Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.

• Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.uk
• Steven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.uk

Today, we're diving into the topic of inner peace and what it truly means. I share my personal journey of finding peace, especially after a life-changing injury that left me paralyzed. It’s not about always feeling good or avoiding pain; instead, it’s about recognizing that peace is always there beneath the chaos of life. I also unpack five common myths about inner peace that I used to believe, which held me back from truly understanding it. By the end of this episode, I hope to help you see how to tap into that inner calm, even when life gets tough. If you're curious to learn more, check out my website at https://stevenwebb.uk.

In this episode of Stillness in the Storms, host Steven Webb shares his personal journey of finding inner peace after being paralyzed from the neck down. He offers practical wisdom and debunks common myths about what it means to be at peace, revealing that it's a state that is always accessible, even in the midst of life's greatest challenges.

Benefits of Listening:

• Learn how to find inner peace, regardless of your external circumstances.
• Discover why you don't need to control your thoughts to be at peace.
• Understand that inner peace is not a permanent state, but a practice.
• Learn how to be fully present and engaged with life, without clinging or grasping.
• Be inspired by Stephen's story of resilience and hope.

Key Quotes:

• "We are at peace when we're not suffering, or when we're doing something we enjoy."
• "Inner peace is always there. It's always present. A peaceful, quiet world is always present, even in the most dire circumstances."
• "You cannot wait until life calms down. You won't be able to have peace once life's sorted."
• "Peace means being fully present. It means without clinging and without that grasping."

The Five Myths of Inner Peace:

1. Inner peace means never feeling pain or discomfort.
2. You must control your thoughts to be at peace.
3. You find peace once life calms down.
4. Inner peace is a permanent state.
5. Peace means detachment from life.

Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.

• Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.uk
• Steven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.uk

In a Hard World, Your Softest Skills Are Your Strongest Asset

"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." – Randy Pausch

In a world that often feels chaotic and overwhelming, it's easy to feel like we're holding a losing hand. We're constantly handed challenges we didn't ask for, from personal struggles to global uncertainties. But what if our greatest strength isn't in getting new cards, but in learning how to play the ones we already have?

In this episode, I explore the profound power of our 'soft skills' – the very human qualities that are often overlooked but are more crucial now than ever. We'll discuss how empathy, patience, kindness, and self-awareness are not weaknesses, but incredible assets that allow us to navigate life's toughest moments with grace and strength.

Join me as we reframe our perspective, learning to see the immense value in our innate human goodness and discovering how to use these skills to not only survive the storms but to find stillness within them.

In this episode, you will learn:

• How to shift your focus from the cards you're dealt to how you choose to play them.
• Why soft skills like empathy and kindness are essential tools for resilience.
• How to recognise and cultivate your own inner strengths, even when you feel powerless.
• A new perspective on navigating a world that seems to reward harshness over compassion.

Thank you for being here and for being part of the Stillness in the Storms community. Your presence makes a difference.

Resources & Connecting:

• Weekly Calm Newsletter & Blog: For more reflections, guided meditations, and updates, visit my website and sign up for my newsletter.
• Visit: stevenwebb.co.uk
• Leave a Review: If this episode resonated with you, please consider leaving a review on your favourite podcast platform. It truly helps others find the show.

Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.

• Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.uk
• Steven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.uk

Have you ever felt adrift, wishing you had a wise and unconditionally loving guide to help you navigate life's storms? What if that guide was already inside you, waiting to be discovered?

In this episode of Stillness in the Storms, Steven explores the transformative concept of "self-parenting," inspired by the work of Gabor Maté. This isn't about harsh discipline or re-living your childhood; it’s about learning to trade your harsh inner critic for a compassionate, wise, and loving inner parent.

Discover how to identify the areas in your life—from procrastination and setting boundaries to health and self-talk—where this gentle inner guidance can bring more peace, accountability, and profound kindness. This episode is your invitation to cultivate the most supportive and empowering relationship you will ever have: the one with yourself.

• What it truly means to "parent yourself" and why it's a powerful tool for personal growth and mental wellness.
• How to recognize the everyday moments where a kind, internal parent can help you make better choices (like getting out the door on time!).
• The crucial difference between self-criticism, which stifles growth, and self-acceptance, which creates the space for positive change.
• Practical areas where you can apply self-parenting today: managing your time, making healthier choices, and balancing work, life, and play.
• The most important role of your inner parent: offering yourself the unconditional love and reassurance you deserve, especially when you're struggling.

• Support the Podcast & Find More from Steven: Discover courses, meditations, and ways to support the show at https://stevenwebb.uk.
• Companion Meditations: Listen to guided meditations that accompany the podcast episodes on the Inner Peace Meditations podcast.
• Upcoming Course: Stay tuned for Steven's new 7-day audio course, "How to Find Peace in Busy Times."

Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.

• Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.uk
• Steven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.uk

Compassion is at the heart of our discussion today, so let’s dive right into it. We explore how compassion serves as a cosmic wink that connects us all, as Alan Watts puts it. This episode unpacks the differences between compassion, empathy, and judgment, and how understanding these can help us navigate our lives better. We’re all just players in this game called life, and recognizing each other’s struggles is key to becoming whole. Join me, Steven Webb, as we unravel what it really means to practice compassion in our daily interactions and why it matters more than ever.

Compassion is a fascinating topic, and in this episode, I dive deep into what it really means. I start by reflecting on Alan Watts' idea that compassion is like a cosmic wink, a warm acknowledgment that we see each other as fellow players in this game of life. I also explore the thoughts of Ken Wilber, who suggests that true judgment comes from a place of compassion. This leads me to ponder the differences between judgment, empathy, and compassion. Judgment often comes with a personal lens, where we see the world through our own experiences, and this can lead to negative assessments of others. Empathy, on the other hand, lets us feel what others feel, but it can sometimes become self-centered, drawing us away from the person in need. Compassion, however, is about genuinely being present for someone without the need to turn the spotlight back onto ourselves. It's about opening our hearts and really seeing others for who they are, not just for their struggles but as whole beings. Throughout this episode, I share personal stories and insights that highlight the importance of compassion in our lives, especially during tough times. I encourage listeners to practice small acts of kindness and to approach each interaction with an open heart, allowing us to become whole together.

Takeaways:

• Compassion is recognized as the cosmic wink acknowledging our shared human experience. It connects us all.
• Empathy and judgment differ significantly, where empathy often centers around our own feelings and experiences.
• True compassion requires us to open our hearts to others rather than projecting our own experiences onto them.
• To foster compassion, we need to embrace both our weaknesses and strengths, allowing us to become whole.
• Compassion is action-oriented, encouraging us to care for others without turning the focus back to ourselves.
• Practicing small acts of kindness daily can help cultivate a more compassionate mindset in our lives.

Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.

• Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.uk
• Steven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.uk

🧘 Episode Summary

In this episode of Stillness in the Storms, I talk about attachment. It's one of the biggest causes of suffering, but I'm not here to tell you to let go. I think that advice is nonsense. What if instead of trying to let go, we simply allowed things to be as they are?

I share what attachment has looked like in my life. From cigarettes to identity to the future I imagined that never arrived. You'll also hear from members of my WhatsApp group who told me what they find hardest to let go of. We cover nostalgia, self-worth, change, and why trying so hard is often the problem.

This is not about giving everything up. It’s about loosening the grip, opening your hand, and allowing what comes and goes to just be.

🎧 Why Listen

• You are struggling to let go and nothing seems to work
• You are attached to a past version of yourself or a future that never came
• You want a down-to-earth take on mindfulness and Buddhist teachings that make sense in real life
• You are tired of chasing happiness and need space to breathe

🌟 Quotes from the Episode

• “Letting go is pants. It doesn’t work. Just open your hand and let it be.”
• “You don’t have to give something up forever. Just give it up for one hour.”
• “You’re not a smoker who gave up. You’re just someone who didn’t smoke this hour.”
• “The minute you stop trying to be better, the better version of you starts to show up.”
• “Buddhism doesn’t say don’t love. It says don’t cling.”
• “Enjoy the moment but don’t become attached to it. Let it come and go.”

☕ Thank You

This podcast is free and always will be because of the people who support it. I do not run adverts. That’s a choice I make so you can tune in and hear what I have to say without interruption.

Huge thanks to

Senga – your five coffees came in just as I hit record

Michael, Dominique, Ulysses – yes, you bought 34 coffees, you legend

Nick, Julie, and Anne – thank you so much

And to all my monthly supporters – I see you and I’m deeply grateful

If you want to support the show and keep it advert-free, the link is in the notes. Supporters also get access to the private WhatsApp group where I share new meditations and episodes first, and where we talk honestly about the stuff that matters.

Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.

• Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.uk
• Steven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.uk

🎙 Episode Title: Forgiveness Begins When the Heart Breaks Open

Forgiveness Meditation: Forgiveness for Your Freedom

🧘 Host: Steven Webb | Stillness in the Storms

🎧 Episode Summary:

In this honest and raw episode, I talk about my own journey through heartbreak, betrayal and real forgiveness. Not the kind where you say the right words to move on. The kind that comes slowly. Quietly. The kind that has nothing to do with the other person.

I share the story of being cheated on. The numbness. The anger. The questions I never asked. And the moment, years later, when a single text made me realise I had already forgiven her.

This is not about forgetting. It is not about being okay with what happened. It is about breaking the grip that the past has on your heart. It is about grieving the life you thought you were going to live. It is about reclaiming your peace.

If someone has hurt you or left you, or if you are stuck in a story that replays over and over, this episode is for you.

🛠 In This Episode:

• Why "forgive and forget" is a myth
• How I navigated betrayal while living with paralysis
• The day I realised I had truly forgiven
• Why we grieve the imagined life more than the person
• How to let go when there are no answers
• A simple practice to begin your own path to forgiveness

🧘 Forgiveness Practice and Affirmations:

Find a quiet space. Sit comfortably. Bring to mind the person or situation that caused the pain. Let it sit without story. Just feel what is there. Then say inwardly:

• I remember the harm that was done.
• I may not be ready to forgive, but I am willing to try.
• May I find peace in my heart.
• May I be free from the pain that caused you to hurt me.
• I release myself from the burden of this hurt.

You do not have to rush. You do not have to think about it every day. Just let the practice do its work. And when the mind brings it up again, simply say, I forgave them. Let it pass. And over time, the weight softens.

💬 Listener Support:

If this episode speaks to you, share it with someone who needs it. And if you can, help keep the podcast going by visiting stevenwebb.uk

Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.

• Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.uk
• Steven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.uk

Meditation that goes with this podcast: A Dharma Meditation Beyond Overthinking

Overthinking Is Not Your Fault (But Here's How to Stop)

In this episode of 'Stillness in the Storms', host Steven Webb explores the concept that we are not our thoughts. He discusses how thoughts arise from the subconscious mind and how we can learn to observe them without attachment. Through personal anecdotes and insights into meditation, he emphasizes the importance of awareness in managing overthinking and anxiety. The episode encourages listeners to become observers of their thoughts and to choose which thoughts to engage with, ultimately leading to a more peaceful and mindful existence.

• You are not your thoughts; you have thoughts, but they do not define you.
• The subconscious mind generates thoughts that can be observed without attachment.
• Meditation helps in recognizing the distinction between thoughts and awareness.
• Negative thoughts are a natural part of human experience and survival.
• Choosing which thoughts to engage with can change your mental trajectory.
• Awareness of thoughts allows for greater control over emotional responses.
• Thoughts often originate from external influences, not just personal experiences.
• You can smile at your thoughts and not take them seriously.
• The journey to awareness often involves exploring different spiritual practices.
• Your subconscious mind is designed to support you and bring forth thoughts that align with your desires.

Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.

• Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.uk
• Steven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.uk

Episode 147: The Truth About Anxiety & Imposter Syndrome

Welcome to Stillness in the Storms with your host, Steven Webb. In this deeply personal and insightful episode, Steven tackles two of the most common yet misunderstood challenges: anxiety and imposter syndrome.

He argues that these feelings themselves are not the problem. The real issue? Our belief that we shouldn't be experiencing them. Steven shares his own vulnerable journey, from council meetings feeling unqualified, to navigating high-pressure Q&A panels, and the everyday internal dialogues that come with stepping up.

Key Themes & Takeaways:

• Reframing the "Problem": Anxiety and imposter syndrome are natural human experiences, not flaws to be eradicated. The real struggle comes from resisting them.
• The Power of Listening (Not Obeying): Our minds are full of voices – some fearful, some critical, some brave. The skill is in acknowledging them all, like a chairperson listening to a committee, without letting any single voice dictate your actions.
• Authenticity in Vulnerability: Sharing your doubts and fears doesn't make you weak; it makes you relatable and authentic. Steven would rather be in a room with people who acknowledge their imposter syndrome than those who deny it.
• Showing Up Anyway: True courage isn't the absence of fear, but acting despite it. Your unique 1% of knowledge or perspective might be exactly what someone else needs to hear.
• Personal Anecdotes of Resilience:
• Feeling like an outsider in professional council meetings.
• The "climate change conference" Q&A panel where a simple, honest answer resonated most.
• Being a charity trustee (Community Energy Plus) and doubting his contribution.
• The internal battle when asked to apply for a vice-chair role.
• The physical manifestations of anxiety before important events.
• It Doesn't Go Away, It Becomes Part of the Dialogue: These feelings may not disappear, but our relationship with them can change. They can become familiar (if sometimes annoying) companions rather than paralyzing enemies.

Food for Thought:

• What if your anxiety and imposter syndrome are simply signals, not stop signs?
• How can you "chair" the committee of voices in your own head more effectively?
• Remember: "Confidence isn't the absence of self-doubt; it's showing up anyway."

Support Stillness in the Storms:

This podcast is ad-free thanks to listeners like you! If you find value in these conversations, please consider supporting the show with a donation (like buying Steven a coffee!).

https://stevenwebb.uk