Dr Charles Freligh: Learning to Respond without Reactivity

our special guest is Charles Freligh, a clinical psychologist with extensive experience in therapy, teaching, and spiritual practice. Charles shares his insights on learning to respond without reactivity, emphasizing the healing impact of honest and humble presence. Charles underscores the importance of cultivating self-awareness and mindfulness in our daily lives. He describes how our natural tendency to react impulsively, especially in challenging situations, often leads to unnecessary suffering and negative consequences. By learning to respond instead of react, we can break free from conditioned patterns and cultivate more compassionate and skillful ways of engaging with ourselves and others. Charles shares practical techniques and strategies for developing the capacity to respond without reactivity. He discusses the power of breath awareness, emphasizing its role in calming the nervous system and creating space for conscious choices. He also highlights the significance of self-compassion, emphasizing that our ability to respond skillfully is deeply rooted in a foundation of self-acceptance and kindness. Throughout the episode, Charles draws upon his experiences as an artist of the present moment. He explains how being fully present in each moment allows us to access our intuition and respond from a place of authenticity and wisdom. He encourages listeners to embrace the transformative potential of the present moment, highlighting its ability to liberate us from the burdens of the past and worries about the future. In closing, Charles discusses his recently published book, "The Will to Do Nothing," which explores the paradoxical concept of non-doing and its profound impact on well-being. He also mentions his collaboration with Saqib Rizvi on the "What is Now?" podcast, where they explore various aspects of mindfulness and present-moment awareness. Listeners of this episode gain valuable insights into the art of responding without reactivity. Charles Freligh's wisdom and expertise provide a compelling guide for navigating life's challenges with greater presence, compassion, and resilience.Find Charles here: https://www.charlesfreligh.comGet his book here: https://www.charlesfreligh.com/booksCheck out his Learning to Respond without Reactivity course on Insight Timer here: https://insig.ht/tTsM4WeGnBb Timestamps: (00:01:09) Develop skillful responses to emotions.

(00:08:26) Importance of mindfulness and non-reactivity.

(00:16:18) Trusting intuition in life's journey.

(00:18:14) Understanding the power of words.

(00:24:08) Let go of judgment and reactivity.

(00:27:51) Embrace failure, trust the process.

(00:33:02) Slow down and choose consciously.

(00:41:46) Importance of doing nothing.

(00:43:32) Develop pause button for clarity.

(00:48:06) Mindfulness quiets the default mode network.

(00:53:00) Presence over intellect for fulfillment.

(00:58:15) Reading is a meditative practice.

(01:02:46) Reading novels for meditative experience.

(01:12:23) Letting go of control is liberating.

(01:17:33) Permission to exist without doing.

(01:19:24) Embrace the present moment fully.

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