A Mindful-Nest Podcast

Family traditions may be something that we hated when we  were young because we were asked to do certain things without knowing  their purposes. As we become more mature, we started to appreciate the  values of those used-to-be-silly family traditions because they help  strengthen the bond between family members and create so many fond  memories. But, as adults, it is quite challenging to maintain these  traditions because we have to spend time for other aspects of life.

In  this episode, Kay - Mahi - Nam share with the listeners their favorite  childhood family traditions and what they have learnt from these  experiences.

The three hosts were so into this topic that the  recording session lasted for more than an hour. So we have decided two  cut this episode into two halves. The first half will feature mainly  family tradition stories from three different cultures Myanmar - India -  Vietnam.

For this week’s episode, Nam, Mahi, and Kay will discuss  different aspects of being an adult: the transition into adulthood, the  new roles that they’ve taken, and the moments that make them want to be  a child again.

When slowly stepping into adulthood, we realize  that we’re free to make decisions on our own, yet at the same time we’re  supposed to bear more responsibilities for our family members. At  first, this situation may cause mixed emotions, but it is also a chance  for us to be more empathetic towards our parents, and more importantly  to find meaning for our life

This episode features stories and  perspectives of the youngest child, the oldest child, and the only  child. If you’re curious about who is who, please give it a listen.

“Those who lived through childhood have enough material to write (or tell) for the rest of their life” (Flannery O’Connor). One interesting aspect of this period is the characteristics or behaviors that we picked up from our caregivers, be it our parents, grandparents or relatives, which will be the focus of this week’s conversation.

For this episode, Kay, Mahi, and Nam have had a fun time exchanging many stories from their childhood and how these memorable events have shaped their characters now. At the end of the conversation, the three hosts also look at how love and gratitude is often expressed in Asian families.

This episode is filled with many joyful moments as well as deep, reflective ones. We hope that you will enjoy it! Also feel free to share with us your thoughts at the comment section below or through welcome@mindful-nest.com.

Welcome to A Mindful-Nest Podcast Season 2.

Welcome back to A Mindful-nest Podcast! In this season, Nam, our co-founder, and his two close friends from university time Kay and Mahi will embark on a quest to re-explore the different aspects of family through the eyes of independent young adults. In this first episode, you will get to know more about Kay and Mahi and why they are willing to join us on our journey. As to dig into the first layer of the topic, we will also contemplate on what family means to each of us. Amid the pandemic, we realize more conversations on family are so much needed right now. Conversations like these will give us the greatest source of strength to survive and thrive in the new-normal world.

In this week’s podcast, we wrap up a 3-part conversation series on “On Loneliness”. As a continual conversation from the previous 2 episodes, this week invites us to ponder on the multiple facets of being a human, and the emotions that come along with each facet. In this awareness, we discover the power of meeting, accepting and embracing ourselves as who we are, in this moment.

For in each moment, are we truly all alone?
What is keeping the richness of life out of our awareness?

Check out our previous two episodes as well and let us hear from you in your burning question as you listen this week:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQL…U4HkjUFcJotdAf7zA

Warm Embrace,
Nam Taro & Ceri Lan

In a world of billions of people, many of us are silently hiding ALL ALONE.

For we often put on masks when we are together. And then, we crave being alone so we can put down the heavy mask. The armor becomes a safe skin that we cling on for too long. Then we wonder, why we lost who we are? Why no one understands? Yet, I understand. It can feel threatening to be in our vulnerabilities. It is not your fault to crave safety.

However, hiding will only grow our insecurities and kept the disconnections distance us from the people who could hold us so lovingly. It is no comfort to feel all alone with or without people. In this week’s podcast, we took the courage to let the voice behind our masks speak. Though vulnerable, we have come to hear “What is important to the person behind this mask?”.

Our hope in being ourselves is to be with others who may experience the same journey. We want to let you know, all parts of you are worthy and loveable. Our insecurities keep us away from each other, but can it be the exact thing that unites us?

This week’s podcast is a continual conversation from last week: "How do we sit with insecurity?" 

If you have a burning question or subject that you want us to explore with you, please do give us your voice in the form below: https://bit.ly/3jyHInN

Enjoy your moment as we journey together. You can also keep track of the most updated episodes from A Mindful-Nest Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Anchor, or any other podcast platforms.

There is only one person with whom you communicate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year, every year of my life. That person is you.

So, how do you sit with you, as you are?
How to sit with your disconnection?
How to sit with your insecurity?

In this week’s Mindful-Nest Podcast, Nam invited us into a somatic meditation to experience "What is being felt in our bodies?". Then, we go on a journey of exploring how to sit with our self-doubts and insecurity.

Mindful-Nest is also a space of co-creation between the participants, Nam, and myself since the beginning. So we love to hear about your inspiration, needs, and wants. If you have a burning question or topic that you want us to explore with you, please do give us your voice in the form below: https://bit.ly/3jyHInN

It’s almost Lunar New Year 2021,
Happy Tết and Gong Xi Fa Cai, friends!!!

Last week, one of our Podcast listeners raised an insightful question that led us into a whole new episode to explore "What is the fine art of balancing emotions?"

Here is a Timeline Summary:
Opening - “How are you feeling” for the past few days?
5:20 - As you are sitting with your emotion, how has it been teaching you?
12:30 - What is important right now?
16:40 - What is the balance between accepting negative emotions and actively seeking joy in life?
33:00 - What is a life I truly want to live?

As the journey of learning about our emotions continue, if you wish for more in-depth support, you may attend our upcoming event and meet Nam in person. You may click on the event link for more information: www.facebook.com/events/2785918528322708/

Sipping in a cup of hot herbal tea, and let the flavors play their magic.
Listening to the rain, and let the heavy water drops dance through.
Writing this moment, and let the heart paint in an open canvas.

Sometimes, the best moment in life are moments that we let happen, in its ordinary. How are we in those moments, is truly arts.

In this week's podcast, we invite you on a journey:
Starting: How do surprises make you feel?
11.00: How does this element of surprise play a role in the art of life?
15.30: How surprises and authenticity are related?
22.15: A true yearning for playful moments.

We hope this week's podcast opens doors to what Nam said: "put ourselves out there, to let life lead us a little bit more. Let uncertainty leads us a little bit more. To let joy and play lead us a little bit more. And see what unfolds as true and genuine you in this process”.

If you are in Ho Chi Minh city, we look forward to seeing you in our upcoming Mindful-Nest workshop, lead by Nam. More information as below: www.facebook.com/events/2785918528322708/

There is a relationship between you and yourself.
There are relationships between you and significant others.
Relationships are part of everyone’s life. They give us support, meaning, and purpose. They are priceless.

Yet, they are also the source of many stresses and conflicts we find ourselves struggling in. Some people put on a mask to hide, others reject or lie, many suffer in silence hoping to pass through stressful moments. However, our unresolved tensions can overflow, especially to our close ones. No matter how much care we receive from others in our moments of hardship, the struggle may continue. The exchange of tension persists. So despite all the treasures in relationships, there is the existence of constant struggles too. In this week’s podcast, we invite you on a safe journey to reflect on these struggles. Together, we invite experiences of groundedness, our capacity to stay, and see clarity in challenging moments.

Timeline Summary:
Opening - How do we cultivate presence in moments of conversation?
10.40 - What are the best practices to enhance our capacity to be present?
13.30 - How does it feel to be in the state of presence?
19.20 - What would you sense if you sit in stillness?
22.10 - When is a perfect opportunity to practice presence?
28.00 - What is a practice that enables you to STAY in care, courage, and curiosity of the present?

Enjoy your moment as we journey together. You can also keep track of the most updated episodes from A Mindful-Nest Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Anchor, or any other podcast platforms.

For more information, visit us here: www.mindful-nest.com

There is a famous saying: “The most precious gift you can offer the other is your presence - Thich Nhat Hanh”.

You may have heard of the benefits to be present and wish to offer your full presence while interacting with others. Yet, how do you remain present while in conflicts and challenging emotions? How do you offer your best self and not your past conditioned self when being triggered? How do you open an opportunity in each interaction that serves you and your loved ones?

In this week’s episode, we invited an open-hearted discussion around the challenges in relationships and how your capacity to be present can support your body and your interactions.

Timeline Summary
Opening - An introduction
4:30 - The quality of a conversation, when you are in the present.
12:00 - How our body speaks to us in the presence of conflict & how we can respond in this process?
19:00 - How to train our body to have the capacity to be present?
25:00 - How to be calm and peaceful?

You can also keep track of the most updated episodes from A Mindful-Nest Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Anchor, or any other podcast platforms.

Mindful-Nest is an experiential space dedicated to welcoming ourselves to "being home" and to "being together" in our shared humanity through hosting frequent (online and offline) meditation and mindful conversation gatherings. Visit us here: www.mindful-nest.com

We are Ceri Lan and Nam, co-founders and hosts at Mindful-Nest. Lan is a counseling psychologist while Nam is a facilitator and coach. We combine our expertise to help people get in touch with themselves, really see themselves for who they are and recognize what's unique about them that they can offer to the world. Get in touch with us here: www.mindful-nest.com/coaching-and-therapy

Timeline summary:

Opening: How do you cope with uncertainty?
8:40 - What is the gift of uncertainty?
17:20 - Can planning be a barrier to living your authentic life?
27:25 – The fine balance between planning and living.

Mindful-Nest is an experiential space dedicated to welcoming ourselves to "being home" and to "being together" in our shared humanity through hosting frequent (online and offline) meditation and mindful conversation gatherings. Visit us here: www.mindful-nest.com

We are Ceri Lan and Nam, co-founders and hosts at Mindful-Nest. Lan is a counseling psychologist while Nam is a facilitator and coach. We combine our expertise to help people get in touch with themselves, really see themselves for who they are and recognize what's unique about them that they can offer to the world. Get in touch with us here: www.mindful-nest.com/coaching-and-therapy

Timeline summary:
Opening: How did Mindful-Nest begin?
10.00: The gifts of companionship to our growth
27.40: 3 questions to help you understand your relationship with safety and needs

Mindful-Nest is an experiential space dedicated to welcoming ourselves to "being home" and to "being together" in our shared humanity through hosting frequent (online and offline) meditation and mindful conversation gatherings. Visit us here: www.mindful-nest.com

We are Ceri Lan and Nam, co-founders and hosts at Mindful-Nest. Lan is a counseling psychologist while Nam is a facilitator and coach. We combine our expertise to help people get in touch with themselves, really see themselves for who they are and recognize what's unique about them that they can offer to the world. Get in touch with us here: www.mindful-nest.com/coaching-and-therapy