Moment 135 Master The Art Of Controlling That Negative Voice Yung Pueblo

Diego, reflecting on his transformative journey from a challenging childhood and a brush with death due to substance abuse, shares his insights on healing, personal growth, and self-awareness with host Stephen. Diego recounts his experience growing up in poverty after immigrating from Ecuador to the U.S., which led to anxiety, stress, and a scarcity mindset. His healing process began with simple steps like walking and incorporating nutrition into his diet, progressing to confronting his emotions without distractions. Emphasizing the importance of honesty with oneself, Diego discusses the role of Vipassana meditation in understanding impermanence and reducing the rigidity of self-identity, ultimately fostering happiness and adaptability in life. He underscores the potential within each person to change without needing to hit rock bottom and encourages embracing tools like therapy and meditation to navigate life's demands.

• Individuals often underestimate their ability to transform and improve their lives.
• It's a misconception that hitting rock bottom is necessary to become the best version of oneself.
• Speaker A emphasizes that becoming the best version of oneself is possible without reaching a low point.

"People don't understand their capacity. You don't need to hit rock bottom to be the best version of yourself. What you just have to do is."

This quote underlines the potential within each person to grow and change without needing to experience a significant downfall. It challenges the notion that only through extreme adversity can one achieve personal growth.

• Speaker A aims to raise awareness about the possibility of healing and letting go.
• They were surprised to learn that one's physical or mental ailments aren't necessarily permanent.
• Changes in habits, diet, social circles, and the practice of meditation led to significant personal improvements.
• These changes inspired Speaker A to write and share their experiences, hoping to inspire others.

"I think the mission is really hoping to raise self awareness around the fact that healing and letting go are possible."

This quote captures Speaker A's core mission of enlightening others about the potential for healing and personal transformation, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness in this process.

• Healing is deemed necessary for living a better life.
• Everyone experiences difficult moments that impact their mental state.
• These moments create patterns of reaction that can trap individuals in a cycle of repetitive behavior.
• Healing allows one to break free from the past and gain access to personal freedom.

"I think it's because it's pretty necessary to live a better life."

Speaker A believes that healing from past traumas and difficulties is crucial for improving one's quality of life, suggesting that it's an essential step towards achieving personal freedom and breaking negative cycles.

• Speaker A healed from anxiety, stress, and a scarcity mindset.
• They shared their background of growing up in poverty after immigrating to the United States from Ecuador.
• The financial struggles and lack of resources during childhood led to unprocessed emotional baggage.
• In college, Speaker A reached a breaking point and realized the need to address these issues.
• Turning to negative coping mechanisms initially, they eventually found healthier ways to cope and heal.

"I think a lot of it was anxiety and stress and this sort of scarcity mindset."

The quote reflects Speaker A's personal struggles with anxiety and stress, rooted in a childhood of financial hardship and scarcity, which they worked to overcome through their healing journey.

• Describes a personal crisis involving drug abuse and a near-death experience.
• The speaker had a moment of realization and sought to change their life path.
• They expressed gratitude for having the strength to change and desire to inspire others.

"partying, constantly, doing tons of drugs, and eventually hit that breaking point in the summer of 2011 where I almost lost my life." This quote highlights the severity of the speaker's situation leading up to their turning point.

"I had just taken way too many drugs one night, was on the floor crying, basically praying, begging for my life because I didn't want to go out like that." The quote vividly describes the moment of crisis that served as a catalyst for change.

"I think I'm really grateful that I had that strength, and I want other people to know that they have that strength, too." The speaker reflects on their gratitude for their ability to overcome adversity and their desire to empower others.

• The speaker made a conscious decision to change their lifestyle after a health scare.
• They began by throwing away drugs and seeking ways to improve their health.
• Walking and improving nutrition were initial steps taken towards recovery.

"Walking. Walking. I was incredibly unhealthy. Right. I was definitely overweight at the time, but internally I hadn't exercised probably in like four years, four or five years." The speaker emphasizes the importance of starting with simple physical activities like walking to initiate the healing process.

"I ended up buying a huge tub of barley grass back. Barley grass used to be really hit back then, and I needed some type of superfood." This quote shows the speaker's effort to incorporate better nutrition into their recovery.

"I remember I was so unhealthy, started walking lightly, jogging, that I got the worst shin splints." The quote illustrates the physical challenges faced by the speaker as they began exercising after years of neglecting their health.

• Discusses the concept of hitting rock bottom as a catalyst for change.
• The speaker believes not everyone needs to hit rock bottom to improve themselves.
• Change is perceived differently by individuals, and the process is not always linear or quick.

"I think people doubt their power. Honestly, man, I've seen that happen time and time again where people don't quite understand their capacity." This quote addresses the common issue of self-doubt and underestimating one's ability to change.

"Some people get destroyed by the process of hitting rock bottom, but other people stand up." The speaker acknowledges that while some succumb to their lowest points, others use it as a foundation for growth.

"I really don't think everybody has to hit rock bottom, and I think I like having that point of view because I think people want to go to extremes often and kind of dramatize things, but you don't need to hit rock bottom to be the best version of yourself." The speaker expresses their belief that extreme circumstances are not necessary for self-improvement and that change can be achieved without reaching a personal crisis.

• The speaker reflects on their past experiences and the feeling of life slipping away.
• They mention writing a poem called "Phoenix" symbolizing rebirth and transformation.
• The speaker suggests that the journey of change is a personal experience and varies from individual to individual.

"I remember when I was on the floor and I kept thinking about, I was like, man, I feel my life, like it's running out." This quote reveals the speaker's introspective moment during their crisis, feeling the urgency of life passing by.

"I remember writing a poem called Phoenix in my first book, inward, and I think that it's pretty personalized." The mention of the poem "Phoenix" represents the speaker's personal transformation and the theme of rising from adversity.

"I really don't think everybody has to hit rock bottom, and I think I like having that point of view." The speaker reiterates their belief that hitting rock bottom is not a prerequisite for change, suggesting that personal growth can occur through various means.

• Speaker A reflects on their parents' hard work and immigration to the United States, acknowledging the sacrifices and risks involved in such a move.
• They recall a life-threatening experience and the subsequent self-reflection while recovering at their parents' home after graduating college during a tough economic period.
• Speaker A introduces the concept of "radical honesty with yourself," which involves confronting and staying with difficult emotions rather than avoiding them.
• They describe their process of learning to sit with feelings of anxiety, stress, and worthlessness, discovering that these emotions are temporary and manageable.
• Speaker A had not been influenced by self-help books or online resources but instead relied on an instinctual approach to facing the truth within themselves.

I wasn't even mad at them that they didn't have time for me because I knew their struggle.

This quote shows understanding and empathy for the speaker's parents' sacrifices and the hardships they faced as immigrants.

It's telling yourself the truth.

Speaker A emphasizes the importance of self-honesty as a means of personal growth and overcoming challenges.

I would just sit with them.

The speaker describes their method of dealing with heavy emotions by allowing themselves to fully experience and accept them.

• Speaker B points out that people often avoid confronting their true feelings by distracting themselves.
• There is a question raised about how many people genuinely understand their own emotional state.
• Speaker A observes that self-awareness is becoming more common, with a growing number of people seeking therapy, meditating, and journaling to develop a better understanding of themselves.
• Speaker B expresses concern that the increasing popularity of wellness practices might indicate a rise in underlying issues that need addressing.

We distract ourselves constantly.

Speaker B acknowledges the common habit of avoiding self-reflection by engaging in distractions.

It's rare, but I think it's becoming more popular.

Speaker A notes the trend towards increased self-awareness and the use of therapeutic practices in modern society.

It's concerning. But I think to me, it gives me hope, honestly.

While recognizing the potential concerns regarding the growing need for wellness practices, Speaker A also sees it as a sign of positive change and hope for addressing societal challenges.

• The world's globalization has made a variety of mental health tools and practices more accessible, especially in major cities.
• Individuals can easily find resources to manage issues like anxiety, including professional psychiatric help and local meditation centers.
• There is a simultaneous rise in both the demand for attention from various sources and the availability of tools to manage one's mental state.

"And now that the world is globalized, people in major cities especially have access to them."

This quote highlights the increased accessibility of mental health resources due to globalization.

"You can type in, what can I do to deal with my anxiety? And you have things from psychiatrists. You can go to your local meditation center."

This quote exemplifies the variety of options available for individuals seeking help for anxiety and other mental health issues.

"So you do see these two things rise together, where the demand for your attention is through the roof now, from the media, from tech, from everything that's happening around you, family and friends."

The quote discusses the increased demand for attention in modern life from various sources, contributing to stress and anxiety.

• Many people use screens and other distractions to avoid confronting their emotions, which can be uncomfortable.
• This avoidance can hinder personal growth, as facing emotions is often the first step towards dealing with them effectively.

"I am certainly guilty of using screens and other means to distract myself from how I'm feeling."

This quote acknowledges the common practice of using technology as a distraction from one's emotions.

"We use distraction as a way to avoid confronting how we're feeling. Because confronting how we're feeling can be uncomfortable."

The speaker suggests that distraction is a widespread method to avoid the discomfort of dealing with emotions.

• Confronting emotions can be a gateway to personal growth.
• By facing and accepting emotions, individuals can choose to grow and evolve rather than continue to run from their feelings.

"Confronting how you're feeling, for a lot of us, that's the gateway to growth, right."

The quote implies that dealing with one's emotions directly can lead to personal development and growth.

• Vipassana is a Buddhist meditation practice that has existed for over 2,600 years.
• The practice involves observing reality as it is and understanding the impermanence of all things.
• It encourages a loosening of identity and rigid beliefs, promoting flexibility and adaptability.

"It's a meditation that's been around that originated from the budhist teaching. So 2600 years, where you basically do your best to see reality as it really is."

The speaker explains the origins and purpose of Vipassana meditation, which is to see reality without illusions.

• Recognizing that everything is subject to change helps individuals to become less rigid and more open to evolution.
• This understanding can lead to greater personal joy, happiness, and improved relationships.
• Embracing change reduces attachment and allows for more adaptability when faced with different conditions.

"When you start learning that everything that arises ultimately passes away, and you start understanding that change is, it exists within the fabric of every single thing in this universe, you start loosening up your identity."

The quote discusses the concept of impermanence as a fundamental aspect of the universe and how it can influence one's sense of self.

"It allows this understanding of change to help you loosen up and really evolve."

Here, the speaker emphasizes the positive impact of embracing change on personal development and evolution.

"And I have found that quite beneficial to my personal joy and happiness and definitely in my relationships, because if you embrace change, you're not going to be as attached."

The quote connects the acceptance of change with increased happiness and healthier relationships due to reduced attachment.