How do you handle difficulties in life? Some dig deep while others look outside. Host, Mike Domitrz, welcomes CAST members Vicki Abadesco, Mark Black and Darren Tipton to discuss difficulties. 
Today’s topic was inspired by a quote from Stephen Cope’s book, The Great Work of Your Life. “When difficulties arise, give yourself to them. See them as dharma. Go into the heart of the difficulty. Experience it. Investigate it. Take yourself into the center of the conflict. Learn to tolerate its discomfort without acting or reacting. And what do you find at the heart of fear, dread, loathing, anger, and hatred? You find a surprise. You find a gift.”
After listening to the conversation, share examples of your difficulties on the Everyday Mindfulness Show Facebook page.
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Key Takeaways:
[1:24] Mike reads the quote which inspired this conversation.
[2:02] Slowing down and quelling a reaction is the first step.
[7:13] The discipline of creating a relationship with a feeling.
[10:16] Mike shares a recent experience pertinent to the conversation.
[17:58] Accepting whole life difficulties.
[21:01] Instant community is formed when we are open and vulnerable.
[28:24] Books the CAST has read that have helped them dive into the center of difficulty.
 
Mentioned in This Episode:
The Great Work of Your Life: A Guide for the Journey to Your True Calling, by
Stephen Cope
When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times, by Pema Chödrön
Byron Katie
The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming, by Henri Nouwen
 
Vicki Abadesco is the founder and director of Soul Shoppe, an organization that teaches strategies for social-emotional awareness, conflict resolution, bullying prevention and empathy building to elementary and middle school communities. Every school year Soul Shoppe touches the hearts and minds of close to 100,000 students through interactive workshops and assemblies. Vicki is an author, facilitator, program designer and award-winning creator of compelling workshops & curriculum for adults and youth.
Soulshoppe.com
Facebook.com/SoulShoppe
Twitter.com/soulshoppe
 
Mark Black is a Heart-Lung Transplant Recipient turned 4-Time Marathon Runner. A resilience expert, Mark helps people “Thrive in Challenging Times.” Mark has worked with more than 100,000 people and 400 organizations.
Mark doesn’t just teach resilience, he embodies it. At 23, Mark was facing an early death from heart failure. By 26, thanks to a rare heart-lung transplant, he was running marathons. He lives in Moncton, NB, with his wife and three children.
MarkBlack.ca
Facebook.com/MarkBlackSpeaks
Twitter.com/MarkBlackSpeaks
 
Volunteerism and service transform communities and bring purpose to life! For twenty years, Darren Tipton has been challenging people to volunteer. He is the inspiration of the volunteer mobilization resource: “Kathatika” — a call to volunteer action bringing awareness of the infinite impact of volunteer service, and the co-author of the community-based engagement curriculum of Story to Service. He’s the founder of Project Humanity, a nonprofit focused on empowering women in Africa.
ProjectHumanity.com
Facebook.com/ProjectHumanity
Twitter.com/PjctHumanity
 
 
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