Justin Ehrlich

We all know that we think better and see more clearly when we're grounded and calm. The real question is "how" do we find this stillness when our mind and emotions are going crazy... The most effective way to find this type of stillness quickly is to return your attention to your body and breath. This is THE foundational practice of almost every type of meditation. Feel the connection of your feet to the ground. Really feel it physically.... Feel the sensation of the breath entering and leaving your body. Really feel it, just like your feet. Now just keep returning your awareness to those two physical sensations. Keep returning, again and again, with each breath. That's it. This is 2-Point Awareness. It's simple, and yet, amazingly effective at getting you back to a state of being internally still enough to find an answer. You can do this for 20 minutes or just three breaths. It's easy, it doesn't take any equipment, and it works. See my Linktr.ee for a free recording of this and other guided meditations. . #Daoism #Taoism #ChineseMedicine #consciousness #mindful #mindfulness #meditation #guidedmeditation #spiritjunkie #psychedelicassistedtherapy #therapist #trusttheprocess #mindsetiseverything #selflove #selfawareness #selfdiscovery #personaldevelopment #anxiety #depression #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealth #emotionalhealth #ShadowWork #lifecoach #alchemy #mindbodysoul #buddhism #herbalmedicine #integrativemedicine #faith @drjoedispenza @deepakchopra @eckharttolle @brenebrown @insighttimer @oprahsbookclub @tarabrach @soundstrue @krishnamurtifoundationtrust @thichnhathanhquotecollective @jack_kornfield @onbeing @carljung_ @spirit_rock @beherenownetwork @russellbrand @RickDoblinMAPS @lauren.taus @gabbybernstein @rumiquotesofficial @_evryman_ See more

Meditation doesn't only happen on the cushion. Just like fitness doesn't only happen at the gym. Time on the meditation cushion is designed to help train your awareness. However, that awareness must be carried into your daily life and relationships with other people. The goal of meditation is not some heightened ecstatic state of enlightenment or surge of magical energy coursing through your body. Those things may happen with specific pra...ctices but they are not the goal. The goal of meditation is to connect to your heart and that of those around you. To be able to TRULY connect without all the drama, history, and guarding that we typically carry around with us. At a time world is filled with drama and heightened emotions from all sides of the political spectrums, meditation offers us a chance to slow down and reconnect to our shared humanity. Can you bring your practice off of the cushion and into daily life? See my Linktr.ee for free guided meditations. . . #Daoism #Taoism #ChineseMedicine #consciousness #mindful #mindfulness #meditation #guidedmeditation #spiritjunkie #psychedelicassistedtherapy #therapist #trusttheprocess #mindsetiseverything #selflove #selfawareness #selfdiscovery #personaldevelopment #anxiety #depression #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealth #emotionalhealth #ShadowWork #lifecoach #alchemy #mindbodysoul #buddhism #herbalmedicine #integrativemedicine #faith @drjoedispenza @deepakchopra @eckharttolle @brenebrown @insighttimer @oprahsbookclub @tarabrach @soundstrue @krishnamurtifoundationtrust @thichnhathanhquotecollective @jack_kornfield @onbeing @carljung_ @spirit_rock @beherenownetwork @russellbrand @RickDoblinMAPS @lauren.taus @gabbybernstein @rumiquotesofficial @_evryman_ See more

In the journey of cultivation, we walk the dance between deconstructing our ego/shadow/subconscious and nurturing our connection to the Divine, to light, to faith, trust, and hope. It's necessary to step into the dark of our shadow and necessary to return to the light of the Divine. We cannot stay in only one of them. Yin and Yang must transform constantly. If you only do shadow work, you run the risk of only seeing the negative and gett...ing stuck in the loop of thinking you're broken all the time. If you only cultivate the light, you run the risk of spiritually or emotionally bypassing the difficult or dark parts of yourself. Daoism came up with herbal formulas to support working with both aspects of ourselves. If you're looking to "biohack" your inner journey, I encourage you to check out my time-tested formulas for working with both the shadow and the light. The ancients were the original microdosers and biohackers. See my Linktr.ee for free guided meditations. . #Daoism #Taoism #ChineseMedicine #consciousness #mindful #mindfulness #meditation #guidedmeditation #spiritjunkie #psychedelicassistedtherapy #therapist #trusttheprocess #mindsetiseverything #selflove #selfawareness #selfdiscovery #personaldevelopment #anxiety #depression #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealth #emotionalhealth #ShadowWork #lifecoach #alchemy #mindbodysoul #buddhism #herbalmedicine #integrativemedicine #faith @drjoedispenza @deepakchopra @eckharttolle @brenebrown @insighttimer @oprahsbookclub @tarabrach @soundstrue @krishnamurtifoundationtrust @thichnhathanhquotecollective @jack_kornfield @onbeing @carljung_ @spirit_rock @beherenownetwork @russellbrand @RickDoblinMAPS @lauren.taus @gabbybernstein @rumiquotesofficial @_evryman_ See more

The inner world of meditation is a dance of darkness and light. Darkness is your shadow, your Heart Pains, your subconscious, your armoring. Darkness arrives with your resistance to what is. Light is your connection to the Divine, to something bigger than yourself, to something transpersonal. Light arrives when you open your heart to what is.... The more you can disentangle from your attachments and projections, the more you can open your heart to the Divine. The more you can open your hearts to the Divine, the more you shine light upon your shadow and entanglements. Your practice of meditation, and your meditation teachers, should help you with both of these. One way of measuring your progress along the path is by how much you are able to use your inner light to keep your heart open even when facing darkness (your triggers, stressors, etc.) You won't be able to control what happens in the outside world but with the right practice, you can bring your inner light with you anywhere See my Linktr.ee for free guided meditations . #Daoism #Taoism #ChineseMedicine #consciousness #mindful #mindfulness #meditation #guidedmeditation #spiritjunkie #psychedelicassistedtherapy #therapist #trusttheprocess #mindsetiseverything #selflove #selfawareness #selfdiscovery #personaldevelopment #anxiety #depression #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealth #emotionalhealth #ShadowWork #lifecoach #alchemy #mindbodysoul #buddhism #herbalmedicine #integrativemedicine #faith @drjoedispenza @deepakchopra @eckharttolle @brenebrown @insighttimer @oprahsbookclub @tarabrach @soundstrue @krishnamurtifoundationtrust @thichnhathanhquotecollective @jack_kornfield @onbeing @carljung_ @spirit_rock @beherenownetwork @russellbrand @RickDoblinMAPS @lauren.taus @gabbybernstein @rumiquotesofficial @_evryman_ See more

"Know all the theories, master all the techniques, but as you touch a human soul, be just another human soul. -- CG Jung Learning theory and technique are certainly part of the journey. But what good are either if we cannot connect them to our hearts or in our relationships with others? The same goes for knowledge. Knowing what is "right" or "wrong" of another person's political view means nothing if we can't connect with them on the most... basic of human levels. We should never forget that first and foremost our study of meditation, self-growth, and spiritual traditions is meant to help us connect to ourselves and our fellow humans. The study of shadow, subconscious, or Heart Pains as described in Daoism is meant to help us break free from those things. Knowledge shouldn't reinforce our egoic identity or help us argue our point with others. Being open-hearted within the confines of your meditation cushion or therapy/coaching sessions isn't enough. We measure success by the depth of our connection to others and ourselves. Not by winning an argument or converting someone to your world view. . #Daoism #Taoism #ChineseMedicine #consciousness #mindful #mindfulness #meditation #guidedmeditation #spiritjunkie #psychedelicassistedtherapy #therapist #trusttheprocess #mindsetiseverything #selflove #selfawareness #selfdiscovery #personaldevelopment #anxiety #depression #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealth #emotionalhealth #ShadowWork #lifecoach #alchemy #mindbodysoul #buddhism #herbalmedicine #integrativemedicine #faith @drjoedispenza @deepakchopra @eckharttolle @brenebrown @insighttimer @oprahsbookclub @tarabrach @soundstrue @krishnamurtifoundationtrust @thichnhathanhquotecollective @jack_kornfield @onbeing @carljung_ @spirit_rock @beherenownetwork @russellbrand @RickDoblinMAPS @lauren.taus @gabbybernstein @rumiquotesofficial @_evryman_ See more

The first step in order to have a meaningful conversation with ourselves or others is to accept where we're at in the present moment. Without that foundation, connection and true change are not possible. Often we bypass this first step because it's so uncomfortable. It's often helpful to remember that accepting the reality of "now" does not mean accepting it "forever". The next time you find yourself struggling to change yourself, or you...r relationship with someone else, I encourage you to explore the areas you're not willing to accept about the present moment. Lean into the emotions that are uncomfortable and difficult to sit with. Try my 2-Point Awareness guided meditation while you do this and I think you'll find the situation is much easier to accept and transform. See my linktr.ee to learn this meditation for free . . #Daoism #Taoism #ChineseMedicine #consciousness #mindful #mindfulness #meditation #guidedmeditation #spiritjunkie #psychedelicassistedtherapy #therapist #trusttheprocess #mindsetiseverything #selflove #selfawareness #selfdiscovery #personaldevelopment #anxiety #depression #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealth #emotionalhealth #ShadowWork #lifecoach #alchemy #mindbodysoul #buddhism #herbalmedicine #integrativemedicine #faith @drjoedispenza @deepakchopra @eckharttolle @brenebrown @insighttimer @oprahsbookclub @tarabrach @soundstrue @krishnamurtifoundationtrust @thichnhathanhquotecollective @jack_kornfield @onbeing @carljung_ @spirit_rock @beherenownetwork @russellbrand @RickDoblinMAPS @lauren.taus @gabbybernstein @rumiquotesofficial @_evryman_ See more

Memories are both a gift and a prison. They allow us to reflect upon our journey and also often keep us stuck in the past. Most often this shows up in how we react to and experience the present moment. We prejudge based on the past and that defines how we react. However, the present is not the past. We all know this "intellectually" but knowing and feeling are not the same. ... Can you see where your memories have become your prison? To be truly present we have to unravel our entanglements with the past. Although the Daoist's didn't use psychedelics like Michael Pollan did, they developed many different herbal formulas to support our journey of unraveling. Do you have the tools you need to break free? Take a look at my linktr.ee to see my teas for meditation. . . #Daoism #Taoism #ChineseMedicine #consciousness #mindful #mindfulness #meditation #guidedmeditation #spiritjunkie #psychedelicassistedtherapy #therapist #trusttheprocess #mindsetiseverything #selflove #selfawareness #selfdiscovery #personaldevelopment #anxiety #depression #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealth #emotionalhealth #ShadowWork #lifecoach #alchemy #mindbodysoul #buddhism #herbalmedicine #integrativemedicine #faith @drjoedispenza @deepakchopra @eckharttolle @brenebrown @insighttimer @oprahsbookclub @tarabrach @soundstrue @krishnamurtifoundationtrust @thichnhathanhquotecollective @jack_kornfield @onbeing @carljung_ @spirit_rock @beherenownetwork @russellbrand @RickDoblinMAPS @lauren.taus @gabbybernstein @rumiquotesofficial @_evryman_ See more

The Inner Chapters guide and influence the Outer Chapters. Yin comes before Yang. Your ability to peacefully navigate the current politicized world is a direct reflection of your ability to peacefully navigate your own internally politicized world. Can you hold space for your emotions without getting entangled in the stories attached to them? If you can hold this space for yourself, can you do it for others? ... With the US being so dramatically polarized right now, I encourage you to hold space for the intensity of the emotional experience of your counterparts. To be clear, you don't have to buy into their stories, their social programming, or their trauma. Just hold space for the emotions they're experiencing. Their emotions are no different than yours. The stories are different, the humanness is the same. This is a practice. Try to see your shared humanity - especially when the causes of your emotions are so radically different. Healing will only happen when we begin to do this as a society. . #Daoism #Taoism #ChineseMedicine #consciousness #mindful #mindfulness #meditation #guidedmeditation #spiritjunkie #psychedelicassistedtherapy #therapist #trusttheprocess #mindsetiseverything #selflove #selfawareness #selfdiscovery #personaldevelopment #anxiety #depression #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealth #emotionalhealth #ShadowWork #lifecoach #alchemy #mindbodysoul #buddhism #herbalmedicine #integrativemedicine #faith @drjoedispenza @deepakchopra @eckharttolle @brenebrown @insighttimer @oprahsbookclub @tarabrach @soundstrue @krishnamurtifoundationtrust @thichnhathanhquotecollective @jack_kornfield @onbeing @carljung_ @spirit_rock @beherenownetwork @russellbrand @RickDoblinMAPS @lauren.taus @gabbybernstein @rumiquotesofficial @_evryman_ See more

Anger and suffering often travel together. We hurt and so we attempt to establish boundaries and try to stop what is hurting us. This is a natural and healthy behavior if we are in touch with what is hurting us. However, when we are not able to touch the hurt, the anger comes out without clarity, without focus, and without vulnerability. When this happens we hurt back and the cycle continues...... If we can see this pattern within ourselves, we have a chance to also see it in others too. Then we can start to see our shared humanity and there is an opportunity for true healing. The next time you get angry or the next time you encounter anger from another, try to look below the surface to see the hurt that is there. Try to allow for both to exist within your awareness. Hurt and anger travel together. We can only heal them when we can honor how they coexist. See Linkin.bio for free guided meditations. . . #Daoism #Taoism #ChineseMedicine #consciousness #mindful #mindfulness #meditation #guidedmeditation #spiritjunkie #psychedelicassistedtherapy #therapist #trusttheprocess #mindsetiseverything #selflove #selfawareness #selfdiscovery #personaldevelopment #anxiety #depression #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealth #emotionalhealth #ShadowWork #lifecoach #alchemy #mindbodysoul #buddhism #herbalmedicine #integrativemedicine #faith @drjoedispenza @deepakchopra @eckharttolle @brenebrown @insighttimer @oprahsbookclub @tarabrach @soundstrue @krishnamurtifoundationtrust @thichnhathanhquotecollective @jack_kornfield @onbeing @carljung_ @spirit_rock @beherenownetwork @russellbrand @RickDoblinMAPS @lauren.taus @gabbybernstein @rumiquotesofficial @_evryman_ See more

Our memories, attachments, traumas, and projections often define our everyday experience more than the actual reality of the present moment. This is why two people will experience the same event so differently. A big part of the journey to emotional health is about breaking free from these things. Through meditation, introspection, and honest vulnerable conversations we can transform our hell into heaven. It takes work to do this, and w...e have to be able to sit with the difficult emotions that come up if we're ever going to succeed, but it is very possible when we have the right tools and support. Try my 2-Point Awareness guided meditation the next time you catch your mind running the show. Return to your body and find some peace there. See my linktr.ee to learn this meditation for free . . #Daoism #Taoism #ChineseMedicine #consciousness #mindful #mindfulness #meditation #guidedmeditation #spiritjunkie #psychedelicassistedtherapy #therapist #trusttheprocess #mindsetiseverything #selflove #selfawareness #selfdiscovery #personaldevelopment #anxiety #depression #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealth #emotionalhealth #ShadowWork #lifecoach #alchemy #mindbodysoul #buddhism #herbalmedicine #integrativemedicine #faith @drjoedispenza @deepakchopra @eckharttolle @brenebrown @insighttimer @oprahsbookclub @tarabrach @soundstrue @krishnamurtifoundationtrust @thichnhathanhquotecollective @jack_kornfield @onbeing @carljung_ @spirit_rock @beherenownetwork @russellbrand @RickDoblinMAPS @lauren.taus @gabbybernstein @rumiquotesofficial @_evryman_ See more

What does it mean to have power over your mind? In the language of Daoism, we stabilize the mind within the body. We don't try to use the mind to control the mind. This is the painful struggle, and often losing battle, that most of my clients deal with. Somatically focused meditation techniques form the foundational work in Daoist meditation. The practices are actually remarkably simple and yet almost magically effective for calming the ...mind. Learning to anchor your mind back into your body is truly one of the most profound skills you can learn. It's simple and yet life-changing... See my linktr.ee to learn these meditations for free . . #Daoism #Taoism #ChineseMedicine #consciousness #mindful #mindfulness #meditation #guidedmeditation #spiritjunkie #psychedelicassistedtherapy #therapist #trusttheprocess #mindsetiseverything #selflove #selfawareness #selfdiscovery #personaldevelopment #anxiety #depression #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealth #emotionalhealth #ShadowWork #lifecoach #alchemy #mindbodysoul #buddhism #herbalmedicine #integrativemedicine #faith @drjoedispenza @deepakchopra @eckharttolle @brenebrown @insighttimer @oprahsbookclub @tarabrach @soundstrue @krishnamurtifoundationtrust @thichnhathanhquotecollective @jack_kornfield @onbeing @carljung_ @spirit_rock @beherenownetwork @russellbrand @RickDoblinMAPS @lauren.taus @gabbybernstein @rumiquotesofficial @_evryman_ See more

Krishnamurti shares a wisdom that matches Eckhart Tolle's concept of "now". To observe without thought is true presence. But how do we do this? In Daoism, we begin to learn to do this by observing our breath and body. We are our own laboratory. This is the power of 2 Point Awareness. Through the seemingly simple observation of our breath and body, we can develop the ability to observe reality and ourselves with a profound presence. ... Life is - We are - and the stories and drama begin to fall away, losing their power over our day to day experiences. It may sound esoteric but it's actually quite simple with just a bit of regular practice. http://insig.ht/gm_89723 #mindful #meditation #ChineseMedicine #lifecoach #holistic #holisticcoaching #grounding #space #mindbody #spirit #healing #emotional #mindfulness #awareness #ShadowWork #menswork #Daoism #Taoism #connection #guidedmeditation #transcend #strength #anxiety #depression #reflection #soul #mindset @drjoedispenza @deepakchopra @eckharttolle @krishnamurtifoundationtrust #Krishnamurti #Jung #psychology @brenebrow

In Daoism, we talk of Inner Chapters and Outer Chapters. The outer cannot always be controlled. The inner can... Working with our inner chapters is the journey. Have you found practices to help you disentangle from the outer chapters and harmonize your inner chapters?... . . . #OpenHearted #Daoism #Taoism #InnerHonesty #EckhartTolle @EckhartTolle #DrJoeDispenza #Presence #Healing #Trauma #PTSD #EmotionalHealth #AutoImmunity #YinFire #anxiety #commitment #emotions #ChineseMedicine #health #connectivity #ShowingUp #physical #emotional #spiritual @brenebrown @drjoedispenza #awaken #mensgroups #consciousman #LifePurpose #holistic #integrative #lifecoach

At the center of 2 Point Awareness is the ability to separate ourselves from our thoughts. The practice creates this magical space to recognize we are not our thoughts. Anyone who has delved into the world of mindfulness or meditation will have heard the statement that ""we are not our thoughts"". You may have even felt this separation on various occasions. Maybe even catching yourself deep in reaction and buying the stories running through your head. I know I've bought the ...stories in my mind many times over... We sometimes think that the stories are supposed to simply stop becaue we do our practices. I would argue this really isn't the case for most of us. We're human, stressful events will happen and we'll react to them. There's nothing wrong with this. The real question is - Do you have a practice that will help you break free from those stories 100% of the time? You can learn 2 Point Awareness: http://insig.ht/gm_89723

"Is freedom a thing to be achieved through a gradual process of time, through discipline, control, suppression? Or is freedom at the beginning, not at the end? That is, to examine there must be freedom. To actually look at this microphone, or look at your neighbor, to look at a tree, or a bird, or the light on a canal, to actually see them, there must be freedom. And this freedom doesn't lie at the end of one's miserable life, it lies at the beginning."... -Krishnamurti "Krishnamurti shares an obvious and yet very deep gift in this statement. So many of the deeper gems are often hidden in plain sight. To be able to actually pause and examine our thoughts, our feelings, and our reactions is the first and most important step in our emotional freedom. The moment we do that we separate ourselves from the thought, the feeling, the reaction. We cannot be it and simultaneously observe it. This is the power of two-point awareness. There is ""it""... there is ""me"" observing. Although this practice alone won't make our reactions magically disappear, it helps us develop the critical space to begin actually unravelling them. You can learn my 2 Point Awareness here: http://insig.ht/gm_89723

"When you're expecting or anticipating something to happen you are laying a known over the unknown." - Dr. Joe Dispenza Our memories often recreate our present day experieces through projection. We do this all the time with our assumptions about people, places, and things. In the language of Chinese medicine this is known as blood stagnation (psycho-emotional stagnation) and is the result of both learned and traumatic experiences. True emotional freedom isn't being free from... being human and having emotions, rather it's about not letting our history control us. This is the goal of healing and spiritual cultivation. It's not to not have a past but simply to not be limited by it. How do you catch your projections in daily life? How do you heal your wounds so they don't control your future? Can you see the present moment for what IT is vs what you project it to be?

Changing the world or society as a whole has to start with healing ourselves. Without that foundation, any attempts at changing the outside world will be influenced by our traumas and projections, and come out as charged reactivity. Rather than fighting with the world or being victim to it, our goal is to heal ourselves so that we can bring a cultivated sense of peace and presence to the world. ... This is the only way we can stop the cycle of traumatizing others and being traumatized by them. In medicine we say, ""Physician heal thyself"", but in reality it is something we all need to do for ourselves. We can only show up for others in how we've shown up for ourselves. How do you do this for yourself?

"Go back and take care of yourself. Your body needs you, your feelings need you, your perceptions need you. The wounded child in you needs you. Your suffering needs you to acknowledge it." -Thich Nhat Hanh Presence is the starting point and the (never)ending point of the journey. Through presence all things are possible. Healing is ONLY possible through presence. This applies to intrapersonal work as much as interpersonal work. You cannot heal yourself if you are not truly pr...esent with yourself. Likewise, you cannot heal a relationship with another if you are not present with them. I often call this type of presence ""inner honesty"" or ""inner vulnerability"". It takes a certain type of courage to be truly present with our pain, our anger, our fear... ourselves. It takes another layer of courage to be present with the pain, anger, and fear of another. And yet, for how difficult or scary these practices might be, when we pause and reflect, our most meaningful and intimate friendships are built around exactly this. Presence, vulnerabilty, and intimacy are completely intertwined. In Daoist practices, we often begin this proces by bringing our attention to bodily sensations. The body can be an amazing anchor and space of safety to sit with our difficult feelings (or those of others). Two-point awareness is a very simple but powerful practice to help nurture your ability to always find safety within your body - to give yourself the gift of presence. http://insig.ht/gm_89723

I often talk to my clients about the three layers of their emotional patterning. We all have three layers that the spiritual journey invites us to explore, understand, and disentangle from as we try to open our hearts and our minds to reality. The first layer is what we are born into - our family, our gender, our race, etc. In Daoism we label this as the curriculum of our unique spirit within this lifetime. In Buddhism this might fall into the the realm of the karmic lessons... we're predisposed to in this incarnation. The second layer is our social programming. This comes from how we are raised within the microcosm of our family but also includes the macrocosm of the town, state, and nation that we are raised in. We are taught to "be" a particular way depending on where and how we are raised. Some of things we are "taught" are useful to the time and space we live in but some of them will go against our intrinsic nature and some will limit our ability to see the world clearly and keep our minds open. The third layer is that of trauma. This is a layer that is often explored through "shadow" work. Trauma often causes us to interpret current external events based on past experiences. It prevents us from being fully present with what "is" because we are reliving our past. We are all influenced by each of the layers in different ways. When you can start to observe yourself through each of these distinct paradigms you can start to see the context of why you are you. This is some of the most empowering work I do with my clients. It's not meant to reinforce the excuses for why we are the way we are however, rather it's a tool to help us reclaim our true identity beyond all three of these. If you're curious about your own journey I encourage you to check out my Understanding Your Path digital download. It will help you map out your journey, help you understand how you became yourself, and most importantly help you move beyond the areas you're struggling with.