Kind Mind

Michael Todd Fink
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Kind Mind

Explore the meaning of life and the transformative wisdom of kindness. Each episode of Kind Mind is a tapestry of psychological insights from art, science, and philosophy for inspiration on the inward and upward journey. Michael Todd Fink is an artist and counselor.  He is also the co-founder of the acclaimed music group The Giving Tree Band.  He holds certifications in addiction counseling and mindfulness meditation and earned his psychology and music degrees from Georgetown University. He is currently a graduate candidate at Columbia University in advanced clinical social work.  Todd’s 2020 Tedx Talk is called “Beauty is in the Brain of the Beholder” and he speaks to many groups and organizations to help communities build sustainable cultures of well-being and peace.  https://www.michaeltoddfink.com

  1. 7 APR

    Un-commodifying Attention

    Join our community on patreon: https://patreon.com/kindmind A short reflection on technology and the rise of mindfulness.

    7 min

  2. 29 MAR

    Animals Know More Than Us

    Join us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/kindmind to support this show or simply connect as free member with access to more resources.Animals have long been seen as spiritual messengers and vessels of deeper truths, guiding us through the complexities of existence with their simple yet profound ways of being. Living with pets offers a unique opportunity to engage with their lessons on an intimate level. These creatures, whether they are part of our myths or our homes, invite us to see beyond the surface of life, to embrace the essence of what it means to love, or to be loyal, or to journey through the world with grace and presence. In them, we find not just companions, but spiritual guides, gently leading us toward a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.(Music “Ultramarine” by Bing Satellites)

    31 min

  3. 24 FEB

    Ears Can't Say No

    Come join us on Patreon! We’d love a contribution but you are also welcome to join as a free member: https://patreon.com/kindmind and access more.With the big shifts happening, it is a good time for quiet reflection and listening with one's whole heart.In communication, when we speak, we mostly share what we think we know but when it is our turn to listen there is every possibility of learning and growth.Deep listening often requires cultivating inner silence and stillness. By quieting the mind and ego, one creates space to perceive subtler layers of meaning, insight, or even divine presence.In Zen Buddhism, for example, the classic Koan of listening to the "sound of one hand clapping" symbolizes an inward journey toward understanding the unspoken truths of existence.Theologian Henri Nouwen said:"To listen is very hard because it asks of us so much interior stability that we no longer need to prove ourselves by speeches, arguments, statements, or declarations. True listeners no longer have an inner need to make their presence known."

    21 min

  4. 1 FEB

    Life and Death are Not Binary

    “To die each day to your certainties is to be reborn in wonder.”Join us on Patreon, for free or to contribute support to this show, and access more resources at https://patreon.com/kindmind This talk was recording on October 20, 2024 at Speakeasy Spiritual Community.We often think of life and death as opposites—life being everything, death being nothing. This understanding overlooks the matrix of existence, where life and death are interwoven. Death is often a process—gradual, transitional, and even non-final.And we experience metaphysical deaths throughout life: the death of youth, relationships, ideas, or phases of identity. In this light, we may discover the meaningful ways in which we are still dying to come alive. In social psychology, Terror Management Theory (TMT) can explain how people’s fear of death paradoxically suppresses life and collectively drives many behaviors and cultural norms. With death as the last taboo, groups may foster materialism, nationalism, or the pursuit of legacy and the upholding of social constructs as the means to symbolically "live on." Philosopher Ernest Becker’s “Denial of Death” contends that human civilization itself is largely an elaborate defense mechanism against the knowledge of our mortality. (Music “Slow Movement in the Light” by Ethereal Ephemera)

    22 min

  5. 31/12/2024

    Table of Contentment

    Join us on Patreon to stay connected, access bonus content, or support this work - https://patreon.com/kindmindThis episode examines contentment as distinct from happiness in its revelation being inward rather than outward.  Yet, the two concepts are often conflated and this contributes to the elusiveness of contentment. The more one chases, the more elusive contentment becomes.  Living in a material-oriented culture that socializes individuals towards themes of progress, production, and perfection results in endless contingencies.Hence, the price of contentment is everything and nothing. One may need to sacrifice all they were taught to believe about the meaning of life and success. On the other hand, if contentment is an inward discovery, then it is closer than anything can be.(Music selection “Breathe” by Bing Satellites)

    39 min

  6. 13/12/2024

    The Fright Before Christmas

    Stay connected at https://patreon.com/kindmind Friday the 13th reminds us of the strange power that certain beliefs hold in the collective consciousness. While superstition often seems irrational in the modern world, its persistence reveals deeper metaphysical truths about how humans navigate uncertainty.

    28 min

  7. 30/11/2024

    Deeper Lessons with Marianne Williamson

    Todd talks with Marianne Williamson about the deeper lessons from the current collective shift.For more than four decades, Marianne Williamson has been a leader of spiritually progressive circles, as well as the author of 16 books, four of which have been #1 New York Times best sellers. Marianne also ran for the Democratic nomination for President in 2020 and 2024.In this episode, they reflect on the deeper lessons of this year and discuss a vision of hope for the future.You can support this work at https://patreon.com/kindmind and follow Marianne at https://marianne.com

    1h 2m

  8. 09/11/2024

    Forgivefulness

    You can support this work and join us at https://patreon.com/kindmind There is an option for free membership for those unable to contribute financially. Check out the video there from a live event last night about the coming Winter.One of the oldest words for forgiveness is kshama in Sanskrit language, which literally means “releasing time.”  This reminds me of when Lily Tomlin once said, “forgiveness is giving up all hope for a better past.”   And that is the real gift of forgiveness - the unbinding of ourselves to a previous moment and no longer looking for peace in the place where we think we lost it.  This episode explores again how kind this can be to ourselves.

    21 min
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    About

    Explore the meaning of life and the transformative wisdom of kindness. Each episode of Kind Mind is a tapestry of psychological insights from art, science, and philosophy for inspiration on the inward and upward journey. Michael Todd Fink is an artist and counselor.  He is also the co-founder of the acclaimed music group The Giving Tree Band.  He holds certifications in addiction counseling and mindfulness meditation and earned his psychology and music degrees from Georgetown University. He is currently a graduate candidate at Columbia University in advanced clinical social work.  Todd’s 2020 Tedx Talk is called “Beauty is in the Brain of the Beholder” and he speaks to many groups and organizations to help communities build sustainable cultures of well-being and peace.  https://www.michaeltoddfink.com

    Information

    • Creator
      Michael Todd Fink
    • Years Active
      2017 - 2025
    • Episodes
      128
    • Rating
      Clean
    • Copyright
      © Michael Todd Fink
    • Show Website
      Kind Mind

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