57 episodes

Welcome to the Autonomic Healing Podcast! We'd love you to follow and join Tom, Ruth, and friends as they explore the beneficial impact autonomic healing has on the mind, body, and spirit. Autonomic healing activates the brain to normalize the flight or fight reaction and holistically manages stress & trauma. 

The Autonomic Healing Podcast - Conversations with Tom Pals Thomas Pals and Ruth Lorensson

    • Health & Fitness
    • 5.0 • 17 Ratings

Welcome to the Autonomic Healing Podcast! We'd love you to follow and join Tom, Ruth, and friends as they explore the beneficial impact autonomic healing has on the mind, body, and spirit. Autonomic healing activates the brain to normalize the flight or fight reaction and holistically manages stress & trauma. 

    Many Little Lives

    Many Little Lives

    In this episode, Tom and Ruth delve into the concept of "Many Little Lives" and its profound implications for individual and collective thriving. They explore the origins of this idea, dating back to Theodore de Bordeaux in the mid-1700s, who used the metaphor of many little lives to describe homeostasis in organisms.
    Drawing parallels from nature, Tom and Ruth discuss how every organism, whether it's insect colonies or the cells in the human body, is composed of many little lives working together for mutual accommodation and negotiation. They emphasize the importance of recognizing the interconnectedness and significance of each individual within the collective whole.
    The conversation extends beyond the biological realm to encompass human societies, nations, and the global community. Tom and Ruth highlight the urgent need for negotiation and mutual accommodation on both individual and societal levels to achieve collective well-being and thriving. They reflect on the challenges posed by tribalism, lack of empathy, and the prevailing narratives of power and hierarchy.
    Throughout the episode, Tom and Ruth encourage listeners to shift their perspectives and embrace the paradigm of many little lives. They emphasize the empowering potential of recognizing the value of every individual and working together towards collective flourishing. As they conclude, they challenge listeners to embody this paradigm in their daily lives and contribute to creating a world where every little life matters.
    Thanks for listening!

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    • 39 min
    Love to Give Life

    Love to Give Life

     In this episode, Tom and Ruth delve into the profound topic of love, exploring its role in both surviving and thriving. They dissect the concept of love as a strong attraction and attachment, examining how it can either contribute to thriving or become co-opted into survival mode.
    Throughout the discussion, Tom and Ruth emphasize the importance of aligning love with giving life. They challenge listeners to reflect on what they truly love and how they prioritize their time and resources. The conversation highlights the distinction between love that gives life and love that merely serves survival instincts, such as the love of money or possessions.
    As the discussion unfolds, Tom and Ruth offer practical insights and exercises for listeners to evaluate their own relationships and choices. They encourage listeners to embrace a present-focused, legacy-building approach to love—one that transcends immediate gratification and leaves a positive impact for generations to come.
    Join Tom and Ruth as they navigate the complexities of love, guiding listeners toward a deeper understanding of how to cultivate thriving relationships and live authentically.
    Thanks for listening!

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    Check out the Autonomic Healing Website

    We appreciate you!

    • 26 min
    Kindness is Transformational

    Kindness is Transformational

    Join hosts Tom Pals and Ruth Lorensson on the Autonomic Healing Podcast as they explore the profound impact of kindness in managing stress and trauma. In this episode, Tom and Ruth delve into how acts of kindness alleviate burdens, foster connections, and trigger shifts from stress to well-being. Through personal anecdotes and psychological insights, they highlight kindness as a simple yet potent tool for self-care and healing. Tune in to discover how embracing kindness can lead to transformative changes in both individuals and communities.
    Thanks for listening!

    You can follow us on
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    Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts
    Check out the Autonomic Healing Website

    We appreciate you!

    • 28 min
    Joy in the Journey

    Joy in the Journey

    In this episode of the Autonomic Healing Podcast, hosts Tom Pals and Ruth Lorensson explore the concept of joy beyond mere happiness, delving into its connection to well-being, gifting, and grace. Drawing from personal and professional experiences, they discuss how joy can be found amidst suffering and challenge listeners to seek joy in the gifts they give and receive. Emphasizing the importance of understanding joy within the journey of life, Tom and Ruth offer practical advice for cultivating joy and invite listeners to embrace the ABCs of thriving.
    Thanks for listening!

    You can follow us on
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    We appreciate you!

    • 26 min
    Invite Intimacy

    Invite Intimacy

    In this episode, Tom and Ruth delve into the importance of inviting intimacy as they explore the ABCs of thriving. They discuss how trust, autonomy, initiative, industry, identity, and empowerment form the foundational layers leading to healthy intimacy. Drawing insights from developmental psychologist Erik Erikson's stages of psychosocial development, they highlight the significance of each stage in shaping one's ability to form intimate connections.
    Tom and Ruth emphasize the role of empowerment in fostering intimacy, enabling individuals to commit to relationships and make personal sacrifices for their well-being. They reflect on their personal experiences and share practical strategies for overcoming barriers to intimacy, such as mistrust, doubt, guilt, and inferiority.
    Throughout the conversation, they underscore the transformative power of rational intimacy, where individuals feel empowered to be themselves, share openly, and mutually support others. They invite listeners to explore their own journey towards intimacy and offer guidance on navigating challenges and embracing joy in the process.
    Join Tom and Ruth as they invite you to embark on a journey of self-discovery and relational fulfillment, where inviting intimacy becomes a pathway to holistic healing and thriving in mind, body, and spirit.
    Thanks for listening!

    You can follow us on
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    Check out the Autonomic Healing Website

    We appreciate you!

    • 34 min
    Hope is Thriving

    Hope is Thriving

    In this episode, Tom and Ruth delve deep into the concept of hope and its transformative power in managing stress and trauma. They explore the difference between wishful thinking and genuine hope, emphasizing how hope is not just a passive desire for things to be different but an active, rational anticipation of positive outcomes.
    Drawing on scientific research and personal insights, Tom and Ruth discuss the physiological and psychological effects of hope, highlighting its connection to the parasympathetic nervous system and its role in promoting resilience and well-being. They reveal how cultivating a mindset of hope can shift our perspective from survival to thriving, enabling us to navigate challenges with optimism and resilience.
    Through engaging dialogue and practical insights, Tom and Ruth empower listeners to embrace hope as a choice and a pathway to a more fulfilling life. Join them as they explore the profound impact of hope on the mind, body, and spirit, and discover how activating hope can lead to authentic, thriving living.
    Thanks for listening!

    You can follow us on
    Facebook
    Instagram
    Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts
    Check out the Autonomic Healing Website

    We appreciate you!

    • 31 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
17 Ratings

17 Ratings

SammiMarie11 ,

Great approach to holistic healing for Trauma

I was blessed with the opportunity to do AHA with Tom, and this podcast is no less amazing than the actual therapy itself. Amazing approach, holistic and hopeful healing to trauma, and gives healing and therapy a whole new brighter perspective. As a social worker specializing in mental health, there is nothing comparable to AHA, and I just love listening to the scientific, but also personable parts of this podcast. Highly recommend for anyone!

funngunn ,

Great alternatives to staying stuck

As a skeptic of counseling and one who’s long suffered with depression I find this podcast very interesting. It flips the switch so to say on long held issues. I’d give it a go and considered myself at furthering my journey along their lines. Great podcast!

surfermoon67 ,

Fascinating and Insightful

Aside from being fascinating and insightful, this podcast takes the complexities of a highly relevant and universal topic and presents it in a way that makes it accessible and enjoyable. Thanks for doing this, and good work.

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