Spiritually Hungry

When we encounter challenges on our way to achieving our goals, we can get discouraged and feel the impulse to give up. The truth is the middle is often messy, and the process never really ends. Join us as we discuss how perseverance shapes us into the people we are ultimately meant to be.

“The natural trajectory of the human experience is to become more pessimistic over time. The reality of living longer is seeing more negativity. So we have to nurture a growing optimistic view of our lives.” – Michael Berg

The Light of the Creator is the source of all blessings and a model of the selfless energy with which we can aspire to give. But how do we tune into this kind of generosity so we can give without hesitation or restraint? In this episode of Spiritually Hungry, we discuss the importance of whole-hearted generosity.

“Not only do I have a choice about which part of me I will live my life directed towards—the altruistic or selfish part of me—how I view the world, how I interact with people, and how I try to uplift people is very much my responsibility, as well.” – Michael Berg

Further Readings:

The Penguin and the Leviathan: How Cooperation Triumphs over Self-Interest

by Yochai Benkler

The Gift: The Form and Reason for Exchange in Archaic Societies

by Marcel Mauss and W. D. Halls

The interesting thing about superpowers is they are often hiding in places we least expect to find them. But why is life set up in such a way that the most beautiful and powerful parts of ourselves are often concealed? And why is it so hard to discover them? In this live-recorded episode of Spiritually Hungry, with special guest Abigail Berg, Monica and Michael ask the tough questions that help us identify our most remarkable gifts we are meant to share with the world.

Life is too short to spend energy worrying about what other people think. Yet, a vast majority of society places value on the opinions of others. In a world where ideas and thoughts are shared freely, how do we guard ourselves against negative influences? Listen to this mini-episode of Spiritually Hungry as we discuss how to use insecurity as an opportunity to learn about ourselves.

“The only thing that should matter is what you think of yourself.”

— Michael Berg

Further Readings:

“Why Does Everyone Feel So Insecure All the Time?”

NYT Article by Astra Taylor

Rav Ashlag said, “The difference between someone who is tremendously fulfilled and someone who is unfulfilled is their ability to see.” We all have moments when illusion blurs our vision of the opportunities for joy before us. So, how can we learn to sustain happiness every single day of our lives? Listen to this live-recorded episode with Monica and Michael Berg as they discuss pursuing happiness authentically and finding joy internally.

“One of the greatest ways to achieve happiness is not by attaining the next thing, but by having greater appreciation for what we currently have.” — Michael Berg

The Top Five Regrets of the Dying, by Bronnie Ware

Happier: Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment, by Tal Ben-Shahar