Awakening Process 101

In this episode of Awakening Process 101, Louise and I share an intimate conversation about meditation—a practice that has deeply transformed both our lives. For me, meditation is more than a habit; it’s a friend, a constant source of comfort, presence, and connection to the infinite. Drawing from my own experience, I talk about how this practice shifted my perspective, helping me realize that the unconditional love, presence, and awareness I sought all along were already within me. We also explore the practicalities of starting a meditation practice, from the simplicity of one-minute sessions to the profound impact of consistency. Together, we reflect on how meditation provides a moment of stillness in a chaotic world, creating space to breathe, observe, and ultimately respond to life with greater clarity and compassion. Louise brings her perspective as a Buddhist practitioner, discussing how chanting has provided her with a pathway to connection and infinite love. Along the way, we share laughter, honest insights, and even a short guided meditation to help you take your first or next step on this journey. This episode is about recognizing meditation as a tool for discovering the best parts of yourself and living with a deeper connection to the people and world around you. Join us and take a moment to connect with the energy behind your thoughts. Let us know your thoughts [email protected] Here’s a more detailed version of the timestamps: Timestamps(00:00) Welcome and Introduction: Pernilla and Louise kick off the episode by introducing the topic of meditation and its importance in modern life.(02:05) Why Meditation Matters: Pernilla reflects on her personal journey with meditation and how it became a cornerstone of her emotional and spiritual health.(04:30) Meditation as a Friend: Pernilla describes meditation as a nurturing, unconditional presence that provides a sense of love and connection.(09:00) Starting a Meditation Practice: Practical advice on beginning with short, consistent practices, like one-minute sessions, and the importance of timing.(12:20) Meditation and Sobriety: Pernilla shares how meditation became a supportive practice during early sobriety and helped her navigate emotional challenges.(16:00) Breaking Free from Emotional Attachments: How meditation fosters awareness of thoughts and emotions, allowing for healthier relationships and responses.(18:10) The Role of Breath: Discussion on how breathing deeply activates the parasympathetic nervous system, creating relaxation and focus.(21:00) Guided Meditation: A short, calming meditation led by Pernilla to help listeners step into stillness and presence.(24:50) Chanting and Mantras: Louise shares her experience with chanting as an active form of meditation and a path to connecting with infinite love.(28:30) Demystifying Meditation: Addressing misconceptions, including the idea that meditation is about stopping thoughts entirely, and encouraging simplicity.(33:00) The Long-Term Impact of Meditation: How consistent practice transforms thoughts into “fluffy clouds” and creates a lasting sense of stillness.(36:40) Meditation in Daily Life: Practical examples of how meditation helps respond to life’s challenges with compassion and clarity.(40:00) Closing Thoughts: Pernilla and Louise emphasize that meditation is a gift to yourself and those around you, offering a path to deeper connection and peace.

In this episode of Awakening Process 101, we discuss the concept of change. Change is inevitable—sometimes it sweeps in like a storm, other times it unfolds quietly over time. In this episode, Louise Juel and I reflect on how change has shaped our lives, sharing personal stories and insights from our spiritual journeys. We talk about surrender—not as defeat, but as a gateway to clarity and transformation. Life’s challenges, even the painful ones, hold the potential for profound growth when we meet them with awareness. This conversation is a reminder that no matter where you are, change is always possible—sometimes when you least expect it. (00:00) Introduction – Embracing Change: An inspiring opening reflecting on how change is woven into every aspect of life, why it can be so challenging, and how embracing it leads to deeper self-awareness and growth. (03:15) Why We Resist Change: A dive into the psychological and emotional barriers that make us resist change, including fear of the unknown, attachment to comfort, and the stories we tell ourselves about stability. (08:45) Personal Stories of Transformation: Pernilla and Louise share deeply personal stories of life-altering events that initially felt overwhelming but ultimately led to new perspectives, greater strength, and a renewed sense of purpose. (14:30) The Power of Surrender: A heartfelt discussion on how surrendering isn’t about giving up, but rather releasing resistance to allow life’s natural flow to guide us toward opportunities we couldn’t see before. (19:00) How Pain Can Lead to Growth: Exploring how emotional pain, grief, and hardship can become transformative teachers, helping us build resilience, self-compassion, and an expanded understanding of our true nature. (24:10) Finding Strength in Uncertainty: Practical reflections on staying grounded and centered when life feels unpredictable, including how to cultivate inner stability and trust in the unfolding process. (29:45) Tools for Navigating Life's Challenges: Offering practical tools like mindfulness, breathwork, meditation, and reflective journaling that help ease life transitions while fostering emotional balance and clarity. (35:20) Trusting the Process of Change: Insights on how to build trust in life’s process, even when we can’t see the full picture, and how surrendering can lead to unexpected blessings and personal breakthroughs. (40:00) Closing Thoughts – Change Is Always Possible: An encouraging reminder that no matter where we are on our journey, change is always possible when we remain open, curious, and willing to grow through life’s experiences.

In this episode of Awakening Process 101, we explore the nuanced relationship between self-esteem and self-confidence, reflecting on how self-esteem, rooted in our internal sense of self-worth, contrasts with self-confidence, which often grows from external achievements. Through sharing our personal stories—from childhood experiences to the transformative tools of recovery, yoga, and meditation—we discuss how spiritual practices can help rebuild a healthier, more authentic sense of self. Together, we highlight the interplay between spiritual awakening and the emotional growth needed to nurture both self-esteem and self-confidence, offering relatable insights and practical reflections. (00:00 ) Introduction to Awakening Process 101 and the focus on emotional and spiritual growth. (00:18) Overview of the episode’s theme: understanding self-esteem and self-confidence through a spiritual lens. (01:01) How awakening helps us differentiate and strengthen self-esteem and self-confidence. (02:06) Personal reflections on self-worth and the impact of life experiences on internal growth. (05:01) Examining how early environments, from families to societal expectations, shape self-esteem. (07:51) The influence of parenting and family dynamics on cultivating healthy self-worth. (10:31) The role of 12-step programs in recognizing and rebuilding a healthy sense of self. (13:01) Yoga, meditation, and their unique contributions to nurturing self-esteem from within. (16:06) Exploring the energy behind self-esteem and its connection to spiritual practices. (19:31) How childhood and external validation affect both confidence and inner value. (23:01) Building self-confidence through external achievements and their limitations. (25:01 ) Reflections on the healing journey and how spiritual awakening fosters emotional growth. (28:01 ) Wrapping up with key takeaways, listener engagement, and an invitation to explore further.

"The Power of Alignment:  Simple Tools for Calm and Presence" This Tools of Awakening class is the first class in series highlighting posture as a practical way to reconnect with the body and support the nervous system. Simple practices, like aligning the chin or bringing awareness to the feet, can help shift from a reactive state into calm presence. Building on previous breathwork teachings, these accessible techniques fit effortlessly into daily life—whether during conversations or a commute—providing effective tools to stay grounded and deeply connected to yourself. (0:00) Introduction to posture as a tool for awareness, grounding, and nervous system support. (0:33) Explanation of the fight-or-flight state and how posture can shift us into calm presence. (1:15) Practical exercise on grounding awareness through the connection of the feet to the ground. (1:42) The role of chin alignment in improving posture, reducing anxiety, and supporting physiology. (2:59) How posture reflects emotional states like anxiety or codependence. (3:47) Tips on elongating the spine, lifting the skull, and softening the chin for better alignment. (4:36) Expanding awareness from the spine to the feet to cultivate a rooted presence. (6:03) Shifting energy from headspace to grounded awareness through posture practices. (7:41) Step-by-step breath awareness exercise to synchronize posture and breath. (12:20) Closing thoughts on integrating these tools into daily life and reflections on their impact.