In this tender and thought-provoking episode, Miki explores Tanha — the Buddhist concept of craving — and how it shapes not only our addictions but our entire relationship with desire. Through personal stories from her sobriety journey and a modern lens on digital culture, consumerism, and inner longing, she invites listeners to examine what lies beneath their cravings.

Rather than shaming desire, this episode gently explores the sacred ache of wanting, the traps of “digital thirst,” and the cultural forces that keep us perpetually reaching for “more.” Listeners are guided through a powerful urge-surfing practice, a mindfulness technique that teaches how to ride waves of craving without being swept away.

Set against the luminous backdrop of a 528 Hz healing frequency sound bath by STATiC, this episode offers a compassionate inquiry into the difference between craving and authentic desire—and how learning to pause between impulse and action can lead us home to a deeper contentment.

Show Notes:

• Theme: Tanha (तृष्णा) — “Thirst” or “Craving”

• Core Teaching: Craving is not the enemy; unconscious grasping is. By learning to observe our urges with awareness, we uncover the contentment already within us.

• Three Types of Craving in Buddhism:

  1. Craving for sensual pleasures

  2. Craving for existence or becoming

  3. Craving for non-existence or escape

• Modern Manifestations:

  • Addiction

  • Consumerism

  • Digital dependency and endless scrolling

  • Seeking external validation to fill internal voids

• Key Insight: The problem isn’t that we want things — it’s that we want things to complete us. Contentment isn’t achieved through acquisition; it’s uncovered through presence.

• Practice Highlight:
  🏄 Urge-Surfing — A mindfulness technique to observe cravings like waves: they naturally rise, peak, and pass. By staying present, we discover that urges are temporary and do not define us.

• This Week’s Reflection:

  • Where do you automatically reach when feeling uncomfortable?

  • What’s the difference between your authentic desires and manufactured cravings?

  • How might your life change if you could want without desperation?

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In Episode 2 of Softening Into Momentum, Miki Byrne explores the transformative power of boundaries through the lens of Ahimsa: the ancient principle of non-harm. She invites listeners to rethink boundaries not as walls of protection, but as love letters that honor both self and others. Through personal stories, modern reflections on digital life, and a guided body-based practice, Miki shows how saying “no” with love can deepen connection and preserve sacred energy. This episode is a gentle, revolutionary call to align your yes’s and no’s with your truest self.

📝 Show Notes

• 🌿 Theme: Ahimsa (Non-Harm) & Boundaries That Feel Like Love

• 🪷 Sound Bath: “396hz Root Chakra Cleansing” by STATiC

• ✨ Key Concepts:

  • Ahimsa invites us to consider the harm in over-giving and in saying “yes” when we mean “no.”

  • Boundaries set with love become invitations to authentic relationship, not acts of disconnection.

  • Our bodies are wise guides—expansion signals authentic yes, contraction signals misaligned yes or a needed no.

• 🧘‍♀️ Practice: “Sacred Sensing”: a body scan meditation to tune into internal yes/no cues.

• 💌 Weekly Invitation: Write one “boundary love letter” this week. Set a limit with kindness and notice how it shifts your relationships and energy.

• ❓ Reflection Questions:

  • Where am I saying yes out of fear rather than love?

  • What would change if I trusted that my boundaries could be acts of care?

  • How does my body guide me toward what’s truly aligned?

About the Host

Miki Byrne is an artist, writer, and life coach/creativity strategist with a BA in Theatre/Operative Vocal Performance and a minor in English Literature from Loyola University New Orleans. Passionate about storytelling in all its forms, she explores themes of self-discovery, resilience, and transformation. After choosing sobriety in 2023, Miki embarked on a journey of deep healing and personal growth, uncovering new creative depths along the way. She is currently working toward publishing her first book and sharing her insights through writing, music, and coaching.

Connect & Join the Community

• 💜 Patreon Community: Access guided meditations, mini-workshops, and exclusive coaching content at https://www.patreon.com/cw/MettaMomentum
  

• 📰 Weekly Newsletter: Subscribe to Softening Into Momentum for free reflections, practices, and soulful updates: Subscribe Here
  

• 📲 Follow Miki:

• • Instagram: @mikimettamuse

  • TikTok: @mikimettamuse

  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mikimettamuse

  • Linktree: https://linktr.ee/MettaMomentum

Episode 1 of Softening Into Momentum invites listeners into the power of beginning again through the Buddhist teaching of Shoshin, or beginner’s mind. Miki Byrne reflects on her own journey of sobriety and vulnerability, sharing how softening into not knowing can open the door to authenticity, presence, and wonder. The episode weaves personal storytelling, gentle wisdom, and a guided meditation practice called “Sacred Softening,” offering listeners a chance to pause, breathe, and rediscover life with fresh eyes. It’s a soulful reminder that every moment is an invitation to soften, to start anew, and to carry curiosity forward.

Episode Notes for Listeners:

Shoshin (初心) — "Beginner's Mind"

• A Zen Buddhist concept emphasizing openness, curiosity, and freedom from preconceptions

• Literally translates to "beginner's heart" or "original mind"

• Encourages us to approach even familiar experiences with fresh wonder

• Counteracts the "expert's trap" where knowledge becomes a barrier to learning

• Essential for creativity, growth, and genuine presence

Key Insight: In Zen, they say the expert's mind is like a full teacup—nothing new can be poured in. The beginner's mind is an empty cup, ready to receive whatever wants to be discovered.

About the Host

Miki Byrne is an artist, writer, and life coach/creativity strategist with a BA in Theatre/Operative Vocal Performance and a minor in English Literature from Loyola University New Orleans. Passionate about storytelling in all its forms, she explores themes of self-discovery, resilience, and transformation. After choosing sobriety in 2023, Miki embarked on a journey of deep healing and personal growth, uncovering new creative depths along the way. She is currently working toward publishing her first book and sharing her insights through writing, music, and coaching.

Connect & Join the Community

• 💜 Patreon Community: Access guided meditations, mini-workshops, and exclusive coaching content at https://www.patreon.com/cw/MettaMomentum
  

• 📰 Weekly Newsletter: Subscribe to Softening Into Momentum for free reflections, practices, and soulful updates: Subscribe Here
  

• 📲 Follow Miki:

• Instagram: @mikimettamuse

• TikTok: @mikimettamuse

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mikimettamuse

• Linktree: https://linktr.ee/MettaMomentum
  

“Softening Into Momentum”

In a world that often feels loud, divided, and overwhelming, Softening Into Momentum offers a gentle sanctuary for your mind and heart.

Hosted by life coach, meditation guide, and writer “Miki” Byrne, this podcast blends the timeless wisdom of Buddhist philosophy with the grounded tools of modern coaching to help you navigate life with clarity, compassion, and courage.

Each episode is a guided exploration of themes that touch us all: boundaries, self-love, mindfulness, resilience, and the art of meeting ourselves and others with kindness. Through reflective storytelling, meditation practices, and practical insights, Miki invites you to slow down, breathe deeply, and remember your inherent worth.

Here, boundaries become acts of love. Silence becomes a teacher. And compassion—toward ourselves and others—becomes the momentum that carries us forward.

Softening Into Momentum is more than a podcast; it is a practice, a pause, and a pathway back to yourself.

Tune in weekly to rediscover peace in the present moment and learn how small shifts in awareness can ripple outward into a more stable, compassionate world.

Because when we soften, we don’t lose our strength: we discover it.

About the Host

Miki Byrne is an artist, writer, and life coach/creativity strategist with a BA in Theatre/Operative Vocal Performance and a minor in English Literature from Loyola University New Orleans. Passionate about storytelling in all its forms, she explores themes of self-discovery, resilience, and transformation. After choosing sobriety in 2023, Miki embarked on a journey of deep healing and personal growth, uncovering new creative depths along the way. She is currently working toward publishing her first book and sharing her insights through writing, music, and coaching.

Connect & Join the Community

• 💜 Patreon Community: Access guided meditations, mini-workshops, and exclusive coaching content at https://www.patreon.com/cw/MettaMomentum
  

• 📰 Weekly Newsletter: Subscribe to Softening Into Momentum for free reflections, practices, and soulful updates: Subscribe Here
  

• 📲 Follow Miki:

• • Instagram: @mikimettamuse

  • TikTok: @mikimettamuse

  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mikimettamuse

  • Linktree: https://linktr.ee/MettaMomentum