get other jobs in
your line of work often.
So when school grade kids getpassing in good grades, that's
worth celebrating.
And that's not something that Ialways did, because whether I
(31:01):
got a C or a B in the occasionalA, I didn't feel the need to
celebrate it.
That was just quote unquoteexpected.
Well, I'm beginning to over.
Took me over 10 years, 12 years, to like yeah quote unquote
supposed to say sober.
But during my anniversary it'sworth celebrating because not
(31:24):
only do I not drink and drug,I'm able to live life.
That, whatever happens, notonly do I don't have to drink or
drug, but I have a way of lifeto.
I don't have to numb out when Iget a diagnosis for my child.
But I get to be there and usethese principles to help me and
my recovery is giving me a wayof living life.
(31:45):
So, yeah, it's worthcelebrating that measurement of
time and for me, I believe I putin the work to do that.
So, yeah, I'm not big on eighthplace trophies or things like
that.
But when it comes to, you know,children getting good grades,
or is it at work?
When I was a clinical director,well, I celebrated by getting a
(32:08):
raise or a promotion.
So, yeah, I am big oncelebration.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
Yeah, that's important, that's important.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
So why don't we do just kind of?
I might put all of these in theshow notes, but for the
listeners I'll just read throughthis, but this is just a way to
take a moment and reflect onthe past year.
You know, I encourage you guysto get in a comfortable position
, even close your eyes and justtake a few deep breaths to send
(32:44):
yourself, as long as you're notdriving, and consider these
following steps.
As you give yourself fiveminutes, like we did around 30
minutes to do an introspection,a retrospection of this past
milestone of a year, a gratitudeinventory, begin by recalling
(33:05):
moments of gratitude from thelast year.
Identify experiences,relationships or personal
achievements that brought you ajoy or a sense of fulfillment.
We've done episodes ongratitude because of that.
Challenges faced acknowledge thechallenges you encountered.
Reflect on how these challengesshaped your character, teaching
(33:28):
you valuable lessons andcontributing to your growth,
that resiliency piece, learningsand insights.
Consider what insights you'vegained about yourself, your
values and your priorities.
Reflect on how these insightscan guide your decisions and
actions.
Moving forward, just like wepreviously mentioned, personal
(33:51):
achievements Really do celebrateyour personal achievements,
both big and small.
Recognize the effort you'veinvested in the skills you
developed along the way Areas ofimprovement.
Honestly assess areas whereyou'd like to see growth.
Frame these as opportunitiesfor learning and development,
(34:14):
rather than shortcomings andfuture intentions.
Set positive intentions for thefuture based on your
reflections.
Outline actionable steps orgoals that align with your
values and aspirations, based onthis inventory.
It's a good way to do theretrospection, isn't it?
Speaker 2 (34:37):
Yeah, that's good.
Speaker 1 (34:40):
Well, this is the last one of 2023 for us, and
this exercise is really designedto help you gain clarity,
appreciate your journey and seta positive trajectory for the
upcoming year.
And I think we did that.
What do you?
Speaker 2 (34:56):
think, yeah, this was really good.
I hope the listeners got achance to pause, reflect, relate
to what we're saying and also,maybe intentionally, sit in
silence or find some quiet timeand write things down or check
in with the loving force andthen, yeah, processing things.
(35:19):
I think that will build a good,solid foundation to stand on
and then to move forward.
Speaker 1 (35:23):
Absolutely.
Thanks for spending this timewith us guys.
We really do appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (35:28):
Thank you, goodbye, 2023.
Speaker 1 (35:30):
Absolutely.
We're excited and I think wecan set some goals for 2024, and
that'd be good for our healthand wellness and overall
wellbeing too.
Huh yeah, did we just shadowthe next episode?
Speaker 2 (35:43):
Yeah, I think that's what's coming up.
Speaker 1 (35:46):
Thanks everyone for listening and if you like what
you hear, please send us a likea comment.
It would be really helpful forthe algorithm so other people
can see this and, mostimportantly, share with others,
because collectively we can domaybe what we can't do by
ourselves.
My name is Luke and this isZauh.
(36:07):
We'll see you next time.
Bye, we will see you.
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