A Buddhist Secret for Calm, Energy, and Handling Obnoxious People | Trudy Goodman

Overview

This episode explores the transformative power of self-trust through a Buddhist lens, featuring Trudy Goodman, a renowned meditation teacher and psychotherapist. The conversation delves into practical strategies for cultivating self-trust, navigating emotions, and fostering connection in a fragmented world.

Notable Quotes

- Trusting yourself means letting the self as a point of reference loosen up a little bit. – Trudy Goodman, on the deeper meaning of self-trust.

- Be joyful, though you have considered all the facts. – Trudy Goodman, quoting Wendell Berry on finding joy amidst life's challenges.

- Forgiveness is tricky—it’s not about jumping over your feelings to get there too fast. – Trudy Goodman, on the nuanced relationship between forgiveness and self-trust.

🌱 The Foundations of Self-Trust

- Trudy emphasizes that self-trust begins with mindfulness—being present with your perceptions, emotions, and bodily sensations.

- She recounts personal experiences of ignoring her intuition, leading to significant consequences, and highlights the importance of listening to subtle inner signals.

- Trusting yourself is not about perfection but about recognizing and respecting your emotions, even difficult ones like anger or fear.

🧘‍♀️ Awakening vs. Enlightenment

- Trudy prefers the term awakening over enlightenment, as it feels more accessible and less idealized.

- Awakening is about being present in the moment, free from the grip of spinning thoughts and self-centered narratives.

- She challenges the myth of perfect spiritual teachers, sharing that even highly awakened individuals remain deeply human.

💡 Intuition and Discernment

- Intuition is a key aspect of self-trust, but it requires discernment to differentiate it from fear or bias.

- Trudy shares a life-saving story where trusting her intuition kept her out of harm’s way.

- She advises practicing small acts of listening to your inner voice—like following random impulses to connect with others—as a way to strengthen this skill.

🌍 The Role of Community and Curiosity

- Community is essential for self-trust, as it provides feedback and helps reveal blind spots.

- Trudy advocates for stepping out of ideological bubbles and engaging with differing perspectives to foster understanding and connection.

- She underscores the importance of curiosity, even toward those with opposing views, as a path to bridging divides.

💞 Forgiveness and Self-Love

- Forgiveness is deeply tied to self-trust but requires patience and emotional honesty. Rushing forgiveness can lead to self-gaslighting.

- Trudy reframes self-love as self-respect, emphasizing healthy boundaries and rejecting toxic altruism.

- She highlights the Buddhist teaching that no one is more deserving of your love than yourself, advocating for a balanced approach to compassion.