The Aware Show - Best of The Aware Show with Ian Punnett: How to Pray When You're Pissed at God – Part 2

Best of The Aware Show with Ian Punnett: How to Pray When You're Pissed at God – Part 2

01/18/24 • 33 min

How do you deal with angry feelings when things go wrong? Do you sometimes think that God is to blame? Is it possible to pray when you are upset and hurt? Lisa continues the conversation today with radio host, best-selling author, and Episcopalian Deacon Ian Punnett as he shares ways to express your rawest emotions through prayer, as described in his book, “How to Pray When You’re Pissed at God.”

Ian talks about anger in a societal aspect and how it’s even portrayed in gender. He discusses an emphasis in how women are taught to “accept things” and “not be too loud.” This mutes their own voice because of expectations. If things are going wrong, prayer can actually keep you going so you can express your feelings. Ian talks about a simple 3-step method: Name it – What is really bothering you? Proclaim it – Give it voice in detail. Then, Reframe it. He talks about giving anger space and not reacting right away.

Ian also talks about prayer and religion, as well as meditation and visualization. He explains ways to express anger and how, in certain circumstances, it is fine to do so. We have a poor understanding of the role of anger; we don’t teach it, and we don’t know how to be constructively and responsibly angry. The model is in the Bible. Ian explains how there are Psalms and Hymns about anger, and he discusses the work he has done as a chaplain in the hospital with people who are very angry about their situations. He talks about addressing it, as suppressed anger can eventually lead to depression. If we feel like we are being hurt, we can pray about it.

Ian Punnett is one of the hosts of Coast to Coast AM, a legendary radio show syndicated on more than 600 stations across North America. He received his Ph.D. from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University and served as a professor and chief operator of the award-winning KSDB–FM at Kansas State University. He is a deacon in the Episcopal Church and received his Masters of Divinity degree from Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta. He has worked in radio since he was 14 years old, at the high school radio station, then as a nighttime DJ at a Chicago station during college. He also worked at stations in Nashville, Atlanta, and Minneapolis/St Paul. After experiencing tinnitus, he was forced to step down from radio and during many sleepless nights, he wrote the book, “How to Pray When You’re Pissed at God.” This is Part 2 of the interview. Info: https://www.coasttocoastam.com/article/ian-punnett

This interview was originally taped in June of 2013, and we air this today in honor of our colleague and friend Deacon Ian Punnett. Ian is one of the hosts of Coast to Coast AM, a Hall of Fame award-winning broadcaster, professor, and best-selling author. He passed away on December 22, 2023. Deus te Amat, Ian. Info: https://www.coasttocoastam.com/article/ian-punnett-march-3-1960-december-21-2023/

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Bill McKenna and Liz Larson: Optimal Brain Health – Simple Exercises to Adapt to Change! – Part 1

Change is constant. So how do our brains adapt to those changes? Did you know that if you have small accidents, like hitting your head while playing soccer as a child for example, parts of your brain can actually go dormant? Concussions can severely affect brain function, but there is hope and a possibility for getting your brain to be stronger than ever before. Today’s guests, Bill McKenna and Liz Larson, are the founders of the Cognomovement Program. This program is accessible to everyone, whether you would like to correct a minor brain injury or achieve peak performance and higher executive function. Whether through childhood sports and games such as a ball hitting your head, or accidentally banging your noggin on an open cabinet door, etc, the brain adapts to these small injuries. You can “wake up” your brain’s nerve bundles again through a pioneering series of eye movements that integrates the cognitive process and cross-body movements to drive changes.

Bill McKenna is the founder and co-creator of Cognomovement, the author of “The Only Lesson,” and co-host of “New Life Perspectives.” Bill blends scientific insight and spiritual wisdom to revolutionize brain rewiring techniques. His diverse experiences as an ultra-marathon runner, helicopter pilot, and a survivor of a near-death skydiving accident, shape his resilience and innovative approach. In 2017, Bill co-developed Cognomovement, discovering that combining brain activation with body focus could lead to transformative change. This led to the creation of the Cogno Ball, a key tool in the methodology.

Liz Larson is co-creator of Cognomovement and a Cognomovement Practitioner Trainer. She is the author of “Suffering is Optional” and “The Tiny Book of Big Manifesting.” She is a Master NLP Practitioner and the host of “New Life Perspectives” on UK Health Radio. Liz is renowned for her innovative techniques in transforming the nervous system and brain-body connection. Her work combines spiritual and scientific elements, revolutionizing approaches in personal development and wellness. Liz is dedicated to training practitioners and students with her latest discoveries, ensuring the Cognomovement modality remains a powerful, evolving tool for overcoming personal challenges. Liz started by studying the nervous system after her parents had Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. She combined this study with her work in Neurolinguistic Programming, and research in brain changes and neuroplasticity.

In today’s interview, Bill talks about how our eyes and our spinal cord are literally one system. We can affect our brain through our eyes as well as through movement of the spine. This affects the nerve bundles. We can know which area of the brain may not be functioning optimally. Through movements with the eyes, in combination with simple motions, you can improve your brain function.

After meeting with medical doctors and acupuncturists, Bill and Liz began to understand how body disfunction can be released as nerve and facial muscles relax. Ideas, inspiration, and moods can all be influenced as you progress with the movements throughout the day. The fascia is in better harmony and your brain essentially “switches on.” This is especially helpful for those who have had concussions. It helps with order and function, as well as preventing anger spikes. The brain is overwhelmed, and these exercises can help tremendously.

Bill shares his story of events where he accidently wrecked his yacht and almost went “down with the ship.” This led to an awakening – he realized that after this incident, he knew he needed to be of service to others. He was very logic-based but wanted to learn more about intuitive and psychic skills. He began to study and read books about these topics. He also realized he resented so many things and realized the importance of forgiveness. This was counter to anything he’d ever experienced and upon continuing his study, his crown chakra opened, and information started pouring into his consciousness. He was fully cognitive through these blissful experiences. This transformation took years, and then he met Liz Larson. They decided to start working together.

Liz had her own life path that led her to the Cognomovement work, as well as learning about business. As soon as they met, they started working together and started to develop their process. Their research is constantly expanding.

They also discuss how cravings can be subsided through this work. Any addiction or pattern can be broken. Anything that feels like an unconscious driver or toxic obsession can be changed. Health goals, as well as life goals, can all be set on track. Focus can be enhanced as eye movements and patterns will begin to bring about changes.

They further discuss how this system can help people with ADD as well as how grief and trauma affects the brain just like an injury. This can be very similar to how early-onset Alzhe...

Next Episode

Bill McKenna and Liz Larson: Optimal Brain Health – Simple Exercises to Adapt to Change! – Part 2

Change is not always easy, but there are ways for our brains to adapt. Concussions can severely affect brain function, but did you know that if you have small accidents, like hitting your head while playing soccer as a child for example, parts of your brain can actually go dormant? Lisa continues the conversation today with guests Bill McKenna and Liz Larson, the founders of the Cognomovement Program, which offers hope and a possibility for getting your brain to be stronger than ever before. This program is accessible to everyone, whether you would like to correct a minor brain injury or achieve peak performance and higher executive function. You can “wake up” your brain’s nerve bundles again through a pioneering series of eye movements that integrates the cognitive process and cross-body movements to drive changes.

Bill McKenna and Liz Larson are researchers who developed the “Cognomovement Method.” Bill is the founder and co-creator of Cognomovement, the author of “The Only Lesson,” and co-host of “New Life Perspectives.” Bill blends scientific insight and spiritual wisdom to revolutionize brain rewiring techniques. His diverse experiences as an ultra-marathon runner, helicopter pilot, and a survivor of a near-death skydiving accident, shape his resilience and innovative approach. In 2017, Bill co-developed Cognomovement, discovering that combining brain activation with body focus could lead to transformative change. This led to the creation of the Cogno Ball, a key tool in the methodology.

Liz Larson discusses her parents who never even saw a doctor. They were extremely healthy. They didn’t have any markers for Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s, yet they both developed these diseases. Liz explains how Parkinson’s is a fear disease, while Alzheimer’s is a retreating disease.

A big trauma, whether physical or emotional, drains your energy. So much energy goes toward this, and your body is not able to resolve it. It’s hard for your body to keep fighting all of the free radicals, including fighting stress, so your body cannot detoxify. Stress and division can cause disease.

So how do you begin to resolve these issues? 15- to 20-minute eye movements can help the system to auto-correct. The nervous system calms, and the energy drain can stop. You get your energy back so your body can heal. Cognomovement allows for the patterns of stress thinking and trauma to stop. If done every day, then even a few times a month, you will see significant difference.

They demonstrate an easy on-air exercise you can try at home. Pick up a colorful object. Then think about an opinion that is not helpful to you, or a little thing that’s bothering you. Liz then explains how to use easy eye movements to connect with sensations. After going through a series of exercises using both the left- and right-sides of the brain, Liz asks us to now consider the feelings we have about the opinion we were working with and how the story may change. After this simple series of exercises, new ideas and inspiring thoughts and feelings may flow! This is a great way to help make decisions. You may feel more energetic and clearer as well.

Bill and Liz also discuss how the Cognomovement Method is also very good for curbing cravings and food addictions, since eye movements can help to reprogram the brain. The nervous system can auto-correct. Most cravings are not good for us, even though we may enjoy what we are having. We may be looking for a moment of relaxation or a brain break, while we are eating an unhealthy snack. Once we realize this, we can take a healthier break like walking around the yard or doing a yoga stretch, etc. Y...