Beloved New Mexico author, teacher, and Zen Buddhist practitioner Natalie Goldberg is back for the second of two episodes. As she writes in her new book Three Simple Lines: A Writer’s Pilgrimage into the Heart and Homeland of Haiku:
“Please don’t imagine that my decade of writing practice and Zen meditation have silenced or fully pacified the angry self-critics in my head. That’s not how things work. I’m just much better at managing those voices.” Natalie Goldberg, Three Simple Lines
She wrote the internationally renowned Writing Down the Bones, published in 1986, and has since published memoirs, essays, poetry, more writing books, a novel, and a notebook.
While this episode isn’t specifically about reducing anxiety or overcoming fear, it offers a window into concepts such as letting go of the outcome, learning to accept what’s happening right now — no matter what, emotional resilience and emotional mastery, how to shift your mindset, seeing what is without over-reacting, and how to manage your nervous system responses and reduce chaos and overwhelm.
Whew. That’s a lot packed into a 25-minute show, right?
If you’re curious about exploring creative ways to deal with the ups and downs of life these days, this episode will give you lots of provocative ideas.
Natalie and Melanie riff on such things as beauty, staying calm in chaotic times, mindfulness, meditation, writing practice, life and death, spiritual connection … and yes, so much more.
If you missed the first show with Natalie Goldberg, please download it from Melanie’s site here.
This haiku was composed by Natalie:
full moon
behind clouds
your lips on mine
Natalie Goldberg’s website here
Upaya Zen Center workshop schedule here
Dr. Melanie Harth’s new book here
