The Change Agents Podcast With Dr. James Rouse

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word guru? A guru is a dispeller of darkness. Set an intention today to be your own guru. Enter through the doorway of common humanity.

Few would argue that this past year has been one of the toughest in our lifetimes. Moving forward, I believe we should focus on - highly functional relationships, detoxifying our lives, less victimhood, less complaining, greater compassion and vulnerability, and finally, forgiveness.

Having a sacred word, or mantra, can help you navigate life and remember who you are. Sacred nature is innate for all beings. Do not filter your life. Have a saddhana in everything you do.

We need to be the change we wish to see in the world. This is about finding the sacred in the ordinary. What is "safe," is risky. Push the envelope on what you think is ordinary. Begin each day with possibility.

Give yourself the opportunity to embody the expression of what makes you come alive. Show the world what is possible. Step in and be the grace. This is what the world needs today.

I'd like to invite you to consider getting outside of your comfort zone, outside your boundary, for self-care. Prioritize how you take care of and nurture your body, mind, soul, and emotions. Have a cause in your life that is "bigger" than you.

We recycled tens of thousands of thoughts each and every day. Life takes the shape of those thoughts, so why not enter into divergent thinking. Name it. Tame it. And lovingly release it.

It took Einstein over a decade to secure a job in academia. Einstein said the measure of intelligence is the ability to change ahead of time. This is about being relevant to yourself. Be passionately curious about life.

Witnessing acts of kindness is powerful for both the giver and the witness of the act. Compassion and empathy are superpowers. They are part of our emotional intelligence and they give way to purpose and longevity.

Every morning we wake up to what I like to call, a vulnerability window, a clean slate. Hormonally we are ready to make things happen and we can optimize this activity in a number of ways - prayer, movement, meditation, food. This is all about growing aptitude, possibility, & positivity.

Do you have unrealized potential? Do you see it as a burden or a blessing? It is time to lighten your load. Dwell in possibility, presence, and purpose. Don't settle for mediocrity.

One of the greatest teachings I ever received was the idea of walking forward in life with a "Strong Back, Soft Front." Stand for your truth. But don't be afraid to welcome compassion and carry a soft front.

Do you waste time worrying and wondering about what might or could happen, but likely never will? I want to talk about negativity bias and future casting. Life is right in front of you now - go live it.

Do you ever feel like you need to just go outside and connect with a tree? This is all about social activism through self-care and connecting with nature. Get your nature fix and honor your joy and your life.

Name it to tame it, to bring light to it, to love it. Seek to be uncomfortable. Self-care and self-love aren't necessarily comfortable. Self-love is the deep work of our lives.

Aristotle coined the term, Eudaimonia, thousands of years ago. It is the reason we are here. It is about being in full alignment with your values. This is the goal of our human existence.

This message is all about becoming a presence for hope and love and getting clear about your purpose and how you can be more loving, more kind. When you're surrounded by people and challenges in the world, remember the light that you are and came here to be.

Selfless service is all about the act of giving without the expectation that anything was coming back to you. It's known as karma yoga and I learned about it many years ago - when I was living in a small intentional community in Upstate New York.

Put love at the top of your list today. We pass through hundreds of doorways every single day, allowing us an opportunity to ask ourselves, what would love do now? Equinimity is the ability to find your way back to your heart. This practice will help you get there.

Our conscientiousness may affect the length of our telomeres. Set forth and intention and a vision for your life every day. Live your life on purpose. Be vulnerable. Be authentic.