Dear friends,
Most people are chasing a future moment when they’ll finally feel okay.
A different job.
More money.
Less stress.
A quieter mind.
But as Light Watkins reminds us in this week’s episode, the internal state rarely changes just because the external circumstances do.
It changes when we learn to regulate the nervous system and cultivate presence.
As Light put it,
“The only Zen you’ll find at the top of the mountain is the Zen you bring up there with you.”
In this conversation, we explore what presence actually looks like in real life and why inner work is less mystical and more practical than most people imagine.
We talk about:
• why stress chemistry pulls us out of the moment
• how rest regulates the nervous system
• why some people sleep eight hours and still wake up exhausted
• how stress thinking differs from creative thinking
• why stress can sabotage intimacy and connection
• why meditation is not about forcing focus
• how to begin with one minute and build consistency
• how simple walking habits compound over time
• why happiness has best practices, just like physical fitness
If you’ve been feeling scattered, fatigued, or trapped in your own thoughts, this episode may help you understand why.
You don’t need a different life.
You may simply need a different internal state.
Golden light,
Dr. Richard L. Miller
Links & Resources:
About Light Watkins
Light Watkins Latest Book
1-minute mind control (my latest book)
Traditional mindfulness and meditation techniques often require a huge investment of your most precious resource (time) without guarantees of results.
My own version of mindfulness—what I sometimes refer to as “mind control”—can be mastered in much less time if you commit to regular 60-90 second practice throughout the day.
Breathing. Witnessing. Changing the channel on negative thoughts.
I’ve honed these techniques over a lifetime of personal and professional practice, and now I’m sharing them with the world.
Get my new book Master Your Mind, and as a thank you for your support, I’ll give you a free 30-day subscription to our premium newsletter and exclusive content. Just reply to this email after you buy it to confirm your purchase.
Work with Me
After six decades as a practicing psychotherapist, I'm offering limited opportunities to work directly with me. I bring extensive experience addressing anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, addiction, and psychedelic integration.
One-to-one sessions - Individual therapy tailored to your specific needs and goals. To request an appointment, book a session here.
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My Other Books:
Psychedelic Medicine at the End of Life: Dying Without Fear (release date: November 5)
Freeing Sexuality: Psychologists, Consent Teachers, Polyamory Experts, and Sex Workers Speak Out
Psychedelic Wisdom: The Astonishing Rewards of Mind-Altering Substances
Psychedelic Medicine: The Healing Powers of LSD, MDMA, Psilocybin, and Ayahuasca
Integral Psychedelic Therapy (co-edited with Jason A. Butler & Genesee Herzberg)
