Mark Nepo on Becoming Intimate with the Unknown and Awakening to a New World

It goes without saying that it is an honor to have today’s guest, Mark Nepo, back on the show for a 3rd time.    Mark is one of the kindest and wisest souls I have had the gift of knowing, and he is by far one of my greatest teachers- as I know he is to millions across the globe.  With over a million copies sold, Mark Nepo has moved and inspired readers and seekers all over the world with his #1 New York Times bestseller The Book of Awakening.  Beloved as a poet, teacher, and storyteller, Mark has been called "one of the finest spiritual guides of our time," "a consummate storyteller," and "an eloquent spiritual teacher." His work is widely accessible and used by many and his books have been translated into more than twenty languages.  A bestselling author, he has published twenty-two books and recorded fifteen audio projects.  In 2015, he was given a Life-Achievement Award by AgeNation.  In 2016, he was named by Watkins: Mind Body Spirit as one of the 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People, and was also chosen as one of OWN's SuperSoul 100, a group of inspired leaders using their gifts and voices to elevate humanity.    Mark and I went straight for the good stuff during this conversation to talk about what it means to BE during this global pandemic, his new book, Book of Soul: 52 Paths to Living What Matters, and how our habit of distraction can keep up from living our lives to their fullest expression.  In This Episode You’ll Learn:  Today’s guest, Mark Nepo [ :55 ] The Book of Soul: 52 Paths to Living what Matters [ 4:30 ] What lead Mark to write his new book [ 5:05 ] Living and BEING through the global pandemic [ 8:49 ] The habit of distraction [ 17:35 ] What it means to initiate the gift and how we do that [ 29:47 ] How to not allow the fear of being seen as unloveable stop you from initiating your gift      [ 36:23 ]  What the “Prison Tree” is and the true cost of not being who we are [ 43:33 ] How to navigate the confusion of what it means to be our full selves [ 49:25 ] Research and INsearch and what that means [ 52:20 ] Mark’s parting words as we all continue to navigate the unknown [ 1:02:20 ] Mark’s webinar series [ 1:04:05 ] Soul Shifting Quotes:  “I write about what I need to know, and what I don’t know, not what I know.”  “Once we’re here, we enter a second labor, and that is the labor of a lifetime of experience that births the soul on earth.”  “Everyone one way or another will be dropped into the depth of life, and that’s when the spiritual journey takes a deeper turn.” “Fear is to be moved through, not obeyed.”  “We’re all being asked to become intimate with the unknown.”  “We are being forced into a global Sabbath.”  “The inner world is even more vast than the outer world.”  “If you devote yourself enough to the energy of what’s calling you, your gift comes up to meet you.”  “We have to practice being true to what is heartening and enlivening, no matter what.”  “There’s a difference between being hidden and being inaccessible.”  “All of us are awake and asleep at different times. There is no us and them.”  “As soon as I start to count or compare, I can’t be present.”  “The only thing that restores worth and connection is presence.”  “The time when we need to drop things is the time when we’re clinging.”  “Everything is holy.”   Links Mentioned:  Learnn my 7 Secrets to Uplevel Your Brand & Land Your Dream Clients  Grab your FREE training, How to Call in Your Tribe + Create Content that Converts  Text me at 603-931-4386 Learn more about Mark by following him on Instagram: @mark_nepo Buy The Book of Soul: 52 Paths to Living What Matters, today! Learn more about Mark’s 3-session online webinar, The One Life We're Given: Saying Yes to Life Tag me in your big shifts + takeaways: @amberlilyestrom Did you hear something you loved here today?! Leave a Review + Subscribe via iTunes  Listen on Spotify