Purpose in the Process Shiloh Coleman: Purpose in the Process

My co-host and I discuss a few of the potentially lasting changes (hopefully good ones) from the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

My friend Mike Garrett joins us in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis to discuss the purpose in the process of suffering. Thank you for your patience as I took several months off to “counter balance” a few other goals and projects. I’m glad to be back doing the podcast, especially now, and I appreciate all of the continued positive feedback and support.
Some links for what we discussed in this episode:
Falling Into Grace, by John Newton (I quote from this book several times in this episode). I found this book in an Episcopal church book store during a break at the Austin Film Festival, and it has turned into my “sleeper hit” of the year, book wise. An unexpected joy to read, and full of deep, applicable truth.
The Bible Project - great videos, even better podcast (if you’re a fan of deep, long-format podcasts like I obviously am).

My friend Will Blackman returns to help kick-off the second season of the podcast and give us an update. For his first visit, go check out Episode 19!
In this episode, Will and I discussed:
What Will has learned about the importance of staying in the moment - and how continuously returning to prayer throughout the day can help exercise that muscle
Taking refuge within, despite “the shuffling of plates"
How does Will feel about Viktor Frankl’s charge that we should strive to live in a manner “worth” our suffering?
Learning to accept and embrace love (from both God and people)
Viktor Frankl’s view on religion being for the salvation of the soul, while logotherapy is for healing. Does God have a real place in our lives if we truly believe we can heal ourselves?
How constant distraction by the physical can starve us from experiencing the spiritual
The importance of making room to listen for God
I hope you enjoy our conversation about the purpose in the process of staying in the moment!

Famous chefs don’t become known because of their humility. But as it turns out, their restaurants might.
In this episode of the podcast, I spoke with renowned chef Peter Merriman about his unique approach to hospitality in his restaurants. Why is it that a person always feels welcome when they check-in with his hosts? How does Peter motivate his entire staff to entertain like they are “throwing a party every night,” prepare each and every dish like they are “cooking for their mom,” and consistently go above and beyond to “do the right thing” for every customer they meet?
In this episode, we discuss:
Why service matters as much (if not more) than the food
What are his “vital few” that he focuses on with staff?
The key importance of establishing and maintaining relationships
How Peter hires right, then gives his people a chance to shine
What it means to focus on the “internal customers”
How those who are served can get the most out of our experience as customers
The importance of sustainability, and connecting with the source of our food
How customer demand impacts quality
The importance of humility to the success of any restaurant
Thanks for listening! As always, I appreciate your feedback, and please consider supporting this ad-free podcast by becoming a supporter on Patreon
Links and More Info:
https://www.merrimanshawaii.com/
https://www.monkeypodkitchen.com/
PETER’S STORY:
Peter Merriman has been as a culinary pioneer in Hawaii for 30 years. Known as the original “locavore”, Peter is a vocal champion of Hawaii’s farmers, ranchers and fishermen. His restaurants showcase island grown and harvested foods through simple preparations that reflect the myriad flavors of Hawaii’s multiculturalism. Dubbed the “Pied Piper of Hawaii Regional Cuisine” by The Los Angeles Times, he is a continuing inspiration to Hawaii’s thriving culinary scene. 
Early Years 
Peter was raised in Pittsburgh, where a passion for food was instilled in him from a young age. His mother, Woodene, was a noted Pittsburgh Post Gazette food writer, and by the time he was 16, he was doing “grunt work” for Master Chef Ferdinand Metz at the H. J. Heinz Co. (Chef Metz later headed the renowned Culinary Institute of America.) 
Pursuing the opportunity to play football, Peter attended The University of Pennsylvania and studied Political Science. After graduation, Merriman enrolled in a three-year Chef's Apprentice Program with RockResorts under the auspices of the American Culinary Federation. The apprenticeship program took Peter to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and to Woodstock, Vermont, where he studied at the Woodstock Inn, under the supervision of Chef Hans Schadler. He then went on to various stints in resort areas across the United States and Europe, including a summer working among the vineyards of France’s Champagne region. 
In early 1983, Peter was hired as a cook for the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel. He arrived in Hawaii with one suitcase and $75 in his pocket thinking he would stay a few months at the most. But he fell in love with the natural beauty of the islands and the rich culture of the people who live there. In 1985, only two years after his arrival, he was appointed Executive Chef of the Mauna Lani Resort’s new Gallery Restaurant. 
Chef & Pioneer of Hawaii Regional Cuisine 
At his interview for the chef position at The Gallery Restaurant, Peter was asked what type of food he wanted to feature. Without thinking, he said “regional cuisine” and went on to explain how no other restaurants were serving the local fish and produce. Peter believed that to be able to offer fish that was caught the same morning and to use vegetables harvested the day that they were served was essential to providing the best gourmet Hawaii cuisine. 
When Peter got the job, he had to deliver on the concept, but quickly discovered there were almost no local products available. 
Peter adver

We go to the doctor with the goal of feeling better, so it should come as no surprise that conventional medicine is often aimed at helping us deal with symptoms, rather than identifying and addressing the underlying cause. Such an approach is all the more likely in an overwhelmed healthcare system where doctors are increasingly unable to spend the time required to identify and address the root issues behind many “chronic” conditions, especially those with no immediately apparent source.
In this episode of the podcast, I spoke with Dr. Hyla Cass about what has fueled her career-long desire to get to the bottom of what ails her patients, whether as a replacement for, or alongside more conventional treatments. As a renowned expert in functional medicine, Dr. Cass has written extensively about topics such as the nutritional supplementation of prescription drugs, alternative approaches to overcoming addiction, and even ways patients can avoid addiction to begin with by employing natural ways to elevate mood, battle stress, and increase energy.
Her latest passion involves the many uses of CBD oil for the treatment of a variety of conditions, which she writes about in her new book Your Amazing Itty Bitty Guide to Cannabis: 15 Key Steps to Understanding the Many Benefits of the Cannabis Plant.
In this episode, we discuss:
The importance of recognizing emotional trauma in the treatment of physical symptoms
Prevention and treatment of postpartum depression
The potential link between prescription drugs and mass shootings
The influence of economics on healthcare policy and conventional medical treatment in the US
Her viewpoint as a physician on the challenges facing the US health insurance system
How CBD oil can be used to address a wide variety of issues
Recent developments (and historic research) into the use of hallucinogenics to treat mental illness
The importance of organic eating, moving every day, and social/family activities to promoting health and well-being
Links: Dr. Cass’ website
Link to the article Dr. Cass wrote about the possible connection between prescription drugs and mass shootings.
Link to the Weed documentary with Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
Projectcbd.org, a site recommended for information relating to the research behind CBD oil.
ewg.org, the environmental working group site dedicated to empowering people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment.
Link to the Secret Ingredients movie we discussed, about the unexpected impact of the ingredients in our every day foods.
Your Amazing Itty Bitty Guide to Cannabis: 15 Key Steps to Understanding the Many Benefits of the Cannabis Plant
8 Weeks to Vibrant Health 2016: A Take-Charge Plan for Women to Correct Imbalances, Reclaim Energy and Restore Well-Being
Supplement Your Prescription: What Your Doctor Doesn't Know about Nutrition
Natural Highs: Supplements, Nutrition, and Mind-Body Techniques to Help You Feel Good All the Time
8 Weeks to Vibrant Health

What accomplishments are you most proud of? When you think of the "top stories" of your life - those where you felt most empowered, full of joy, or simply had a great time doing something you were really good at - which experiences rise to the top? More importantly, what specific attributes seem to be common to each of those stories?
On the heels of a couple deep philosophical episodes about finding “purpose,” I wanted to offer some concrete advice about the “process” someone might use to start figuring out what they want to be when they grow up. I’ve mentioned the “Seven Stories Exercise” in several past episodes and have promised to unpack that process at some point…at long last, here it is!
In this episode, we discuss:
The importance of doing “the work” in discovering what motivates you, not just what you are good at!
The Seven Stories process I have used (and have taught others to use) that will help you brainstorm career change ideas; or how you might stay in your current role but in a more meaningful, happy way
How you as a candidate can use this tool to come up with questions for your next job interview
I offer a free, practical evaluative tool you can use once you have done this work to sift through potential job opportunities and life changes - I hope it benefits you!
 
Links: A pretty good example of someone else’s tool to do the first part of the exercise (i.e., to spot your essential traits)
Then, here’s the simple free tool I designed myself in Google Sheets to compare various opportunities and track my own desired job attributes against those prospects (this tool gives you a final output of the 7 stories process).