Navigating Life in 2025 with Ancient Wisdom

Explicit content warning

05/14/25 • 40 min

In this episode of Shobukai Shift, host Mary Schaub explores what it means to be a peaceful warrior in chaotic times, drawing on ancient Eastern philosophies—specifically Taoism and Buddhism—to navigate the overwhelming pace and uncertainty of modern life.

Mary opens with a personal story from her early twenties, when a rare moment of stillness during a busy New York summer sparked a deep encounter with Buddhist teachings. This experience planted the seeds for a lifelong exploration of presence, simplicity, and acceptance—principles she finds more relevant than ever in today's hyperconnected world. With humor, humility, and hard-won insight, she invites listeners to explore how ancient practices can help us live with more grace and alignment in 2025.

Key Takeaways

💡The clarity comes from stillness, from alignment, from presence.

💡Buddhism encourages embracing the here and now.

💡Wu Wei refers to effortless action.

💡Life is suffering.

💡Pain and suffering are different.

💡You can avoid pain, but there's hope.

💡The purpose is for us all to help one another.

💡Growth arises through struggle.

💡It's not punishment. It's devotion.

Compelling Quotes

🎤"Life is suffering. Spoiler alert."

🎤"Pain and suffering are different."

🎤"Growth arises through struggle."

🎤"You are the change you and the world are waiting for."

Links

🌟Ariane Grande "Thank you, Next"

🌟Sheldrick Trust - baby elephants!

Keywords

✅Taoism, ✅Buddhism, ✅Transformation, ✅ Mindfulness, ✅ Inner peace

✅ Change, ✅ Purpose, ✅ Wisdom, ✅ Peaceful warrior, ✅ Personal growth

#Taoism #Buddhism #Transformation #Mindfulness #WuWei #PeacefulWarrior #ChangeManagement #SpiritualGrowth #StillnessInChaos #ConsciousLeadership #PersonalEvolution #RamDass #PresenceOverPanic #BecomingYourself

Disclaimer:

***The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice.***

Credits: Written, produced and hosted by: Mary Schaub. Theme song written by: Mary Schaub. Mixing Engineer: Dylan Yauch

Contact: Tell us how your transformation is going. Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at ‪(631) 371-3240‬ and we may play it on a future episode.

Website: M. Schaub Advisory (MSA)

** Shobukai Shift is a MSA Production **

Key Takeaways

💡The clarity comes from stillness, from alignment, from presence.

💡Buddhism encourages embracing the here and now.

💡Wu Wei refers to effortless action.

💡Life is suffering.

💡Pain and suffering are different.

💡You can avoid pain, but there's hope.

💡The purpose is for us all to help one another.

💡Growth arises through struggle.

💡It's not punishment. It's devotion.

Compelling Quotes

🎤"Life is suffering. Spoiler alert."

🎤"Pain and suffering are different."

🎤"Growth arises through struggle."

🎤"You are the change you and the world are waiting for."

Links

🌟Ariane Grande "Thank you, Next"

🌟Sheldrick Trust - baby elephants!

Keywords

✅Taoism, ✅Buddhism, ✅Transformation, ✅ Mindfulness, ✅ Inner peace

✅ Change, ✅ Purpose, ✅ Wisdom, ✅ Peaceful warrior, ✅ Personal growth

Disclaimer:

Credits: Written, produced and hosted by: Mary Schaub. Theme song written by: Mary Schaub. Mixing Engineer: Dylan Yauch

Contact: Tell us how your transformation is going. Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at ‪(631) 371-3240‬ and we may play it on a future episode.

Website: M. Schaub Advisory (MSA)

** Shobukai Shift is a MSA Production **

Previous Episode

Transforming Grief Into Purpose: Matt Fischer is Saving Kids from Addiction

In this conversation, Matt shares his journey of coping with the loss of his son and his mission to help other families facing similar struggles. The discussion covers the signs of addiction, the role of parents, the impact of grief, and the importance of community support in recovery.

Key Takeaways

💡Matt Fischer established the Evan Fischer Foundation after losing his 21-year-old son Evan to a heroin overdose on Thanksgiving Day 14 years ago.

💡He has personally helped approximately 700 children and young people overcome addiction through a model based on unconditional love and relational healing.

💡Drug overdose deaths have increased dramatically, from 3.2 deaths per 100,000 people when Evan died to 32.6 per 100,000 in 2022 (a 147% increase).

💡Signs of addiction can be subtle and progressive, with many parents not recognizing the warning signs until the situation becomes critical.

💡The foundation of recovery is human connection - "human beings heal each other" through unconditional love and support.

💡Matt works with approximately 50 young people at any given time, meeting them personally and following up to ensure their continued recovery.

💡Fentanyl has created an unprecedented crisis, with 70% of the young people Matt meets having recently survived fentanyl overdoses.

💡Parents can unwittingly become "master enablers" by not setting boundaries or failing to recognize signs of addiction.

Compelling Quotes

🎤"Human beings heal each other. That is why we're here. And that's the gift I got from my son."

🎤"It's not what happens to you in life. It's what you choose to do about it."

🎤"Addiction is a lifelong disease. It lasts for your entire life. So you have to change your life and become empowered yourself."

🎤"Be here now... life is meant to be felt."

🎤"The message I got just looking at my son's body was, 'Hey dad, no one wants to go through this. You can do something.'"

🎤"I'm always working with at least around 50 people at a time... and I'm trying to keep them going."

🎤"You're not renting sobriety. Nobody can take it away from you. You're your own self-reliant human being."

Keywords

✅addiction recovery ✅teen drug addiction ✅fentanyl crisis ✅overdose prevention ✅parenting addicted teen ✅substance abuse help ✅addiction intervention ✅addiction support ✅grief transformation ✅purpose after loss ✅drug addiction signs ✅enabling behavior ✅recovery foundation ✅addiction treatment

Hashtags

#AddictionRecovery #TeenAddiction #FentanylCrisis #OverdosePrevention #ParentingHelp #SubstanceAbuse #GriefToGood #PurposeAfterLoss #RecoveryJourney #AddictionSupport #SobrietyJourney #MentalHealthAwareness #ParentingTeens #DrugEducation #HealingTrauma

🌟Links

🙏 -Thanks to

Disclaimer:

Credits: Written, produced and hosted by: Mary Schaub. Theme song written by: Mary Schaub. Mixing Engineer: Dylan Yauch

Contact: Tell us how your transformation is going. Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at ‪(631) 371-3240‬ and we may play it on a future episode.

Website: M. Schaub Advisory (MSA)

** Shobukai Shift is a MSA Production **

Next Episode

Listeners Share How They Use Ancient Practices in a 2025 World

In this episode of Shobukai Shift, host Mary Schaub reads listener's experiences dealing with a 2025 world by limiting social media, trying Qi Gong, and using psychedelics.

Key Takeaways

💡 Navigating change can lead to greater meaning and purpose.

💡Ancient practices like Taoism and Buddhism can help cope with modern challenges.

💡'The White Lotus' showcases deep themes of identity and authenticity.

💡Personal experiences with mindfulness can lead to significant growth.

💡Setting boundaries with technology is a crucial step towards mindfulness.

💡Physical practices like Qi Gong can enhance mental and emotional well-being.

💡Mindfulness practices can be efficient alternatives to traditional meditation.

💡Exploring spirituality can take many forms, including psychedelics.

💡Community and shared experiences can foster personal growth.

💡The journey towards authenticity is ongoing and requires patience.

Keywords

✅ change, ✅purpose, ✅ancient practices, ✅mindfulness, ✅spirituality, ✅The White Lotus, ✅Taoism, ✅Buddhism, ✅personal growth, ✅self-improvement

Disclaimer:

Credits: Written, produced and hosted by: Mary Schaub. Theme song written by: Mary Schaub. Mixing Engineer: Dylan Yauch

Contact: Tell us how your transformation is going. Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at ‪(631) 371-3240‬ and we may play it on a future episode.

Website: M. Schaub Advisory (MSA)

** Shobukai Shift is a MSA Production **

Shobukai Shift - Navigating Life in 2025 with Ancient Wisdom

Transcript

Mary Schaub (00:10)

Welcome to Shobakai Shift, a podcast about transformations that matter.

Here, we talk about how to navigate complex change so that we can find greater meaning and purpose in life. I'm your host, Mary Schaub, and after three decades orchestrating change for Fortune 500 companies, I'm now finding purpose in guiding fellow warriors like you on your path to authenticity. Today, we're stepping into the ancient and surprisingly modern wisdom of the East. We're talking