1
00:00:06,910 --> 00:00:13,990
Welcome to the Buddhist Boot Camp Podcast. Our intention is to awaken, enlighten, enrich,

2
00:00:13,990 --> 00:00:17,700
and inspire a simple and uncomplicated life.

3
00:00:17,700 --> 00:00:27,600
Discover the benefits of mindful living with your host, Timber Hawkeye.

4
00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:33,010
Like most of us, I was not born into a life of mindfulness or meditation.

5
00:00:33,010 --> 00:00:38,310
I'm not proud of it, but I spent my teenage years and most of my twenties mindlessly

6
00:00:38,370 --> 00:00:45,270
eating, drinking, smoking, numbing, escaping, lying, cheating, and running my mouth with

7
00:00:45,270 --> 00:00:50,650
no regard for possible consequences or how my actions might affect others.

8
00:00:50,650 --> 00:00:57,060
Needless to say, it has not been a seamless transition from that lifestyle to mindful living.

9
00:00:57,060 --> 00:01:02,280
It's not like the spiritual journey is only difficult in the beginning or that you reach a

10
00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:07,090
certain point and it's all downhill from there. Even after many years of practice, 

11
00:01:07,090 --> 00:01:12,900
we still sometimes take a tiny step forward, two giant steps back, climb up a steep cliff,

12
00:01:12,900 --> 00:01:17,300
only to fall halfway down a treacherous slope, and then start again.

13
00:01:17,300 --> 00:01:20,420
I used to think the word Relapse only applied

14
00:01:20,420 --> 00:01:24,510
for a setback in someone's recovery from addiction, for example,

15
00:01:24,510 --> 00:01:29,390
or the deterioration of someone's health after a period of improvement.

16
00:01:29,390 --> 00:01:34,110
But we can also experience a relapse in our mindfulness practice.

17
00:01:34,110 --> 00:01:39,080
After making significant progress in certain aspects of our lives, it can be extremely

18
00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:43,730
discouraging and infuriating when we revert back to old behavior patterns

19
00:01:43,730 --> 00:01:46,380
that we thought we had already outgrown.

20
00:01:46,380 --> 00:01:51,130
Even with a well-established and diligently-cultivated meditation practice,

21
00:01:51,130 --> 00:01:53,490
everyone stumbles from time to time.

22
00:01:53,490 --> 00:01:58,410
For example, it doesn't matter how dedicated I may be to mindful eating,

23
00:01:58,420 --> 00:02:05,060
I still sometimes lose the battle against deep-fried, sugar-coated, or salty deliciousness.

24
00:02:05,060 --> 00:02:08,430
In other words, we all relapse sometimes, 

25
00:02:08,430 --> 00:02:13,200
but it's important to remember that a relapse is a bruise, not a tattoo.

26
00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:18,550
In sports terms, losing a point is not the same as losing the game,

27
00:02:18,550 --> 00:02:21,500
and we are all still in the game.

28
00:02:21,500 --> 00:02:26,980
Sometimes we make life changes and don't repeatedly slip back to old habits,

29
00:02:26,980 --> 00:02:32,040
but many of our behavior patterns are so deeply embedded in our personalities,

30
00:02:32,050 --> 00:02:37,480
mannerisms, and routines, yet even then, none of them are set in stone.

31
00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:43,140
I decided to quit smoking many years ago, for example, and I haven't slipped once, but I've

32
00:02:43,150 --> 00:02:49,320
also vowed to be gentle with my words, and in all honesty, that is where I keep slipping.

33
00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:52,530
Mindful speech is where I often fall short.

34
00:02:52,530 --> 00:02:59,460
I do well for a while, but then I relapse back to harsh insensitivity and totally screw things up.

35
00:02:59,460 --> 00:03:01,810
Of course, and rather unfortunately,

36
00:03:01,810 --> 00:03:05,410
it tends to happen when mindful speech would matter most.

37
00:03:05,410 --> 00:03:09,700
If it wasn't for a couple of amazing friends pointing out to me when my words are

38
00:03:09,700 --> 00:03:12,850
as sharp as darts or as damaging as daggers,

39
00:03:12,850 --> 00:03:17,100
I don't know if I would even be aware of the many opportunities to reflect on 

40
00:03:17,100 --> 00:03:22,660
my tone of voice or choice of words, apologize, and self-correct.

41
00:03:22,660 --> 00:03:28,160
We are all a work-in-progress, and a change that comes easily to one person, may be

42
00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:33,040
someone else's lifelong battle. Good thing this is not a competition.

43
00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:38,770
There is one commitment, however, that we can all make and even help each other keep,

44
00:03:38,770 --> 00:03:41,790
and that's the commitment to continue trying. 

45
00:03:41,790 --> 00:03:44,440
Mindfulness is called a practice for a reason.

46
00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:49,310
When deciding on a new path in life, instead of focusing on breaking old habits,

47
00:03:49,310 --> 00:03:53,840
 I have found that creating new habits inevitably replaces the old.

48
00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:58,460
Because if we just focus on the old habit we are trying to break, we just reinforce it.

49
00:03:58,460 --> 00:04:02,300
But to implement changes in the way we respond to the world around us,

50
00:04:02,300 --> 00:04:08,230
I highly recommend you read Atomic Habits by James Clear. He offers practical strategies

51
00:04:08,230 --> 00:04:12,960
to master tiny behavior changes that lead to remarkable results.

52
00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:17,760
If you are having trouble changing your habits, it turns out the problem isn't you.

53
00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:20,030
According to James, bad habits repeat

54
00:04:20,030 --> 00:04:23,520
themselves, not because you don't want to change, necessarily,

55
00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:28,230
but because your system of implementing change is working against you.

56
00:04:28,230 --> 00:04:33,490
So, if Buddhist Boot Camp is the WHY, then Atomic Habits is the HOW TO.

57
00:04:33,490 --> 00:04:36,130
I really wish the two books were sold together.

58
00:04:36,130 --> 00:04:40,140
We may not have been born into a life of mindfulness and meditation,

59
00:04:40,140 --> 00:04:43,810
but we can certainly choose that life from this moment forward.

60
00:04:43,810 --> 00:04:46,270
New beginnings start with each breath. 

61
00:04:46,270 --> 00:04:49,590
So, get ready... set... change!

62
00:04:49,590 --> 00:04:51,500
Good luck!

63
00:04:51,500 --> 00:04:55,040
Timber Hawkeye is the bestselling author of Faithfully Religionless

64
00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:56,820
and Buddhist Boot Camp.

65
00:04:56,820 --> 00:05:00,680
For additional information, please visit BuddhistBootCamp.com,

66
00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:04,790
where you can order autographed books to support the Prison Library Project,

67
00:05:04,790 --> 00:05:09,530
watch Timber's inspiring TED Talk, and join our monthly mailing list.

68
00:05:09,530 --> 00:05:11,450
We hope you have enjoyed this episode, 

69
00:05:11,450 --> 00:05:15,470
and invite you to subscribe for more thought-provoking discussions.

70
00:05:15,470 --> 00:05:21,110
Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love. 🙏