The Mind Mate Podcast Tom Ahern

I am pumped for this episode of the podcast! We have a truly enlightening discussion with the pioneers of Terror Management Theory (TMT), Dr. Sheldon Solomon, Dr. Jeff Greenberg, and Dr. Tom Pyszczynski. Terror Management Theory, a groundbreaking concept in psychology, explores how humans cope with the inherent awareness of their mortality. Developed in the 1980s, this theory has significantly influenced various fields, including social psychology, anthropology, and sociology. Dr. Sheldon Solomon, Dr. Jeff Greenberg, and Dr. Tom Pyszczynski, through their extensive research and groundbreaking experiments, have uncovered profound insights into how humans navigate existential fears, shape their beliefs, and construct cultural systems to manage the terror of death. Join us as we embark on a thought-provoking journey, exploring the origins of Terror Management Theory, its implications for understanding human behaviour, and its relevance in today's world. Get ready Mind-Maters to delve into the depths of the human psyche and gain a deeper understanding of what drives our thoughts, actions, and beliefs.



Here are some of my favourite quotes from their book ‘The Worm at the Core’:




“The twin motives of affirming the correctness of our worldviews and demonstrating our personal worth combine to protect us from the uniquely human fear of inevitable death.”
“Rituals, then, help manage existential terror by superseding natural processes and fostering the illusion that we control them.”
“We have to believe in our own truths to sustain the precarious view that life is meaningful and that we are significant, enduring beings. “One culture is always a potential menace to another,” Becker observed, “because it is a living example that life can go on heroically within a value framework totally alien to one’s own.” If the Aborigines’ belief that magical ancestors metamorphosed into humans after becoming lizards is credible, then the idea that God created the world in six days, and Adam in his image, must be suspect.”
“Yalom, following Austrian-born Israeli philosopher Martin Buber, calls it an I-thou relationship rather than an I-it one. By getting to know someone as a whole person rather than a need fulfiller, you can come to realise that the other person as just as ultimately alone as you are. But you now have that in common. Once you accept the limited knowledge you can have of each other, you can then feel close to and love someone, and be loved by them.”
“Somehow we need to fashion worldviews that yield psychological security, like the rock, but also promote tolerance and acceptance of ambiguity, like the hard place.”



And finally, here is their suggestion for living a good life:



“Come to terms with death. Really grasp that being mortal, while terrifying, can also make our lives sublime by infusing us with courage, compassion, and concern for future generations. Seek enduring significance through your own combination of meanings and values, social connections, spirituality, personal accomplishments, identifications with nature, and momentary experiences of transcendence. Promote cultural worldviews that provide such paths while encouraging tolerance of uncertainty and others who harbour different beliefs.”

John Powers currently holds a joint position at the University of Melbourne in the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies and the Contemplative Studies Centre. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Humanities and author of 20 books and more than 100 articles, mainly on Buddhism and Tibetan history.

Welcome back everyone! In this podcast, we, Tom and Paul, (holistic lifestyle coach) delve into the complexities of depression, exploring its causes, symptoms, and impact on daily life. We share personal experiences and insights, emphasising the importance of recognising early signs and seeking help. We discuss the correlation between states of non-clinical depression and existential crises/midlife awakenings and opportunities as well as practical tools to manage depression, including lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, healthy eating, and mindfulness practices. We also highlight the significance of social support, self-care routines, and developing coping strategies to enhance mental well-being and resilience. We hope you enjoy the show!

Deb Herdman is a Registered Nurse, entrepreneur and certified sleep practitioner. She is the creator of Nigh’ Nigh’, an author of two e-books and has been published in print, online, radio, and podcasts both in Australia and across the world. Deb presents sleep seminars to parent groups, health institutions, schools, and workplaces and virtual consulting to all ages that require better sleep/life balance. Opening the world’s first music and play therapy Sleep School, her resources are evidence-based and different from other resources. Deb offers Consults in home/clinic/virtual/phone anywhere in the world.

Welcome to episode 198! In this episode Pauly and Tom touch on a multitude of topics ranging from the grief and what the brain does in response to grieving to ways to access the flow state, The boys also touch on what Pauly learnt on his trip to India as well as his silent retreat meditation experiences; why Tom is feeling called to actively practice spirituality, whether secular or religious. We hope you enjoy!

Paul has been immersed in the Health and Wellbeing space since 2003, with extended experience in strength and conditioning, calisthenics, mobility, and stress management. Paul’s approach to training is ‘client first’ training. His experience training hundreds of people over the years has taught him that balance is the key ingredient to progress. Strength means very little without space and vice versa. It has been Paul’s mission to explore and negotiate the dynamic nature of life to move forward through movement, mind, and heart.