Mountain Zen Den ~ Ep. 137 – 30-Day Nature Reset – Day 1

Mountain Zen Den ~ Ep. 137 – 30-Day Nature Reset – Day 1

30-Day Nature Reset, Inspiration, Meditation, Nature, Personal Development, Personal Growth, Personal Transformation, Podcast, Self-Development, Spiritual Growth, Well-being
Welcome to the mountain! How are your New Year’s goals and resolutions holding up? No cause for guilt or shame.  No need to feel bad.  On the journey toward wholeness, every day is Day 1.  A fresh start.  Every day offers an opportunity to learn and grow and begin again. Abraham Maslow, (you know - the hierarch of needs guy), observed, “What one can be one must be”. You and I were created for a purpose.  And deep within each of us is the desire to grow and fulfill that purpose.  We become restless, (or something even worse), when that purpose is ignored or stuffed down.  This is the root of unhappiness and all sorts of sorrows, struggles, and addictions. As we step into the new year we have yet…
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Mountain Zen Den ~ Episode 135 – Wild Embrace

Mountain Zen Den ~ Episode 135 – Wild Embrace

Mountains, Nature, Podcast, Spiritual Growth, Well-being
MZD Podcast - Ep. 135 - Wild Embrace Welcome to the Mountain! The end of winter and the onset of summer has brought a beautiful lush, green world to us here on the eastern slope of the Colorado Rockies.  With more rain than usual, followed by cool mornings and incredible sunny days in between, Nature has given the gift of Paradise for us to embrace, explore and enjoy!  I recently had the privilege of narrating and producing an audiobook for my friend Erik Stensland, a well-known and loved, highly respected nature photographer and author, who owns a gallery here in Estes Park, Colorado, as well as one in Abiquiu, New Mexico, north of Santa Fe. He has spent the last twenty plus years celebrating the beauty of the natural world…
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Mountain Zen Den ~ Episode 134 – Awaken to Mindfulness in Nature

Mountain Zen Den ~ Episode 134 – Awaken to Mindfulness in Nature

Mindfulness, Nature, Personal Development, Personal Growth, Personal Transformation, Podcast, Self-Development, Spiritual Growth
MZD Podcast – Ep. 134 Awaken to Mindfulness in Nature It’s been awhile.  Glad to see you back here.  Today is a new day.  A fresh start to a new you.  A great time to ask the question, “Am I awake to this moment?  To the here and now?  To this moment?” Henry David Thoreau reminds us that the vast majority of civilization leads quiet lives of desperation.  Or maybe if he were around today, he would say “noisy lives of desperation” Lives spent trying to be anywhere but here, now. Today I would like to invite you to remember that all we have is this moment.  Yesterday is gone, a thing of the past, and tomorrow is no guarantee, a thing of the future.  Everything that has ever happened…
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Mountain Zen Den ~ Episode 133 – Nature Immersion Through Art Therapy with Sherri Phibbs

Mountain Zen Den ~ Episode 133 – Nature Immersion Through Art Therapy with Sherri Phibbs

Nature, Podcast, Spiritual Growth
MZD Podcast - Ep. 133 - Nature Immersion Through Art Therapy Since 2009, facilitator, author, and artist Sherri Phibbs has been gaining a wealth of experience in Nature immersion, and to date, has written three books which, among other things, teach the hungry and willing student how to connect with Nature through art and deep sensory Nature immersion. You don’t have to be an artist to enjoy and appreciate the lessons she shares.  In fact, Sherri emphasizes that you need absolutely no art experience previously in order to create.  All of us could benefit from the wisdom and insights offered in today’s show.     I found it fascinating when she also shared her experiences with, and discovery that, according to Dr. Michael Cohen, we have over 50 verifiable senses besides…
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Mountain Zen Den ~ Episode 131 – Calm & Bright

Mountain Zen Den ~ Episode 131 – Calm & Bright

Inspiration, Nature, Personal Development, Personal Growth, Personal Transformation, Podcast, Spiritual Growth
MZD Podcast - Ep. 131 - Calm & Bright Far too often we pay attention to the loud and brash, which tend to have little meaning, while overlooking the important things that are taking place so quietly and humbly just outside the corner of our eye. ~ Erik Stensland "Whispers in the Wind" At different points in our lives, the Christmas holiday season is marked by stress and anxiety, overwhelm, overindulgence, undernourishment and sadness and depression.  For many, it is a hollow season of unmet expectations, disappointment and despair.  Instead of Joy we’re met with sorrow. Instead of Hope we carry anguish, self-blame, loss and regret… “If only I had done this…If only I had this… If only…” Why does this time of year, meant to be a celebration of Joy…
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Mountain Zen Den ~ Episode 128 – The Forest of Faith with Chris Highland

Mountain Zen Den ~ Episode 128 – The Forest of Faith with Chris Highland

Nature, Podcast, Spiritual Growth
What does it mean to be a “Freethinker”? Today, we meet with one who calls himself  “The Friendly Freethinker” — Chris Highland. A skilled presenter, Chris Highland has given public presentations, taught classes and led retreats for congregations, business groups, high schools, universities, social service workers and youth leaders.  He has taught in Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, Pagan, Unitarian, secular and other settings.  His educational style is engaging and inspiring, drawing students or audiences into an active participation in the subject. He is a deep and thoughtful Nature-lover and author of two dozen plus books inspired by writers like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and naturalist John Muir. In this episode Chris shares the concept of the “Forest of Faith” and “The Landscape of Belief” inspired by the Wild World of Nature all…
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Mountain Zen Den ~ Episode 126 – Finding Your Purpose

Mountain Zen Den ~ Episode 126 – Finding Your Purpose

21-Day Nature Challenge, Personal Development, Personal Growth, Personal Transformation, Podcast, Purpose, Spiritual Growth
MZD Podcast - Ep. 126 Finding Your Purpose “The greatest gift you can give to the world is to perfect yourself.” ~ The Bhagavad Gita “Love, then do as you like.” ~ St. Augustine Welcome to the Mountain! Hey Friends, Brett Wilson here – your host and Trail Guide at Mountain Zen Den, encouraging you to connect with Nature for mindfulness and personal growth – naturally!  Come on in… How are you?  I am so excited to be back with you after an extended hiatus, where we have taken some time to get away, plan, and restructure things at the Den. There is so much to tell you, and I cannot wait to share with you all the incredible human beings and resources we have been meeting and curating just…
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Mountain Zen Den ~ Episode 124 – Cultivating Self Mastery

Mountain Zen Den ~ Episode 124 – Cultivating Self Mastery

Mindfulness, Personal Development, Personal Growth, Personal Transformation, Podcast, Self Mastery, Self-Development, Spiritual Growth, Well-being
MZD Podcast - Ep. 124 Cultivating Self Mastery “He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.” ~ Lao Tzu The ancient philosopher, teacher and Stoic, Epictetus said, “Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not.” It takes wisdom and the habit of thoughtful effort to discern the difference.  The things that are within our control are simple and few, but powerful! Our own opinions and behaviors (basically, our responses to outside events and stimuli)Our aspirations and desiresThe things that repel us He goes on to say, “It is only after you have faced up to this fundamental rule and learned to distinguish between what you can and can’t…
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Mountain Zen Den ~ Episode 115 – Listening to Your Inner Guide

Mountain Zen Den ~ Episode 115 – Listening to Your Inner Guide

Mindfulness, Nature, Personal Development, Personal Growth, Personal Transformation, Podcast, Self-Development, Spiritual Growth
MZD Podcast - Ep. 116 Listening to Your Inner Guide "True well-being is knowing, trusting, and following your inner guidance." ~ Paul Hudon Today we meet with writer, speaker, columnist and author of the book, “Your Inner Guidance – The Path to Discovering Your True Happiness”, Paul Hudon.  Paul lives just 100 miles or so down the road from us here in Colorado, where, when he’s not writing and speaking, or walking in the woods with his dogs and his wife Jane, he helps her grow and sell flowers as a business.  Beautiful life… Paul is a kind and gentle soul, and he and I had a great time talking about his spiritual journey of how he discovered and came to trust his inner guide, his book, and the concept…
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