Why does violence feel like the backdrop of our world today? Despite our technology, communication, and historical knowledge, conflict continues to erupt—in wars, in politics, in households, and even within ourselves. In this episode of The Spiritual Perspective, Light Watkins reframes violence not as a glitch in human nature, but as a consistent pattern woven into it.
From the ground-level view, it’s always “us vs. them”—victims and villains, good and bad, right and wrong. But when we zoom out, we see that violence doesn’t just appear out of nowhere. It often begins the moment someone feels unseen, unheard, or stripped of dignity. Left unchecked, that seed grows into resistance, and resistance almost always invites force from those in power.
So how do we break this cycle? Light shares why spiritual maturity requires moving beyond blame and stepping into true leadership—the kind that begins at home, in our workplaces, and in our communities by making others feel seen and valued.
If you found this perspective helpful, you may also enjoy:
And if you’re ready to deepen your practice, join Light in Mexico City this fall for his live meditation workshop: mexico.beginmeditating.com.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.