Today, Michael speaks with Oneika Mays. Oneika is a meditation teacher, yoga practitioner, and writer whose work centers on mindfulness, loving kindness, and compassionate living. After leaving a successful career in retail leadership following profound personal loss and transformation, she spent more than a decade bringing meditation and healing practices into spaces often overlooked—working with individuals and communities who have felt judged, forgotten, or alone, leading her to working on Rikers Island with incarcerated individuals. Her book, Sit With Me: A No-BS Journey to Mindfulness and Meditation, explores grief, self-compassion, unconditional friendliness, and the courage it takes to truly face yourself. Conversation Highlights Include: -How profound loss, career upheaval, and a canceled wedding became the catalyst for a completely different way of living. -Choosing discomfort and transformation over staying trapped in a life that no longer felt aligned or authentic. -A deeply honest reflection on grief, and learning to hold sadness and joy at the same time without denying either experience. -Why asking better questions creates expansion, self-awareness, and curiosity instead of emotional shutdown and certainty. -An invitation to "sit with yourself" by meeting discomfort, shame, fear, and uncertainty with tenderness instead of avoidance. -How real freedom often begins in the moments we stop running from difficult emotions and allow ourselves to fully feel them. -A powerful conversation about loving people you may never agree with, like, or understand, while still recognizing their humanity. -What more than a decade of teaching meditation inside Rikers Island revealed about judgment, compassion, trauma, and human connection. -An honest look at prison systems, accountability, restorative healing, and why true transformation requires support beyond punishment. Next, Michael closes the episode with a guided meditation on introspection, remembering your True nature, awakening to Divine Presence, and living from expanded awareness. 🪷 Follow Oneika and get a copy of her book, Sit With Me, here: https://www.oneikamays.com/ and across social media. ✨ What's your Life Question? Have questions about your relationships, finances, life purpose, or how to understand world events through a spiritual lens? Submit your Life Question to podcast@michaelbeckwith.com — your question could be featured in an upcoming episode to inspire others on their journey! ✍️Love Take Back Your Mind? This podcast grows through your support. If you've been inspired by an episode, we'd love to hear from you! Consider leaving a 5-star review or drop a comment. It helps others join this journey of growth and connection. 🎧 Never miss an episode! Be sure to Subscribe or Follow the show and turn on notifications so you're the first to know when new episodes drop every Wednesday and Friday. 🌐 Stay connected with Michael: Visit https://michaelbeckwith.com/ and sign up to receive occasional inspiration and updates—and as a gift, you'll receive his powerful guided meditation, "Raise Your Vibration and Be Untouchable." Explore even more at https://agapelive.com/. 📱 Follow Michael on social media for daily wisdom: Facebook: @Michael.B.Beckwith https://www.facebook.com/Michael.B.Beckwith IG: @michaelbbeckwith https://www.instagram.com/michaelbbeckwith/ TikTok: @officialmichaelbeckwith https://www.tiktok.com/@officialmichaelbeckwith YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqMWuqEKXLY4m60gNDsw61w 🌟 Support the podcast by supporting Agape! Take Back Your Mind is brought to you by more than just great conversations—it's powered by purpose! Our primary sponsor is the Agape International Spiritual Center. Founded in 1986, Agape is committed to individual transformation and to being a beneficial presence on the planet. Discover more here: https://agapelive.com/. If this show uplifts your spirit, please help us keep it going: 💖 Donate at https://agapelive.com/ and mention "podcast" 📱 Or text GIVE to 424-321-6243 with "podcast" in the message Your generosity helps us to keep sharing meaningful conversations that uplift and transform! Our secondary sponsor is NutriRise, the makers of Michael's AdaptoZen high-vibe nutrition and supplement line, designed to nourish your body temple from the inside out. Check them out here: https://nutririse.com/collections/adaptozen.🌿
