Mindful Living, Overcoming Anxiety & Building Resilience with OPEN Founder Manoj Dias

05/19/25 • 53 min

In this episode, Manoj Dias gets real about his journey from battling health issues and burnout to discovering the life-changing impact of meditation. He opens up about growing up in a Sri Lankan household, leaving the corporate world behind, and what it really means to live mindfully. Tess and Manoj chat about spirituality, emotional awareness, and the messy beauty of being human. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, stuck, or just curious about finding more calm in the chaos, this one’s for you.

In this episode:

Manoj's journey into meditation after health struggles.
Meditation helped him make wiser decisions and find happiness.
Upbringing with Buddhism and curiosity about something bigger.
Intuition as a child guided him and led to surrendering boundaries.
Meditated 15 hours a day and connected deeply with nature.
Transitioned from the finance industry to teaching.
Created a meditation app after a seminar opportunity.
Discussed the intersection of religion, science, and meditation.
Breath as a tool for changing physiological states.
Embracing duality in existence with awareness and authenticity.
Importance of researching and being authentic in spirituality.
Emphasising that we are not defined by our experiences.
Meditation as a practice for self-awareness, not healing.
Creating the right conditions to thrive, especially with ADHD.

Mentioned:

Episode Sponsor: If you’re looking to support your health with plant-based, naturopath-formulated supplements. Wanderlust is a brand worth exploring. From sleep and stress to energy and focus, their range is rooted in traditional herbal medicine. Shop here

Explore more:

Open App: https://go.o-p-e-n.com/TESSTALKS use code “tesstalks” for a discount.

Manoj Dias https://www.manojdias.com.au/

Open Meditation app: https://go.o-p-e-n.com/TESSTALKS

Follow me on Instagram: @tess.shanahan & @tesstalksofficial

Follow me on TikTok: @tessshanahan

Follow me on YouTube: TessShanahan

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode:

Manoj's journey into meditation after health struggles.
Meditation helped him make wiser decisions and find happiness.
Upbringing with Buddhism and curiosity about something bigger.
Intuition as a child guided him and led to surrendering boundaries.
Meditated 15 hours a day and connected deeply with nature.
Transitioned from the finance industry to teaching.
Created a meditation app after a seminar opportunity.
Discussed the intersection of religion, science, and meditation.
Breath as a tool for changing physiological states.
Embracing duality in existence with awareness and authenticity.
Importance of researching and being authentic in spirituality.
Emphasising that we are not defined by our experiences.
Meditation as a practice for self-awareness, not healing.
Creating the right conditions to thrive, especially with ADHD.

Mentioned:

Explore more:

Open App: https://go.o-p-e-n.com/TESSTALKS use code “tesstalks” for a discount.

Manoj Dias https://www.manojdias.com.au/

Open Meditation app: https://go.o-p-e-n.com/TESSTALKS

Follow me on Instagram: @tess.shanahan & @tesstalksofficial

Follow me on TikTok: @tessshanahan

Follow me on YouTube: TessShanahan

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

Rewrite Your Story, Rewire Your Hormones: The New Era of Healing Starts Here! With Dr Sonya Jensen

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Dr. Sonya Jensen to explore the deep connection between our hormones, generational trauma, and emotional resilience. After navigating her own journey with PCOS, an eating disorder, and a passion for healing, Dr. Sonya shares how understanding the root causes of stress such as emotional, chemical, and ancestral can help us transform our health from the inside out. This conversation dives into the future of healing, hormonal blueprints, and how rewriting your internal narrative puts you back in the driver’s seat of your wellbeing.

In this episode:

The link between generational trauma, hormonal imbalances, and healing.
How to regulate your emotions and undo chronic stress.
The different types of stresses such as emotional, chemical, physical and how your body processes them.
How the stories we tell ourselves impact our physiology.
How to work with your vagus nerve to support your nervous system.
Tips for finding acceptance, resilience, and self-trust.
The significance of periods as clues to your hormonal health.
The impact of suppressing your natural rhythms (like with the pill).
How to shift ancestral patterns and embrace generational wisdom.
Understanding the hormonal hierarchy of healing.
The future of healing: self-discovery, emotional regulation, and hormonal recalibration.
Why postnatal depression is so common and how we can better support women.
Moon cycling and how to hack your hormones naturally.

Mentioned:

Discover the powerful guide to healing your hormones and reclaiming your story with Dr. Sonya Jensen’s book, "Woman Unleashed” Get your copy here!

Episode Sponsor: If you experience period pain, anxiety, or just want to feel more at ease in your body Hottie Co is a great place to start. Their Australian sheepskin hot water bottle offers slow, consistent warmth without the rubber smell or leaks.

Explore more here: https://hottieco.com/ Get 10% off your order with code TESSTALKS.

Follow Dr Sonya Jensen: @drsonyajensen

Follow me on Instagram: @tess.shanahan & @tesstalksofficial

Follow me on TikTok: @tessshanahan

Follow me on YouTube: TessShanahan

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next Episode

Change your life with Human Design!

What if the way you make decisions and connect with others was written in your DNA? In this episode, Tess chats with Human Design expert Erin Claire Jones to unpack the system that’s transforming self-understanding around the world.Erin explains how Human Design blends ancient wisdom and modern science to map your unique energetic blueprint revealing how you're wired to thrive. Tess even gets a live reading of her own chart, helping you follow along and decode yours too!

In this episode:

What exactly is Human Design and why it’s not just another personality tess
How the system was channeled in 1987 and why it’s more relevant than ever
The 5 types of Human Design: Generator, Manifesting Generator, Projector, Manifestor, and Reflector
Tess gets a real-time reading of her chart and what it reveals about her decision-making and energy
How understanding your “type” can ease tension and guide aligned choices
Why Human Design never changes and how it evolves with you
Tips for using your chart in everyday life (from business to boundaries)
How this tool can help you understand your loved ones more deeply
The power of trusting your inner authority and intuition

Mentioned:

Shop Erin’s book “How Do You Choose” here

Study Human Design with Erin: here (use the code TESS for a discount on the course)

Link to look about your design: here

Link to get your custom guide: here

Look at your chart for free https://humandesignblueprint.com/

Follow Erin On Instagram: @erinclairejones & @humandesignblueprint

Follow me on Instagram: @tess.shanahan & @tesstalksofficial

Follow me on TikTok: @tessshanahan

Follow me on YouTube: TessShanahan

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.