Path to Peace with Todd Perelmuter

We live in a dysfunctional society.  We have big problems that seem intractable. The well being of every person is not the priority of our global governments. So it is no wonder that many of us come from dysfunctional families.

How can we survive the trauma that was normalized as children? How can we heal from the anxiety and PTSD we've developed? How can we unlearn the negative, critical voice in our head that we inherited from our family? And how can we mend the wounds of broken relationships? I answer these questions and more in today's p...

Not every relationship will last forever. Not every person is meant to be in our life. But whether someone is in our life for a brief moment or for the rest of our life, every relationship has something to teach us.

How we relate to ourselves, others, and the world around us is what determines the quality of our life. When we live in harmony, we feel peaceful. When our relationships with those three things are strained, life becomes strenuous.

In today's podcast, I talk about the secret to living in wise relation with everyone...

Society rewards success. It is the most alluring addiction there is because it is the only addiction that we are celebrated for having. It becomes ingrained into everyone of us that we should delay our happiness until we have achieved success later in life.

But what happens when we postpone our happiness? Is happiness greater than success? Will wealth bring us happiness? Can we have both success and happiness?

In today's podcast, I talk about the current debate between happiness and success. I share some ways we can think about what success really means. And...

There is an infinite amount of success and wealth in the world. There is no limit except by our own beliefs and mindset. The economy is not me versus my neighbor.  Others don't have to fail so we can succeed. In the information age where any creative idea can become a success, every one of us can achieve our dreams. We just need to know how to do it.

In today's podcast, I share 3 simple steps to recognizing the pathway to your career success, how you can achieve your dreams, and love the journey. Spirituality and success a...

There is a dazzling light show happening right before our eyes all the time. The way the energetic photons from the sun bounce off the objects around us in dazzling color every minute is astounding. Most of us simply fail to see the brilliance, vibrance and newness in each moment.

In today's podcast, I talk about what prevents us from seeing the magic all around us, how we can regain our childlike wonder and awe, and how we can bring an end to boredom and monotony in our lives.

Please enjoy other episodes where I...

What happens inside us when we get angry or jealous because other people are doing better than us? What can we do when our ambitions and goals are not being achieved according to our timetable? And how can we reach for the stars but still be happy if we only catch the moon?

In today's podcast episode, I talk about the 5 obstacles to peace and happiness when other people around us are doing better, or when we are not doing as well as we'd like. And, I talk about how to overcome each of them so that...

In our fast-paced world, it's very easy to internalize the hyper speed frenzy all around us. But this frantic pace is destroying our mental health, our relationships, and our lives. We may feel like we're getting more done, but in truth that chaos comes at a price we will pay later.

We are human beings, not corporate ladder climbers. We need rest to perform our best. And if our mind is always racing, eventually we will burn out. 

So how can we get done all that we need to get done without becoming stressed or i...

Unless you live under a rock, you have probably experienced some kind of betrayal  trauma. It is the most prevalent kind of trauma known to man and practically universal. Someone at some time in your life has broken your trust, not cared for you the way you deserved, abused or taken advantage of you. It's part of being human.

But no matter what we've been through, we all have the ability to heal. We can all overcome our past, learn from it, and leave it in the past where it belongs. In today's podcast episode, I share 3 w...

When we embark upon our path to peace, we frequently find ourselves at a fork in the road. One way, is safe, easy, familiar and has the allure of peacefulness.  The other way is scary, unknown, adventurous and requires great courage. One way seeks outer peace, but the other way creates inner peace.

When our inner peace is dependent on external circumstances, we will have a chaotic life. When we can face any challenge with peace and courage, the world is ours.

In today's podcast, I talk about how we can find peace in the c...

Human beings need social connection in order to live full, happy, safe and protected lives. It's hardwired into our DNA. No human was brought into this world without the love and nurturing of someone else. But too often in our modern society, we find there is no tribe, no village, and no community to offer that safety and comfort.

In today's podcast I talk about the two types of actions we have to take to deal with loneliness: internal action and external action. I share how we can accept, embrace and love our alone time. And I...

Why do we suffer a tragic event long after it's over? Why are our joyous celebrations so short-lived?  And why do minor inconveniences and annoyances have the power to ruin our whole day? It's all because of the conditioned voice in our head.

For most of us, that voice is the unconscious, unintentional result of our upbringing and  experiences in life. But, we all have the ability to recondition our mind. We are all able to change that voice to become more joyous, more loving, more grateful and more peaceful.  We are even able to break free fro...

No matter who you are, no matter where you live, no matter how rich or how poor, job or no job, we can all fall prey to that creeping dissatisfaction that can ruin our lives.

Fortunately,  peace and happiness are possible for each and every one of us. Right here. Right now. We can accept where we are, we can work towards a brighter future, and we can love every minute of the journey. In today's podcast episode I share how we can do exactly that.

Please enjoy other episodes where I share meditation techniques, t...

Our lives — like all things — exist in cycles. Some years we are growing, and some years we are enjoying. Some years are for sowing, and some are for reaping. But sometimes, it can feel like we are trapped in an unending cycle, repeating the same patterns and choices over and over and over and over again. 

When these trying times go on for decades, we can easily begin to feel stuck, scared, alone and hopeless. But there is always hope. There is always a way to accept this moment in our journey, to pick ourselves up, dust ourse...

I know it, and you know it. Terrible things happen to wonderful people and wonderful things happen to people who've done tremendous harm.  If even a great man like Gandhi was assassinated, what chance do the rest of us have at a peaceful and good life?!

So how can we understand the seeming unfairness in our world? How should we exist in, and respond to, an unfair world? Should we try to live rightly, or just look out for ourselves? What's even the point of this crazy, random, nonsensical world?

In today's podcast, I answer t...

To be alive is to be on a lifelong mission of learning. That means that we will have have regrets, mistakes, failures, setbacks and difficult challenges in our lives. While we think our past determines our present, it's actually how we relate to our past that matters.

In today's podcast, I talk about how we can change our relationship with a difficult past. I share ways we can reframe our pain, reframe the present moment, and rediscover the beauty that is all around us so that being present becomes natural and effortless.

Please enjoy other...

Is it possible to show love and forgiveness to those who have committed the most hateful and unforgivable sins? We've seen it time and time again, when the pope washes the feet of criminals. When victims forgive their perpetrators. And when brutal war gives way to peace. If all of these people deserve a chance at happiness, surely we do too.

In my latest podcast, I talk about the real reason we feel unworthy of happiness. I talk about the symptoms that arise from low self-worth, and I talk about how we can get to the root...

Our society today values thinking above being. We are encouraged ever since preschool to always be thinking. While human thinking and intellect are the greatest tools for survival on our planet, if that thinking isn't infused with presence, wisdom, and conscious intention, it will lead to every single problem humans have created throughout our history.

It's no wonder most people have a deeply ingrained habit of incessant thinking. We don't need to shut off our brain though. We just need balance. There is an epidemic of overthinking going on right now. It prevents humans from truly connecting...

Some people think spirituality and business don't mix. But I have noticed time and time again that when people become spiritual, they become more successful. Whether it's Ray Dalio, billionaire CEO and investor who discovered the benefits of meditation, or Elon Musk who infuses his Neuralink and SpaceX enterprises with the mission of expanding human consciousness, spiritual human endeavors often produce the greatest value. Not just for our wallets either, but for our mind, body, spirit and community.

In today's podcast, I talk about how we can become more successful through mindfulness, how to run a mindful...

Difficult people. We have all dealt with them, we will all surely deal with them again, and chances are very good that we've even been that person from time to time.

So, how can we better deal with people who push our buttons? How can we prevent our own buttons from getting pushed?  Luckily, the answer is the same for both. An interaction between difficult people is a battle of two egos. When we rise above our  ego, we're able to better handle difficult people, AND we're able to better handle our own intensifying emotions. In today's po...

Throughout various stages of life, nearly all of us will face some kind of abandonment, neglect, separation or avoidance by someone we care about. And, because we all go through difficult times in our lives, the chances are likely that we will be emotionally unavailable to the people we care about from time to time. It's a world full of trauma survivors traumatizing other people accidentally.

But, the good news is that we can each summon that mystic healer we have inside all of us. We each come from a lineage of strong and unstoppable survivors. So...

If supermodels are insecure, if billionaires feel like failures, and if the world's greatest artists feel like imposters, how the heck are the rest of us supposed to feel worthy and good enough?!

The truth is, value doesn't come from others' praise, worth doesn't come from wealth, and contentment doesn't come from achievement. If we only care about superficial things like money and looks, our lives will lack what truly matters. The more we value love, kindness and generosity, the more we can actually appreciate the blessings we have and the ones yet to come.

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The world is changing faster than ever. Today's generation is growing up totally different than their parents.  Not everyone will understand the changes, and not all changes will be beneficial to human flourishing.

When we stay balanced on our middle path, we can take into account our family's feelings, but we can also live our own life, our way and on our terms. We can welcome advice, but we can listen to our heart. And when we come up against resistance, pessimism, stubbornness or pushiness, we can do what is right for us with love and kindness f...

We humans are striving animals. More than any other species, humans have big goals, dreams and ambitions. Only humans want to change the whole world. That's both why humans are so successful, but it's also why we're never quite satisfied.

So how can we be happy with what we have while still striving for more? How can we struggle our way towards success, and yet be happy along the way? And how can we feel content no matter where we are, where we've been, and where we reach tomorrow? I answer these questions and more in this...

When we grow up in chaotic homes, it's not uncommon to develop anxiety and insecurity that can lead to codependency in our relationships. Codependent relationships, where one person is doing all the work, can take a tremendous toll on our well being.

In today's podcast, I talk about what codependency can look like, why it happens, and what we can do to break the cycle, heal and move forward in healthy and loving relationships.

Please enjoy other episodes where I share meditation techniques, tips and spiritual lessons from around the world for peaceful and stress-free...

We all want love. We love love. But there is no one who can love us harder or more intimately than ourselves. So how do we love ourselves? Why are we so hard on ourselves? What even is self love? Is it a spa day, a doughnut, or a new pair of shoes?

In today's podcast, I explore the most important thing we can do to change that inner voice in our head from a critic to our best and wisest friend. I discuss what is at the root of self hatred, and how we can plant...

Someone recently asked me, "How do you reconcile the whole, 'Everything is a beautiful part of the tapestry,' with all the ugliness present in the world? Is hatred, malice, vengeance not a part of the tapestry?"

In today's podcast, I talk about why we can't see the beauty, balance and oneness. I talk about what obscures our view of the miraculous nature of our universe. And I share how we can pierce that veil of ignorance and see beyond suffering, beyond expectations, and beyond the prison of polarities, of likes and dislikes, and see the infinite...

Recently, my family was stuck with that most tragic of news that every family receives but no one ever expects. A few weeks ago, we got the call that one of the closest people in my life has been diagnosed with late-stage terminal cancer.

So, how does someone who teaches about spirituality grieve? Do they grieve? What does loss look like to someone who teaches non-attachment and impermanence? In today's podcast, I share my story of grief and loss, how spirituality has been my rock and guiding light in these dark times, and how we can all...

 A healthy amount of fear is good. It prevents us from taking a selfie too close to the edge of a cliff. But when fear goes beyond protecting us from danger, that's when fear becomes dangerous. When it morphs into protecting us from the slightest discomfort, then fear can become our prison.

Fear is an insidious monster that can take over our entire lives if we're not careful. It can turn every window of opportunity into a locked door. It can paralyze us, stunt our growth, and prevent us from living a full life.

So h...

Whether a person is religious or an atheist, it is common to wonder if spirituality, Buddhism,  yoga or meditation go against their beliefs. Some worry they are sinning or that they will be punished in some way. And still others fear this will lead them into atheism.

So, does oneness conflict with any religions? Is it compatible with no religion? Does is clash with science?  And can I keep my old beliefs but still meditate and explore these deeper dimensions within myself? I answer these questions and more in today's podcast.

Please enjoy other episodes wh...

We will all feel all of the human emotions throughout our lives. That's part of life. But when we let ourselves get swept away by those emotions, then we can act unmindfully and in ways that can hurt our reputation and relationships. When our emotions carry us away, we lose ourselves and we feel the emotions with great intensity as if they are happening to us.

When we are present, we don't feel emotions. Instead, we simply witness the sensations of our ever-changing emotions and thoughts. In today's podcast, I share some simple ways to help us...

We all have plans and goals, but so does the universe. Sometimes our plans work out, and sometimes even more magical experiences are in store for us than we could have ever imagined. This may make life seem scary and uncertain, but we actually wouldn't want it any other way. Challenges make us grow, stress makes us stronger, and learning to overcome obstacles makes us smarter.

We are all here on this earth to learn, love and evolve. If we learned anything from The Twilight Zone, it's that actually getting everything we want, right when we want...

As we embark upon the spiritual journey within, we may find that what we used to like no longer allures us. We may find that things we once disliked are now peaceful and calming. And as we change, we may notice our relationships also changing. This is a normal part of growth that happens throughout our lives.

But what do we do when the people we love refuse to take responsibility for their energy and their unmindful behavior? How do we watch our loved ones suffer when we know they could get better with meditation? How do...

A near universal experience as people begin to go down the spiritual path is that they discover that when they are no longer disconnected from the rest of the universe, they become highly sensitive and empathetic. This can be a very uncomfortable experience at first simply because it is so new and different. Some people wonder if this means that the spiritual path is bad or not meant for them.

In today's podcast episode, I talk about why this sense of oneness can make us more sensitive, why that's actually a great thing, and how we can...