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What does it mean when a Zen master says 'Kill the buddha'?

In today's episode, Victor will be interviewing The Latina Career Coach, Michelle Gomez. Her bio:  Michelle Gomez, The Latina Career Coach, is an accomplished corporate sales professional with over two decades of riding the waves of the corporate structure as a first-generation Latina-American. The first in her family to graduate from college, she has earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, and a certification in Broadcast Journalism. Throughout her career, Michelle has been an advocate for women in the workforce; leading the charge in speaking forums, business articles and networking events. Michelle has personally mentored and coached dozens of men and women toward achieving their academic and career goals. Through resume reviews, mock interviews, and focus on presentation, she has helped dozens of men and women prepare and position themselves as strong candidates for the career or role they desire. Michelle has also advocated for a healthy work/life balance through her blog posts, providing insight on practical methods for creating balance and wellness in daily pursuits. You can find her here at www.michellemgomez.com

In today's episode, Victor will be breaking down what self-love means through a zen stoic lens and how you can better utilize this to improve the quality of your day. Listen on! 

In today's episode, we are sharing a powerful story from one of our Dojo members, Rob. Through listening to the podcast and working through the training videos and ebook, Rob has been able to release a limiting belief that has been holding him back since he was a kid. Listen on to hear his giant win and his new beginning free from old shackles! 

In today's episode, we will be discussing a quote from Plato "Wise men speak when they have something to say, fools speak when they HAVE to say something." How often do you find people just saying things just to say things? Victor will break down why this is and how to handle it. Listen on!

A lot of times not saying anything or doing anything counts as an action. In today's episode, we will be talking about how we commit injustice to ourselves and to others by not taking action on what we know is right. Listen on! 

In this episode of the Zen Stoic Podcast, we dive into a story of Alexander The Great and The Gordian Knot! This simple, yet powerful story will be sure to challenge your assumptions and think differently about the way you’re solving any of your cure challenges!

A quick update from Victor and Nicko! 

In today's episode, I am interviewing my best friend and self-made entrepreneur, Braedy MacKenzie. Despite hardships from being born with cerebral palsy and diagnosed with learning disabilities, he was able to find his success and tranquility. We will be talking about the difference between pursuing pleasure and tranquillity. Don't miss this episode! 

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In today's episode, we will be discussing the importance of knowing which port you're trying to sail your boat into! 

In today's episode, we are sharing exciting news!! Don't miss this episode! 

In today’s episode, we talk about how we hold onto beliefs so much that it prohibits our growth. This person was able to let go of all that in one session.

In today's episode, we will be discussing the topic of attachment and explaining the difference between having an ambition that comes from a place of scarcity and sincerity. Don't miss this episode!

In today's episode, we have special guest Brendon Lemon back to share some insight on the genius self with us!

In today's episode, we will be sharing a Zen story that helps us to understand Zen in a simple manner and helps us to cope with a world that is constantly changing. 

In today's episode, we will be interviewing stand-up comedian Brendon Lemon who is also a proponent of Zen and Stoic philosophy. Don't miss this episode! 

In this episode, we will be sharing one of the core principles of Zen Stoicism which is "to live in the present moment with an appreciation of a potential future." This will also be talked about in the guide "Zen Stoic Path To Inner Peace." It will soon be available in our Facebook group "The Zen Stoic Dojo" so don't forget to join and gain access to this guide! 

Do you ever want to make a change, yet feel resistant to the change simultaneously? In this episode we discuss the power tapping into your intuition and going head first into what you feel the most resistance with, in order to make the changes you want!

In today's 100th episode, we will be discussing the topic of toxic people and how you're managing your circle to maintain quality. Don't miss this episode! 

In today's episode, we will be discussing the topic of self-awareness through a Zen Stoic lens. Don't miss this episode! 

In today's episode, we are sharing a Zen story that reminds us that there is more to life than material things and to be careful not to let these things become attached to our identify and worth. Don't miss this episode!

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In today's episode, we will be discussing a highly requested topic which is the question "How do I achieve inner peace?" Listen on to find out what special treat Victor has in store for you and his answer to this question. Don't miss this episode! 

In today's episode, we're doing something different and new. We're interviewing one of our very own Zen Stoic Dojo members, Geoff Spakes! Don't miss this amazing interview!

In today's episode, we will be discussing the topic of passion and the many roles it plays it our lives for the good and the bad. Don't miss this episode!

In today's episode, we will be discussing a quote from Epictetus that teaches us to wish for things the way they are rather than to wish they were different. Listen on to hear more about what this means! 

In this episode, we will be sharing a Zen story called "Wash Your Bowl" that will be teaching us about bringing ourselves back down to earth when our heads are in the clouds and finishing our processes from beginning to end. Don't miss this episode!

In this episode, we will be interviewing the Founder of Daydream which is Canada's first sparkling water infused with hemp extracts. Stay tuned for this episode!

In this episode, we're sharing another Zen story- yes, twice this week woo! If you've been feeling a bit stuck these days, this episode will remind you that "it will pass" and keep on going on! Don't miss this episode! 

In this episode, we will be discussing the power of perception and how to manage your own to see more abundance in your life. Don't miss this episode!

In this episode, we're going to explore the topic of self-love.  Many times we make decisions because we value something and it drives us. So, what drives your behavior? Don't miss this episode! 

In this episode, our dear friend Lowell Gelin is back on the podcast! We will be discussing one of Martin Luther King Jr.'s quotes and how it applies to us today.  Don't miss this episode!

In this episode, we're going to be sharing another Zen story that will give us a lesson about our day-to-day lives. Is the horse guiding you or are you guiding the horse? Don't miss this episode!

In today's episode, we will be interviewing Professor Dan Moroney who is a 4th degree black belt in Brazillian Jiu-jitsu. We will be talking about how a lot of Zen and Stoic elements are practiced in Jiu-jitsu. Don't miss this episode! 

In today's episode, we will be discussing 2 extremely helpful rules from Jordan Peterson's 12 rules for life outlined in his book "12 Rules for Life." Don't miss this episode!

In this episode, we are sharing a story about the power of identity and what happens when you change the filter of how you view yourself and your life. Don't miss this episode! 

In this episode, we will be discussing how to detach yourself from the things you own so they don't end up owning you! Don't miss this episode. 

We always talk about a "return on investment" but how about "return on experience?" In this episode, we will be discussing how to differentiate between goals with tangible value vs. goals with emotional value. Listen on to find out these distinctions! 

In this episode, we are sharing a Zen story called "The More I Train." Just because you train more does not mean you have the correct mindset to master the skill. We will be discussing the importance of enjoying the process and letting go of your attachment to the outcome. Don't miss this episode! 

In today's episode, we will be interviewing the Founder of Empower Mag which is the first ever mental health magazine in the Middle East! You can find Ally on Instagram @allysalama and check out his magazine at www.empower-mag.com. Don't miss this very special interview!

In this episode, we're talking about the powerful habit of being the source of your own experience. Most of the time, life is challenging because of our opinions and feelings about it but what if we shifted it into love and kindness? Don't miss this episode! 

Have you ever been told "I don't need you to fix it! I just want you to listen!!"? In this episode, we're going to discuss the importance of acknowledging all humans have both masculine AND feminine energy and they both look at problems differently. One likes to solve and the other likes to understand which means communicating this will look and sound different. Don't miss this episode! 

In this episode, we will be discussing the importance of being mindful of our daily choice of words. Whether they are positive or negative words, they impact our environment and internal worlds. Let's build a strong foundation for our house to sit on! 

In this episode, we will be discussing the importance of taking action on all the information that you have in order to make changes. 

Are you guilty of ever thinking "I'll be soo happy once I get this new [fill in the blank] or be in [vacation destination]"? Well don't worry, you're not the only one. We've been given this happiness formula all our lives. Unfortunately, this formula is incomplete because it doesn't really tell you what happiness truly is. Well, the truth is, happiness is all about creating meaning in your process and we're going to break this down for you in this episode! 

In today's episode, I am interviewing my dear friend and also my mechanic: Lowell Gelin. Whenever I visit Lowell for any car service, even if it's a quick  15-minute fix, we always find ourselves in deep philosophical conversation. I am honored to have him on this episode. 

In today's episode, we're going to bring this awesome H word back in style. As we get older, it seems we have forgotten that sometimes we need help. We've romanticized the idea of being fully independent and that we can do it all on our own. Well, with the help from a Marcus Aurelius quote, he reminds us that it is at our very core and nature to help and be there for one another. Listen on, massive! 

Are you someone who has a packed scheduled yet feels like you're not really "doing" anything? Do you purposefully wear your "busyness" as your badge of honor? In this episode, we will discuss the importance of finding clarity and direction because if we don't know where we're going, no matter which direction we put our sails, no wind is favorable. 

In today's episode, we're basically going to call out some bullsh*t as to why you still haven't demanded the best from yourself and show up fully to each situation. We hope you're ready for some real talk because you will not look at your day the same after this episode. Listen on! 

In this episode, we will be taking a deeper dive into the difference between having a range of experience and depth of experience. Are you someone that tends to multitask or have many opened projects at once? This is a good episode for you to find exactly if these are good habits to keep or update! 

In today's episode, Victor and Nicko review an inspiring documentary called "Zion" and discuss their takeaways through a Zen Stoic lens. Don't miss this episode! 

Last week, we had Dr. Mario Garcia as our guest and on today's episode, we have his son and business partner at the Neurostrategic Coaching Institute, Coach Mario A. Garcia! He is at the forefront of training coaches at a high standard for the past 5 years. Today, he will be teaching the idea of perception is projection and give us insight as to why people behave in the way that they do. Don't miss this episode! 

We love hearing from our listeners! In this episode, we will be talking about a topic that has been submitted by one of our Zen Stoic Dojo members.

In this episode, we are sharing a true story of one of Victor's clients. When he first came to Victor, he already hit rock-bottom and had nothing else to lose. A year later, he wrote a touching and sentimental testimonial to Victor about all the ways Zen and Stoicism helped him transform his life into his best yet. Listen on for this inspiring story! 

The amount of time we have in a day is fixed, however, the way we manage it is not! In this episode, we will be covering a very important topic about managing our time to essentially gain more time in our daily routines and accomplish more of the things we have set out to do. Don't miss this episode! 

We all experience the feeling of doubt and uncertainty of which path to take next. Naturally, we look for guidance from others we perceive as on the right path. In today's episode, we will be sharing and discussing one of Seneca's quotes that teach us to forget those other paths and trust in ourselves. Don't miss this episode!

Do you keep your cup empty or full? Well, in today’s episode, we are sharing a Zen story that will highlight the importance of keeping your cup empty AND full.

Dr. Mario Garcia is the gold standard when it comes to training professional coaches and leadership development. Many of the principles he discusses are very aligned in Zen Stoicism and even enhance the application of the philosophy. He’s been in the coaching world since 1992 and today he walks us through what he has learned in the last 3 decades.

In this episode, we will explore the habit of stereotyping and how we tend to prejudge someone’s behavior because it feels easier to do that than to get to know them. We will be sharing how you can catch these tendencies and break this habit. Don’t miss this episode!

In this episode, Victor shares a simple yet profound lesson about communication. We all communicate in more than 1 voice and he will be breaking down the 3 different voices which have very different functions. This is a super useful tool that can help you improve your own way of communication and problem-solving immensely. Don’t miss this episode! 

In this episode, Victor and Nicko discuss the topic of change. We know that change is the only constant, however, how you perceive and manage the change will impact the outcome entirely. Victor will break down the best ways to handle change in your own life through a Zen Stoic lens. Don’t miss this episode! 

Journaling has been a cornerstone of Stoic philosophy and practice for centuries. Today, our friend Steve is back as our guest to discuss his habits with journaling and how it has tremendously helped his own growth and journey. 

We have all approached a fork in our paths and needed to make a decision whether to move forward or not and in which direction. In this episode, Victor tells his own story of approaching this fork, making his decision, and shares with us how he handled the entire situation to make sure he is saying "yes" to himself. Don't miss this episode!

In this episode, we have a very special guest and close friend joining us, Steve Ellis! He is a Wall Street professional in New York which is THE financial epicenter of the world. We will be having an in-depth conversation about the hustle culture, the impacts of looking for outside validation, and ultimately the lessons learned through a Stoic lens. Don’t miss this episode!

It seems like auto-pilot for us to look to the outside world for validation and to tell us “we’re enough” but what if these opinions and comments do not serve our mission? In this episode, we will be discussing how we can overcome this habit of relying on the outside world, become our own voice, and dissolve the conflicting feeling we experience. Don’t miss this episode!

In this episode, we will be sharing a real story about the struggle of striking a balance between success and happiness. If this situation resonates with you, listen on! We will be sharing how you can overcome this challenge in your own life. 

Are you setting goals for yourself but can’t seem to finish them? In this episode, we explore one of the major reasons why we can’t seem to finish the task we started, the concept of decluttering, and creating space in your life to achieve your state of zen. Don’t miss this episode!

We have all once read a quote or learned something for the first time and thought “Oh, I got this. I completely understand!” In this episode, we discuss how much you master an idea by being exposed once and what philosophy promises to your life. Don’t miss this episode!

We are constantly blasted with so much noise and distractions on all different social media platforms making us feel scattered, unfocused, and even unaccomplished. In this episode we explore this topic, the ‘highlights reel’ as Nicko refers to it, and how we can redirect our focus back onto ourselves and actually achieve more by focusing on less. Don’t miss this episode! 

One of the common aspects that is shared between Zen Buddhism and Stoic philosophy is the concept of compassion for our fellow human beings. Now, it's really important understand the difference between compassion and sympathy. We'll be going through with the difference between the 2 and how we sometimes actually get them mixed up.  Despite our best intentions, we actually do more damage than good.  Don't miss this episode of the Zen Stoic Podcast!

In this episode, we will be interviewing CEO of GuerrillaZen Fitness and Potentia Wellness, Blake Bowman. He will be sharing deep insights on how the environment around us can greatly impact our physical and mental health, especially the invisible one. Don't miss this episode! 

In this episode, we dive deeper into how we can bring ourselves into the present moment to achieve more mental wellness in our day. To begin, it is important to recognize that we live in a world of dualities. We will be discussing what this means and how we can easily improve our environment to make it easier for us to achieve this state. Don’t miss this refreshing episode to find out how!

We will be discussing what happens when you have to face your emotions head on because you can't go back to your old ways of coping with them. In this episode, we will be telling a story about a bodybuilder who had a competition last year but got injured right before the competition day and wasn't able to compete. This motivated him to come back even stronger and compete this year only to receive horrible news he was unprepared for 4 weeks out. Listen to find out how he turned it all around. Don't miss this episode!

When we communicate with others it is really important to deliver our message clearly. Well, many times our message becomes lost because we’re not in the right emotional state to deliver that message and often times, even though we want to be truthful, we end up just being blunt. By being blunt our message is not delivered across the way that we want it to. So in this episode, we're going to be discussing the difference between being direct and being blunt with your communication and how you can increase the effectiveness of your communication by being direct instead. Don't miss this episode! 

A lot of the time our stress comes from valuing others' opinions over our own and relying on their opinions in order to validate ourselves. So often this creates confusion when it comes to how we should show up or how we present ourselves in the world around us. However, it is more important to be able to stand on our own 2 feet and have our own personal code of conduct so that we're not relying on the opinions of others to conduct ourselves in the world. So in this episode, we're going to be going through Marcus Aurelius’ wisdom on how to act and how to carry yourself. Don't miss this episode! 

Have you ever felt like the wisest person in the room? A lot of times adulthood has nothing to do with a person's chronological age. Today, we will explore what the true mark of adulthood happens and what it means. Don't miss this episode! 

Sean Sessel is the CEO of The Oculus Institute. He is an expert in helping people escape burnout jobs and work with them to craft careers that they love. He will be sharing with us the different categories of stress and how to deal with each of them. Don't miss this episode! 

Often times when we spend too much time in our comfort zone or become too familiar with our surroundings, we end up adopting this idea that we don't need to continue learning. The problem is when we stop learning, we stop growing. So what we want to do is have what is called a “beginner’s mind” - the ability to empty our cup and take in new information and new lessons. We're going to be talking about this idea of "Zen mind, beginner’s mind" so that you're able to be fulfilled in your life by continuously learning and progressing. Don't miss this episode!

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The self-help industry has been teaching millions of people over the years this idea of positive thinking. Positive thinking can be incredibly powerful and beneficial to those who practice it. However, is there such a thing as too much positive thinking? We're going to be exploring that question because sometimes when we are too positive or too attached the idea of positivity, it can actually come off as inauthentic. Don't miss this episode!

One of my favorite childhood movies is the “Karate Kid” and in honor of the new “Cobra Kai” season that’s coming up, we're going to be discussing some Mr. Miyagi wisdom. Many people don't realize that a lot of what he said in that movie to teach Danielsan is very much aligned with Zen and Stoic philosophy. Don’t miss this episode of the Zen Stoic podcast.

In this episode, we're going to be discussing the Chinese proverb "If you are always giving, then you will always have." I will be telling the story of how a homeless man named Paul taught me one of the greatest lessons of my life. 

In this episode, I'm going to be interviewing the CEO of Psychology Hacker and author of the book “Brain Hacking”- Adam Lyons. Adam is a personal friend of mine and my mentor in life and business. We will be going through exactly his method on how to kill the negative voice inside your head. Adam will also be sharing his favorite Zen story- the story of “Maybe.” You're not going to want to miss this episode. It will absolutely change the way that you look at your whole life.

There's a great quote that says “A coward dies 1000 deaths and a courageous man only once” Now, the reason why that quote is incredibly important because it shows the difference between people who are worriers versus people who are warriors. In this episode, we're going to talk about the mentality that you need to shift in order to become a warrior, if you are in the mindset of a worrier. We all have a tendency to go here sometimes especially when we're overwhelmed or when we're stressed. Don't miss this episode of the Zen Stoic podcast where we're going to talk about how to transition to the warrior.

Early on in my professional coaching career, I received a phone call that I was not expecting nor was I trained to deal with. But I had my client on the other end who needed my help so I had to do something quick. Now, in this particular coaching session, he told me he wasn't able to move forward in his business because of a fear he had from a traumatic memory in his past where he was kidnapped and held a gun point. In this episode of the Zen Stoic podcast, we're going to be talking about, in detail, exactly what happened during that call and how he turned it all around and how he overcame the most traumatic memory of his life. Don't miss this episode!

One of the biggest problems that we have in this world is the demonization of each other. We generalize each other and label each other simply based on surface behavior. But the interesting thing is, and the questions that nobody asks, what is really going on inside the heads of people who are expressing undesirable behavior? Things like arrogance, cruelty, and just being plain mean. What we fail to realize is these are all traits of weakness although they may come off as an expression of strength. But we never really think about that they're coming from a place of pain, a place of weakness in character. And so part of the way that we can help other people when they're expressing those kinds of behavior is to show compassion. In this episode with Zen Stoic podcast, we talk about how to spot the weakness in others and how to deal with it when you see it. You're not gonna want to miss this one.

“To study Zen is to study the self and to study the self is to forget the self." That is a quote from Dogen Zenji one of Japan's great Zen masters. But how do we forget the self? We need to first understand exactly how it is that we create the self. The self is nothing but a collection of thought about ourselves. So, in this episode of the Zen Stoic podcast, we're going to be discussing what is the lucid self as it is discussed in the book “The Untethered Soul” by Michael A. Singer and also how you can apply this in a way that you can understand how to control the voice and the thoughts in your head. Don't miss this episode!

Stoic philosophy discusses the importance of having an aim and purpose in all that you do. In this episode of the Zen Stoic podcast, we're gonna be talking about filmmaker Guy Ritchie’s personal philosophy and what it means to own the reasons why you're doing everything that you're doing instead of blindly following convention. You're not gonna wanna miss this episode.

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A lot of us have been given the advice to make the money that we want and create the lifestyle we want, then we’ll be happy. But what happens when you have somebody who is not only made all the money that they wanted but created the lifestyle that they once upon a time dreamt about and yet still feels depressed? So depressed that they even consider ending their own life. Well, one morning I got that phone call from a dear friend who was considering ending his own life.  Somebody who had made more money than he knew what to do with and was living the lifestyle that he intended for himself throughout his whole life. In this episode of the Zen Stoic podcast, we're gonna be talking about exactly how that conversation went and what we did to turn them around. So you're not gonna want to miss this episode.

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Andrew Kirby is from the UK and has a YouTube channel with over 20k subscribers and 300+ videos on Stoicism.

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Latest episode of The Zen Stoic Podcast

Latest episode of The Zen Stoic Podcast

Latest episode of The Zen Stoic Podcast

Latest episode of The Zen Stoic Podcast

Latest episode of The Zen Stoic Podcast

Latest episode of The Zen Stoic Podcast

Latest episode of The Zen Stoic Podcast

Latest episode of The Zen Stoic Podcast

Latest episode of The Zen Stoic Podcast

Latest episode of The Zen Stoic Podcast

Latest episode of The Zen Stoic Podcast

Latest episode of The Zen Stoic Podcast

Latest episode of The Zen Stoic Podcast

Latest episode of The Zen Stoic Podcast

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This episode is an introduction to Zen Stoicism. We have changed the format of how this podcast is delivered by making the content more Zen and Stoic specific as well as creating bite sized daily episodes instead of long form conversation. Each daily episode will give you a single lesson to take with you for the day. Upgrade your morning routine, get your afternoon back on track, or wind down your evening with some practical wisdom that will help you to create mental wellness and vitality in your personal and professional life.