Who Would You Be? with Byron Katie
Explicit content warning
06/29/18 • 53 min
Sam and Katie discuss the nature of reality and where pain and suffering fit in. They talk about living in the moment, free from your painful thoughts and beliefs, and do Byron Katie's The Work around Sam's recent heartbreak.
more about Byron Katie via www.thework.com
Byron Katie became severely depressed in her early thirties. For almost a decade she spiraled down into rage, self-loathing, and constant thoughts of suicide. For the last two years she was often unable to leave her bedroom. Then one morning in February 1986, she experienced a life-changing realization. There are various names for an experience like this. Katie calls it “waking up to reality.”
In that instant, she says,
I discovered that when I believed my thoughts, I suffered, but that when I didn't believe them, I didn't suffer, and that this is true for every human being. Freedom is as simple as that. I found that suffering is optional. I found a joy within me that has never disappeared, not for a single moment. That joy is in everyone, always.
She realized that what had been causing her depression was not the world around her, but the beliefs she'd had about the world. Instead of hopelessly trying to change the world to match her thoughts about how it should be, she could question these thoughts and, by meeting reality as it is, experience unimaginable freedom and joy. As a result, a bedridden, suicidal woman was instantly filled with love for everything life brings.
The Work, Katie's process of self-inquiry, didn't develop from this experience; she says that it woke up with her, as her, that February morning in 1986. The first people who did The Work reported that it had transformed their lives, and she soon began receiving invitations to teach the process publicly.
Since 1986, she has brought The Work to millions of people across the world, at free public events, in prisons, hospitals, churches, corporations, universities, schools, at weekend workshops, at her amazing nine-day School for The Work, and through the Institute for The Work of Byron Katie.
To become a patron and help this program continue producing Mood Altering Substance, go to www.patreon.com/hellohuman and pledge any amount.
For more of Byron:
Website: www.thework.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theworkofbyronkatie/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byron.katie/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ByronKatie
Books: https://www.storeforthework.com/collections/byron-katie-books
For more of us:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hellohumans.co/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hellohumans.co/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HelloHumans_co
And if you’d like to buy us a coffee (or burrito) once a month to help us keep going, you can become a patron by going to https://www.patreon.com/hellohuman and making a pledge of any amount.
Sam and Katie discuss the nature of reality and where pain and suffering fit in. They talk about living in the moment, free from your painful thoughts and beliefs, and do Byron Katie's The Work around Sam's recent heartbreak.
more about Byron Katie via www.thework.com
Byron Katie became severely depressed in her early thirties. For almost a decade she spiraled down into rage, self-loathing, and constant thoughts of suicide. For the last two years she was often unable to leave her bedroom. Then one morning in February 1986, she experienced a life-changing realization. There are various names for an experience like this. Katie calls it “waking up to reality.”
In that instant, she says,
I discovered that when I believed my thoughts, I suffered, but that when I didn't believe them, I didn't suffer, and that this is true for every human being. Freedom is as simple as that. I found that suffering is optional. I found a joy within me that has never disappeared, not for a single moment. That joy is in everyone, always.
She realized that what had been causing her depression was not the world around her, but the beliefs she'd had about the world. Instead of hopelessly trying to change the world to match her thoughts about how it should be, she could question these thoughts and, by meeting reality as it is, experience unimaginable freedom and joy. As a result, a bedridden, suicidal woman was instantly filled with love for everything life brings.
The Work, Katie's process of self-inquiry, didn't develop from this experience; she says that it woke up with her, as her, that February morning in 1986. The first people who did The Work reported that it had transformed their lives, and she soon began receiving invitations to teach the process publicly.
Since 1986, she has brought The Work to millions of people across the world, at free public events, in prisons, hospitals, churches, corporations, universities, schools, at weekend workshops, at her amazing nine-day School for The Work, and through the Institute for The Work of Byron Katie.
To become a patron and help this program continue producing Mood Altering Substance, go to www.patreon.com/hellohuman and pledge any amount.
For more of Byron:
Website: www.thework.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theworkofbyronkatie/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byron.katie/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ByronKatie
Books: https://www.storeforthework.com/collections/byron-katie-books
For more of us:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hellohumans.co/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hellohumans.co/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HelloHumans_co
And if you’d like to buy us a coffee (or burrito) once a month to help us keep going, you can become a patron by going to https://www.patreon.com/hellohuman and making a pledge of any amount.
Previous Episode
Give It Up For Yourself with Mandy Stadtmiller
Sam sat down with Mandy Stadtmiller, a freelance writer and author of the new memoir Unwifeable, in LA at a time when he was in a deep depression. What came out of this conversation is a beautiful reminder of the importance of mental health awareness, laughter at the misery of it all, and hope for more creative work. Mandy’s book (available now!) details her experiences as a young gossip and dating columnist first at the New York Post, and then on to places like New York Magazine and The Daily Beast. Mandy gets honest about everything— getting sober, details of her sex life, and eventually finding a partner.
The suicide prevention lifeline is a resource anyone who has struggled with suicidal thoughts or attempts should be aware of. The have a free 24/7 phone number and online chat.
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
1-800-273-8255
To become a patron and help this program continue producing Mood Altering Substance, go to www.patreon.com/hellohuman and pledge any amount.
For more of Mandy:
Buy the book: https://tinyurl.com/ycvrxchg
Website: mandystadtmiller.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mandystadt
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mandystadt
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mandystadt/
For more of us:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hellohumans.co/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hellohumans.co/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HelloHumans_co
And if you’d like to buy us a coffee (or burrito) once a month to help us keep going, you can become a patron by going to https://www.patreon.com/hellohuman and making a pledge of any amount.
Next Episode
Keep Going, Your Art Is Valid with Julia Cameron
Every artist—no, every human—needs to listen to this episode. Sam sits down with Julia Cameron, author, playwright, filmmaker, composer, and teacher. Julia’s book The Artist’s Way has changed countless people’s lives. Julia teaches us all to give ourselves the permission to create. If you’ve ever doubted your work or doubted its value, please listen to this conversation.
To become a patron and help this program continue producing Mood Altering Substance, go to www.patreon.com/hellohuman and pledge any amount.
For more of julia:
Website: http://juliacameronlive.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juliacameronlive/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliacameronlive/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/J_CameronLive
Todays Shoutouts!
Mercy Bell's music: https://mercybell.bandcamp.com/
Torri Horness Poetry: http://notesontheway.com/
For more of us:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hellohumans.co/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hellohumans.co/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HelloHumans_co
And if you’d like to buy us a coffee (or burrito) once a month to help us keep going, you can become a patron by going to https://www.patreon.com/hellohuman and making a pledge of any amount.
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