7 Resources Helping Me Refocus My Life: What I’m listening to & what I’m reading
1. I was introduced to Buddhism while in undergrad many, many years ago and reintroduced while in seminary just over 10 years ago. I’ve continued to embrace aspects of the practice and welcome opportunities to hear BIPOC leaders, as well as teachers, of the practice. With this in mind, Healing Our Way Home is such a beautiful blessing. Healing Our Way Home: Healing Our Way Home: Black Buddhist Teachings on Ancestors, Joy, and Liberation
2. As I’ve continued to learn more about my journey with food – particularly unhealthy habits and behaviors cultivated in childhood – I’ve found it helpful to liken reforming some of my food practices and behaviors to being in recovery. To that end, Buddhism & the Twelve Steps Daily Reflections: Thoughts on Dharma and Recovery has helped immensely.
3. Although not to the same extent, I’ve also welcomed reassessing my relationship with alcohol. No surprise to many, and as I’ve mentioned before, a great deal of recreation in my adult life revolved around food AND alcohol. I’m committed to cultivating JOY, fun and pleasure that involves MOVEMENT, art – which I love – an occasional selectively chosen meal out, AND beverages other than alcohol. This Naked Life: This Naked Mind: Control Alcohol, Find Freedom, Discover Happiness & Change Your Life helped someone like me with a family history of addiction embrace this new chapter more wholeheartedly.
4. Chef Babette is AMAZING to me! Women like her, Tabitha Brown, Pinkie Cole, Issa Rae, Ava Duvernay, and Tracee Ellis Ross have a special place in my heart. And in this chapter of my life, I’m increasingly drawn to Black women modeling various aspects of wellness. I’m both encouraged and inspired by Chef Babette’s journey AND have taken a liking to Bobby Price’s wisdom sharing as well, including this episode with the founder and owner of Tassili’s Raw Reality in Atlanta, GA.
5. The Huberman Podcast is for nerds like me who don’t have the time or bandwidth to explore another discipline with much depth. Andrew Huberman brings “all the things” and in a relatively accessible manner. Here are just a few of my favorite episodes, particularly relevant for this chapter of my life:
A. Addiction and dopamine
B. Sugar
C. David Goggins
D. Fasting and weight loss
6. I have all four of Juan Pueblo’s books but this is what I am currently reading: The Way Forward (The Inward Trilogy)
7. AND my E2M journey would not be complete without The Bad Podcast. I’ve grown to love listening to Brad and Dawain. And even more so, knowing a bit about their fitness journeys makes the podcast that much more special.
What are you listening to? What are you reading! And if you decide to – or already have – check out anything from my list, please let me know.
