UnLightened: A Guide to Freedom for Messy Humans

Amanda Gold
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

"Yeah! We're not trying to be Buddha over here, we're just messy humans trying to live well in our messy lives in a messy world!" - my husband when I told him my idea for the title. This show is for people like us. We're not looking for enlightenment, we're just trying to live with open hearts. We know being human is hard, but we don't want to transcend our humanity, either. Besides, if there IS enlightenment for us regular folks, it doesn't happen by trying really hard to get it. If there IS enlightenment, it's back to work after the flash. So we keep our feet on the ground. We don't do spiritual bypassing. We don't "love and light" the hard stuff out of existence. We're not afraid to be a downer. We go low. We feel big. We welcome the darkness. We can hang with the shadows. We dig beneath the surface. We challenge the unquestioned "truths". We wade through the mess and through it all, we find hope... ...lasting, solid, workable hope we can stand on and turn to and USE in hard times. This isn't airy fairy fluff, but we're into magical, mysterious stuff. We ask tough questions. We don't need answers. We definitely don't want the EASY answers. We say the hard thing. We have unpopular opinions and we're willing to share them, in love. We are determined to live, to find strength and meaning in a beautiful, terrible world. There is a mystic in each of us. We seek the magic: in ourselves, in the world and in each other We look squarely at the suffering: in ourselves, in the world and in each other. We challenge old thinking. We are building the new world, and we let the old ways fall. We are willing to come to new agreements. We listen. We seek, though we never find: not what were expecting, anyway. We do find more, though. We do find peace. But there is no THERE - We don't arrive. But we do get there together.

  1. Apr 17

    56. Hi again and bye for now! The inner guidance is makin' it weird.

    Hey loves! It took me a while to share this because I wanted to give myself plenty of time to make sure I knew what I was doing. I don't totally know now, but I do trust the energy that's telling me this show is complete for now.  I share a final lesson about how I made this decision, how I determined whether this was actually guidance or was it me quitting on myself, how I deal with trusting my inner guidance even when it's weird, inconvenient and really uncomfortable (and it is almost always those things!) AND why I still think this is the best ride I ever signed up for. I share these things in the hopes of helping you if/ when you go through something similar.  There is for sure more coming from me, maybe even as this podcast, just with a lil break between seasons. More will be revealed, and the best way to stay in the know is to sign up for my email list right here: https://mailchi.mp/39a3f717e8e0/sign-up-for-the-weekly-roundup and you can always say hi and stay in touch with an email to hello@amandagoldlifecoach.com I also still have a handful of one-on-one coaching spots available, you can book a free chat right here to see if that's a good fit. See you on the other side, whatever that might look like! and I wish you all the best as you keep seeking within to find what's right and true for you! Trust yourself, trust the process, trust the guidance. You can't get it wrong.  Big love, Amanda

  2. Mar 12

    55. Stop Worshipping Inspiration

    This is not the first time I've said that inspiration is overrated (see episode 8) but I really get into more deeply in this episode. I also had my own experience recently that made it SO clear that inspiration can even be a liability.  Inspiration gets a lot of hype. We tend to treat it like the magical force that makes creativity possible—the spark that finally gets us to sit down, start the project, write the thing, make the art, launch the idea.   But in this episode, I'm making a slightly rebellious argument:   Not only is inspiration unneccessary and overrated, but waiting around or demanding to feel it before you'll get to work? That's amateur hour.  When we put inspiration on a pedestal—when we believe we need to feel inspired before we create—we accidentally make our creative work fragile. We wait. We stall. We blame the absence of that magical feeling instead of doing the thing we came here to do.   And ironically, when inspiration does show up, it can make the crash even harder when the work turns out to be… well… work.   In this episode we explore:   • Why inspiration can sometimes become a liability • The surprising downside of waiting to "feel inspired" before creating • What actually helps you stick with your work when it gets hard • The difference between amateurs who wait for inspiration and professionals who show up regardless • How devotion, discipline, and willingness create a deeper kind of creative power   We also talk about something close to my heart: the mystical side of creativity. The moment when effort meets grace. The way inspiration and divine guidance tend to arrive after we show up—not before.   If you've ever waited for motivation, inspiration, or the perfect mood before taking action… this episode might change how you think about creativity, discipline, and your relationship with your own work.   Inspiration is nice.   But devotion will take you much farther.   Big love, Amanda 🎙️

  3. Mar 4

    54. BE POLARIZING! it's not even a thing, actually.

    I hear amazing, fabulous people with powerful messages for the world say "I don't want to be polarizing." But what if "polarizing" isn't actually a real category—just a perception? In this episode of Unlightened, we explore the fear of being polarizing and how that fear quietly makes us shrink, soften our truth, and edit ourselves into bland neutrality. You'll learn why resonance requires clarity, why disagreement isn't a failure, and how to stand in your integrity without trying to control how others react. If you've ever held back your voice because you didn't want to upset anyone, this episode is an invitation to stop being beige and start being real. amandagoldlifecoach.com @tigermystics facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kickasswithbothfeet email: hello@amandagoldlifecoach.com email list (AKA VIP hangs/ Tiger Lounge) https://mailchi.mp/39a3f717e8e0/sign-up-for-the-weekly-roundup book a free consult: https://calendly.com/kickasswithbothfeet/consultation

  4. Feb 27

    53. Ritual and Altars: Ideas and Permission for Beginners

    In this episode of Unlightened, we're talking about altars and ritual.  Not in a rigid, religious, "you must do this perfectly" kind of way. But as living, breathing spaces of return and creative expression and exploration.  Inside Tiger Mystics, we create a group altar every round. Each person contributes an item. I build a physical altar behind me that holds our prayers, our intentions, our growth. There's a candle I only light for our calls. Objects that stay. Symbols that represent us now, and who we are becoming.  And every time, something shifts. Because ritual isn't about superstition. It's about attention. An altar is a way of saying: "Oh. There I am." In the hurly-burly, frenetic swirl of life, it becomes a touchstone. A visible, tangible place to remember what matters. A sketchbook for your soul. A physical record of what you're devoted to becoming. In this episode, we explore: * Why ritual regulates and steadies the nervous system *why you might like to try altar-making if you haven't before, and ways to deepen your practice if you do * How physical objects can anchor your intentions * How moving objects in the outer world creates shifts and meaning in your inner world (and vice versa) * How to create a simple, meaningful altar (and what to do if you worry about doing it wrong) This isn't about aesthetics or rules. It's about being anchored. If you've been craving something grounding… something sacred but accessible… something that helps you come back to yourself— this one's for you. Light a candle and let's go.    hello@amandagoldlifecoach.com https://amandagoldlifecoach.com https://www.facebook.com/kickasswithbothfeet @tigermystics Book a free consult if you're curious about working together: https://calendly.com/kickasswithbothfeet/consultation

  5. Feb 19

    52. Join the Uncomfortable Club!

    Hey friends.  In this episode I propose that being uncomfortable most of the time is actually the place to be.  there are 2 types of discomfort. One is staying stuck, NOT living the life you dream of, and spinning around in the same ol' same ol'...for years.  THEN there is the type that I want to invite you to join me in: and that is being uncomfortable ON PURPOSE because that's what happens when you go for it and grow into your best and favorite self.  We're so scared of what MIGHT happen if we make that change, take the leap, go for that new thing.  But I think it's scarier NOT to. And the thing we're afraid of is essentially, at the core, fear of feeling UNCOMFORTABLE. And you already feel that way anyway. I'm here to tell you the other side, the CHOSEN discomfort that is the price of admission for all the cool shit you want out of life? It's actually not that bad and ALL the BEST feelings are on the otherside of that.  So let's go.  Join the club:  you can hang out with me here (email newsletter!)  here (facebook!) and here.(website!) And email me with any questions or ideas for future shows. hello@amandagoldlifecoach.com I'd love to hear from you, and I'd LOVE to cheer you on in YOUR radical discomfort.  Go get 'em, tiger.

  6. Feb 11

    51. Tiger Mystics Lesson 1: Updating Your "God Concept"

    This episode is different from the rest.  I'm doing it more like I teach in Tiger Mystics, letting ideas just flow through me. ( I bring lessons and prepare for the classrooms, but it's a lot more fluid. I move with intuition, letting the energy of the group inform what we focus on and where we go) And the thing I want to share with you today is how to release old ideas of god that you've been carrying around. How to update your thinking about it so you can have an experience and a relationship with All That Is (whatever YOU call it!)  I just want everyone to feel as good as possible, to feel how loved and worthy and cared for they really are. And if I can help break down barriers to that, I will.  So enjoy this more flow-y episode, no script, no pre-planned outline or agenda: just talking from my heart to yours. This is a GREAT way to get a better feel for what Tiger Mystics is about.  And doors are OPEN! til valentine's day.  So grab your consult ASAP. It's not too late for you to secure your spot in this magical loving community and have your own deeply satisfying, transformational adventure with us . I really encourage you to book your consultation EVEN IF you're aren't 100% sure. That's the point: it's a chance to chat with me and just get your questions answered and find out more. No pressure. Please don't hesitate to grab that call or email me with any questions.  hello@amandagoldlifecoach.com Click this link to schedule your call.  Wishing you peace today and always,  Amanda @tigermystics Follow me on Facebook amandagoldlifecoach.com

  7. Feb 2

    50. DARING TO BE DELUSIONAL (as a spiritual, radical, evolutionary act)

    Y'all get to hear my amazing joke about this. But beyond the cheesiness, (whatever- no, it's hilarious 😂) this episode is for you if you've ever had a goal or a dream, but you're afraid of being DELUSIONAL.  I say, go for it.  In this episode, I have some really helpful thoughts and practices for you.  I share my beliefs and philosophy about this, which you are free to adopt and have major transformation just from doing so... I explain a little bit about why this happens and why we do this to ourselves (and thoughts about what to do when OTHER people are doing it to you) AND some really helpful exercises you can use TODAY to help you evolve and stop getting in your own way. If there's something you want, you CAN have it. And I'm here to help. The world NEEDS your crazy delusional dreams, so let's go.    ALSO! exciting announcement....TIGER MYSTICS cohort 3 is open and calling its members! email me at hello@amandagoldlifecoach.com to let me know you want in (or follow me on Facebook and send me a message there.) Do it NOW not later, because we need to jump on a mini-consultation and you only have 2 weeks to get that on the calendar.  You are encouraged and warmly invited to book that call, even if you decide not to join us this round, or if you're unsure. I'm happy to help answer any questions you have and give you more information.  And I'm on IG @tigermystics Cohort opening ceremony is February 16th! (lunar new year energy, hell yeah) and doors to claim your seat will close on Valentine's day (the 14th) So book your consult right away!  I'm so excited to make magic with you in the new year!  GO GET EM TIGER!🐅✨

  8. Jan 29

    49. How to Create (and Master) Time

    Episode 49: How to Create (and Master) Time What if "mastering time" has nothing to do with control, perfection, or squeezing more into your day? In this episode, I'm redefining what time mastery actually is. And it's not about productivity hacks or perfection.  Mastery, as I see it, is about relationship. We're never DONE, but we can be really skilled, adept and at ease with time.  I share how my relationship with time has radically changed—from feeling trapped, rushed, resentful, and constantly behind… to feeling spacious, grounded, and at ease—even on days that include five hours at the dentist. We'll talk about: Why time scarcity is more about resistance, obligation, and self-judgment than actual hours The difference between managing time and creating the experience of time abundance How busyness often acts as emotional avoidance (and why slowing down can feel like withdrawal at first) What it really looks like to choose your calendar instead of feeling victimized by it How spirituality, recovery, and nervous system safety can make time feel fluid, expansive, and even miraculous Practical ways to start creating more space without blowing up your life This episode is for anyone who feels like they're always behind, unable to relax, dreading what's coming next, or waiting for "time off" to finally feel better. You don't need more time. You can create a completely different experience of the time you already have. And if you've been resonating with this whole time conversation, I'm inviting you to my free class: How to Make Every Day Feel Like a Vacation Friday, January 30th, 2026 at noon MST. Sign up RIGHT HERE Big love, see you there!  email me, I'd love to hear from you hello@amandagoldlifecoach.com   follow me on Facebook or @tigermystics on IG sign up for the email list here.

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About

"Yeah! We're not trying to be Buddha over here, we're just messy humans trying to live well in our messy lives in a messy world!" - my husband when I told him my idea for the title. This show is for people like us. We're not looking for enlightenment, we're just trying to live with open hearts. We know being human is hard, but we don't want to transcend our humanity, either. Besides, if there IS enlightenment for us regular folks, it doesn't happen by trying really hard to get it. If there IS enlightenment, it's back to work after the flash. So we keep our feet on the ground. We don't do spiritual bypassing. We don't "love and light" the hard stuff out of existence. We're not afraid to be a downer. We go low. We feel big. We welcome the darkness. We can hang with the shadows. We dig beneath the surface. We challenge the unquestioned "truths". We wade through the mess and through it all, we find hope... ...lasting, solid, workable hope we can stand on and turn to and USE in hard times. This isn't airy fairy fluff, but we're into magical, mysterious stuff. We ask tough questions. We don't need answers. We definitely don't want the EASY answers. We say the hard thing. We have unpopular opinions and we're willing to share them, in love. We are determined to live, to find strength and meaning in a beautiful, terrible world. There is a mystic in each of us. We seek the magic: in ourselves, in the world and in each other We look squarely at the suffering: in ourselves, in the world and in each other. We challenge old thinking. We are building the new world, and we let the old ways fall. We are willing to come to new agreements. We listen. We seek, though we never find: not what were expecting, anyway. We do find more, though. We do find peace. But there is no THERE - We don't arrive. But we do get there together.

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