#44 No Solo Parts

This episode is a summary in reference to another well articulated lesson from the book “The Power of Truth” written by William George Jordan back in 1902.

Its a very common trope in today’s self development conversation. In an effort to remind everyone that they can’t fully rely on others to get the things they need, lots of leaders and gurus and “self-made” role models are reiterating the phrase “No one is coming to save you, only you can help yourself.” I get that entitlement seems to be spreading in a lot of ways in our time. But we must not think that we do anything alone. We all play a part in the big picture of our own and others’ lives. We must act and seek and share and build one another up. We must reach out for help.

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#43 Fulfillment from “Swords and Scabbards”

On a previous episode I mentioned a book called “The Power of Truth” by the author William George Jordan, written in 1902.

It was so jam packed and striking to me that I have decided to share a principle or two from the book on an ongoing basis from time to time.

In the chapter entitled Swords and Scabbards he talks about where we place our value and how some things may appear to be important that actually will inevitably fade away. Those are the scabbards. The swords are the true implements of battle to fight the good fight and focus and lasting things in our lives.

I share some direct quotes surrounding individuality, conviction, and going against the trends and safe paths and the trap of following a desire to please the world and be seen well by public opinion, as a guide for action.

One of the other concepts shared as an antidote to this disease of the soul is to focus on rivalry with ones self and the desire to beat our records of yesterday.

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# 42 Don’t Cheapen It

Sarcasm, cynicism, minimizing significance or achievements or value, is a bad habit. Making something that is sacred or exciting or valuable and amazing or heroic or honorable to someone seem cheap or stupid or idiotic and misguided is cheapening it. Its a power that people think makes them funny or safe from the people and things that scare them. Guilty as charged of doing this at my weak moments. This episode is a call to clear that lame tactic out of our lives.

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email me: nate@wayofthebonfire.com

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#41 Less Hypocritical

Its easy to find reasons to not share our thoughts and lessons learned with the world. One of those being fear of judgement. Or in other words fear of being seen as a hypocrite.

In this episode I offer my simple strategy for moving past that obstacle.

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#40 Time Travel for Beginners

Special thanks to my older brother, “The Professor”, Bret Riggle, for breaking the complexity of so much of this down into understandable concepts for me.

Time, is the variable that we can’t ignore if we care about connection and fulfillment.

In this episode we get into broadening perspective on what it is beyond just being something that traditional clocks measure.

History, Science, Religion, Astronomy, Spirituality, and Philosophy haven’t been able to pin it down fully.

We get into pop culture, movies, shows, journals, scriptures, and all kinds of ways it is defined and interpreted differently by geniuses, scientists, mathematicians, physicists, and theologians, and everyday people like yours truly. I share 5 techniques from a curious, non-expert, but life long obsessive observer on how we can manipulate it to work in our favor.

  1. Imagine a time when you are younger, and you time traveled to this moment.
  2. Imagine a time when you are much older and you travel to this moment.
  3. Remind yourself and others that you don’t have a physical time machine.
  4. The techniques of Metacognition, Mindfulness, and Breathing
  5. Travel to the past and have a 1:1 conversation with your old self.

Here is a, in no-way comprehensive list, of some of my favorites for entertainment and food for thought on time and time travel.

Best Time Travel Movies and Series

“Primer”, “Back to the Future”, “About Time”, “Men in Black 3”, “X-Men: Days of Future Past”, “Dr. Who”, “Dark”, “Quantum Leap”(Scott Bacula version), “Sliders”

Best Time Loop Movies

“Ground Hog Day” (uncontested), “Edge of Tomorrow”, “Palm Springs”, “Source Code”, “12:01 pm”.

Fictional Novels on Time Travel

“Einsteins Dreams” by Alan Lightman, The Chronos Files #1-3″ by Rysa Walker, “The Time Machine” by H.G. Wells

Physicists and Researchers who broke new ground on Time

Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Nathan Rosen, Erwin Schroedinger, Ludwig Flamm, Stephen Hawking, Noah Linden, Juan Maldacena, Albert Tsao, Frank Wilczek

Interesting publications and articles of proof and theory

https://www.quantamagazine.org/how-the-brain-creates-a-timeline-of-the-past-20190212/

https://www.quantamagazine.org/what-is-time-a-history-of-physics-biology-clocks-and-culture-20200504/

https://www.apa.org/monitor/oct03/mental

https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/quantum-entanglement-weirder/

https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-023-05356-w#:~:text=Clinical%20implications,a%20psychological%20and%20physical%20level.

https://drleaf.com/pages/about-dr-leaf

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#39 Lessons From Everywhere: The Blind and Visually Impaired

Installment number three in the ongoing “Lessons From Everywhere” series, I share lessons learned from several conversations I had sitting on a bench with blind and visually impaired people waiting for the same train as me outside a center for the blind at one of the stops on my daily commute.

Sometimes the people with the most perspective and awareness, are the ones who can’t see any of what you see.

The list of 10 lessons are shared below. Enjoy!

  1. Self reliance and Independance are two different things. We are all interdependent.
  2. You always have something to give that others don’t have.
  3. Our weaknesses can create our biggest strengths.
  4. You are probably being a bit dramatic with some of your problems and excuses.
  5. There is so much more to life than what we can physically see.
  6. If other people don’t get your struggle. Find someone who does. Not to comiserate, but to elevate.
  7. You might be missing the beauty in plain sight.
  8. No dignity is lost in asking for help.
  9. Technology can make you weaker.
  10. How you look is not who you are, or what makes you beautiful

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Or email me at nate@wayofthebonfire.com

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#38 How To Find Your Way On An Island

Quick concept today. Before Dory ever said “just keep swimming” on Finding Nemo, I had learned the simple concept of how to navigate on an island. “Keep Going, Keep Going.”

Its kinda silly, but it sure helps keep you in motion and tends to work to get your bearings when you feel lost in anything.

Enjoy this one.

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I’d love to connect with you and to hear your thoughts, and feedback on the podcast or a particular show, which you can do by sending a message to the podcast handle on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/wayofthebonfire/ Or if you don’t trust your self to not get sucked into accidentally scrolling endlessly on social media,  you can you email me at nate@wayofthebonfire.com.

Thanks for listening!

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What the Mountain Taught Me About Comparison, People, And Perspective

Today is story time. Climbing a mountain with my brother and the unexpected lessons I learned about people on the way up and down.

Its a good episode for anyone who feels they aren’t as good as they once were, to see a perspective that shows there are better things to think about.

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If you are getting value out of the show please share with someone you know.

I’d love it if you would connect with me, and I would love to hear your thoughts, and feedback on the podcast or a particular show, which you can share by sending a message to the podcast handle on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/wayofthebonfire/ or if you don’t trust your self to not get sucked into accidentally scrolling endlessly on social media,  you can you email me at nate@wayofthebonfire.com.

Thanks for listening!

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#36 Curiosity Challenge Round 4: Have More Fun

This challenge is almost too simple. Go put more fun into everything you do. Be more fun this week. Switch your daily fun percentage from 10% of the time, to 90% of the time. And consciously pay attention to the difference it makes in everything else.

Let me know about your experience with this challenge on instagram @wayofthebonfire. Or send an email to nate@wayofthebonfire.com.

Enjoy!

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#35 Lessons From Everywhere: The Fishermen

The second installment in the ongoing “Lessons from everywhere” series where we believe you can learn valuable lessons from just about anything.

A lifetime of fishing has brought me way more lessons than just the 13 + 1 in this episode, but this should distill a good bit of it down into some solid nuggets of wisdom. You will become better at fishing, at experiencing fishing, as well as at life if you listen carefully. See the list below and let me know if you would add any.

  1. Sometimes you need to let the bigger fish run.
  2. Practice catch and release
  3. Be patient, persist, adapt. If its not working. Move or change.  
  4. Fishing is always worth doing.  Catching is better.  But fishing is still good.  
  5. Respect the river.  Respect the fish.  Be grateful.     
  6. Details matter. But make sure your line is on the water.  
  7. Etiquette.   Don’t crowd.  Don’t judge.  Don’t hog.  
  8. Share the experience.  
  9. Conditions are less of an obstacle when you love it. (early morning, cold temps, rain, snow, ice, animals)
  10. Let a guide show you what you are missing.  
  11. Pay attention to the patterns and the changes in patterns.
  12. It’s not just what you see, it’s what you don’t see too.
  13. If the spot gets popular, let everyone else go pressure it out.

Bonus:  1. Its not just a hobby.  Its a connection, a bond, and a legacy.  

If you are enjoying and getting value out of the show, please share with someone you know.

Also, I’d love to connect with you and hear your thoughts, and feedback on the podcast or a particular show, which you can do by sending a message to the podcast handle on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/wayofthebonfire/ or if you don’t trust your self to not get sucked into accidentally scrolling endlessly on social media,  you can you email me at nate@wayofthebonfire.com.

Thanks for listening!

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