Rebel Buddhist Ana Verzone

First, know that this episode is for people of all ages, because we are all elders to someone (there are always people younger than us!) and we are constantly having opportunities for growth in our spiritual maturity throughout our entire life.

The concepts I introduce in this episode help shape how we age and the choices we make at all stages of life. Too often we believe that as we age, we should try to look, feel, and act as young as possible. But the truth is, that’s not the freaking point.

We discuss a world where elders are seen as wisdom keepers, guides, and mentors for the community. Where they possess a deep knowledge and understanding that is invaluable to younger generations.

This won’t just happen. We need to see this as our role to our people, and make our life decisions from that place. Instead of just sitting around and saving money to retire and travel, we can make our spiritual growth and maturity more intentional.

We’ll jam on how we can continue to challenge the idea that aging is a period of decline, and talk about a few of the elders that I personally look up to and respect.

You will learn:

// Why thinking of true elderhood and spiritual maturity matters at ALL ages

// How we often view elderhood vs what’s possible

// Why taking responsibility for our spiritual maturity is crucial for playing an essential role in our communities

// Why modern industrialized society doesn’t hold reverence or wisdom the possibilities in aging

// Some examples of elders I deeply respect and look up to and the lessons they taught me

// How we can continue to challenge the idea that aging is a period of decline

// How spiritual maturity allows us to make our spiritual growth intentional AND still leaves plenty of room for fun and relaxation

Resources:

// Joanna Macy & her work

// Dipa Ma & her work

// Nature and the Human Soul, by Bill Plotkin

// Episode 154: Off the Cushion - Activism + Spirituality

// Episode 191: Soulcentric Adulthood

// I’d love to hear from you! You can leave a review on the Rebel Buddhist Podcast on iTunes by clicking here

// If you want to dive deeper into this Soul-level work and create a life of more freedom, adventure and purpose, head over to JoinFreedomSchool.com. It’s got everything you need in one place to build a foundation for a lifetime of self-exploration and freedom.

// If you’re new to the squad, grab the Rebel Buddhist Toolkit I created at RebelBuddhist.com. It has all you need to start creating a life of more freedom, adventure, and purpose. You’ll also get access to the Rebel Buddhist private group, and tune in every Wednesday as I go live with new inspiration and topics.

This week is a very special episode to help us continue to reduce the unnecessary suffering in our own lives - and in the lives of those we love. We’re going to talk about something we all find difficult in our relationships: the radical acceptance of other people’s shit. I’m going to share my own personal struggles with this and give you some ways that you can learn to accept how others act in a way that will bring you more compassion, love, and alignment.

You will learn:

// Why our loved ones often end up doing something that hurts us over and over (hint: it’s not because they’re being cruel)

// Why we often get so upset and activated when dealing with the unreliability of others

// How to deal with the disappointment of others that doesn’t create more suffering - for us or them

Resources:

// Episode 16: How to Improve Any Relationship

// Episode 74: How to Set Healthy Boundaries

// I’d love to hear from you! You can leave a review on the Rebel Buddhist Podcast on iTunes by clicking here

// If you’re not already there, Come join us at Freedom School. Together, we can learn to self-coach about how we can make this mean less about “who I am” and more about how this person might be hurting, that they're continuing to hurt. So come join us. Go to joinfreedomschool.com

// If you’re new to the squad, grab the Rebel Buddhist Toolkit I created at RebelBuddhist.com. It has all you need to start creating a life of more freedom, adventure, and purpose. You’ll also get access to the Rebel Buddhist private group, and tune in every Wednesday as I go live with new inspiration and topics.

This week we learn from Native Hawaiian wisdom in the concept of “pau kahana,” which means “the work is done” (most people simply say, “pau hana”).

The concept of pau kahana is more than just stating a fact, like “I’m off work now.” I’ve noticed that my

kanaka - Indigenous Hawaiian - friends create a very distinct separation between work and personal life. So it’s not just about stopping work, but also engaging in practices that help us release the day’s burdens and shift gears.

It’s a holistic mental, physical, and spiritual detachment from work after the workday ends that also allows us to shed the day’s burdens and shift gears.

We’ll explore how this Indigenous wisdom is so important in today’s modern society, where it’s so hard to unplug from the demands of a world where work is only a smartphone away.

I’ll share lots of helpful ideas to start your own pau kahana practice, including clear boundaries, connection to nature, people, and play.

You will learn:

// How to counteract the pressures of modern industrialized society as work is increasingly enmeshed in our personal lives

// What pau kahana means in Native Hawaiian culture… and how this Indigenous wisdom helps us release the day’s burdens

// The physical and mental benefits of detaching from work at the end of each day

// The key elements for creating our own ritual to help disengage from work

Resources:

// Episode 96: Unplugging in an Uncertain World

// Episode 194: Work - Survival Dance or Sacred Offering

// Episode 212: Privilege on the Spiritual Path

// Donate to the Hawai’i People’s Fund - an excellent organization supporting Hawai’i based grassroots organizations and fighting systems of oppression

// I’d love to hear from you! You can leave a review on the Rebel Buddhist Podcast on iTunes by clicking here  

// If you’re not already there, Come join us at Freedom School. You can start the mindset class, get coached by me multiple times a month… It's amazing! This month, we're going into writing our life story. You know, the old story that you're so fucking tired of playing to yourself and hearing yourself. Exactly. Done with that.

Let's write a new story. That's what this month is all about and Freedom School. So come join us. Go to joinfreedomschool.com

// If you’re new to the squad, grab the Rebel Buddhist Toolkit I created at RebelBuddhist.com. It has all you need to start creating a life of more freedom, adventure, and purpose. You’ll also get access to the Rebel Buddhist private group, and tune in every Wednesday as I go live with new inspiration and topics.

This week we talk about how privilege allows us to take risks when pursuing our spiritual path and enlightenment, and how to mitigate that when we don’t have a lot of it. We also explore why privilege is not a guarantee of enlightenment - nor the lack of privilege an insurmountable barrier.  I open up about my own privilege and hardships, and give some tips on how those who lack privilege can still proceed on their path with mindful, calculated risks.

You will learn:

// How privilege influences our journey toward enlightenment

// The types of risk we can take when we have less privilege

// Why privilege is not a guarantee of enlightenment - nor the lack of privilege an insurmountable barrier

// The privilege to take risks - and how we can mitigate that when we have less available to us

// Ways that a lack of privilege can be a catalyst for growth

// How to maximize the privilege we do have

Resources:

// Episode 43: Jealousy and Sympathetic Joy

// I’d love to hear from you! You can leave a review on the Rebel Buddhist Podcast on iTunes by clicking here

// If you want to dive deeper into this Soul-level work and create a life of more freedom, adventure, and purpose, head over to JoinFreedomSchool.com. It’s got everything you need in one place to build a foundation for a lifetime of self-exploration and freedom.

// If you’re new to the squad, grab the Rebel Buddhist Toolkit I created at RebelBuddhist.com. It has all you need to start creating a life of more freedom, adventure, and purpose. You’ll also get access to the Rebel Buddhist private group, and tune in every Wednesday as I go live with new inspiration and topics.

This week is all about exploring our edges - how to know when we’re “at an edge,” and the importance of leaning into the discomfort that comes with them. We’ll also share some tips to help navigate our edges when we come across them… and why it’s 100% worth it to get close to them in the first place.

You will learn:

// What an “edge” is and the places in our lives it could show up

// Why it’s important to lean into the discomfort of edges instead of buffering or numbing

// How to change our perspective of edges to allow for more freedom and growth

// Tools to navigate our edges when we come across them - and the discomfort that’s usually there

Resources:

// Episode 12: How to Expand Your Comfort Zone

// Episode 199: What is Liminality? The Space Between Transitions

// When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chödrön

// I’d love to hear from you! You can leave a review on the Rebel Buddhist Podcast on iTunes by clicking here 

// If you want to dive deeper into this Soul-level work and create a life of more freedom, adventure and purpose, head over to JoinFreedomSchool.com. It’s got everything you need in one place to build a foundation for a lifetime of self-exploration and freedom.

// If you’re new to the squad, grab the Rebel Buddhist Toolkit I created at RebelBuddhist.com. It has all you need to start creating a life of more freedom, adventure, and purpose. You’ll also get access to the Rebel Buddhist private group, and tune in every Wednesday as I go live with new inspiration and topics.

In this week’s Episode I share how I managed to build deep and meaningful relationships with spiritual friends after years of feeling alone, and what you can do to find your own sangha - your spiritual community. Plus we’ll jam on the importance of letting go of those who no longer nourish you and your practice… and how to do it.

You will learn:

// Why it can be so hard to find true spiritual friends as an adult… especially in moments of major transition

// How I began to find my people again, and the difference it made in my personal and spiritual path

// The 4 types of friends and why we should prioritize those who fit these categories

// The importance of taking action when you’re searching for your own spiritual community

Resources:

// Episode 115: Making Quality New Friends

// Blog Post: Your Squad Matters

// I’d love to hear from you! You can leave a review on the Rebel Buddhist Podcast on iTunes by clicking here 

// If you want to start gathering proof that there are spiritual friends in the world, come join us in Freedom School, where we gather once a week and you can get coached and witness other authentic souls exploring their path at JoinFreedomSchool.com

// If you’re new to the squad, grab the Rebel Buddhist Toolkit I created at RebelBuddhist.com. It has all you need to start creating a life of more freedom, adventure, and purpose. You’ll also get access to the Rebel Buddhist private group, and tune in every Wednesday as I go live with new inspiration and topics.