What if finding peace starts with giving your thoughts more room? I sat down with Zen teacher and author Henry Shukman in New Mexico, just before heading into a weeklong meditation retreat, to explore why we get so caught up in our minds - and how our relationship with those thoughts can change. We talk about the everyday frustrations that hook us, the expectations we bring to meditation, and why chasing a breakthrough can become another source of tension. Henry offers a surprisingly gentle approach to practice, with room for distraction, difficult emotions, and being human. The conversation also gets personal. We explore the connection between grief and love, and Henry shares how a serious bicycle accident changed his relationship with his mind, his identity, and what he calls “living from the heart.” In this episode: • How to work with a busy mind without fighting it • Why certain things trigger us - and how that grip can soften • What retreats bring to a daily meditation practice • The trap of trying too hard to reach awakening • Grief, love, and allowing difficult feelings • Henry’s head injury and the role of practice in navigating recovery • The story behind The Way meditation app Explore The Way meditation app: https://www.thewayapp.com/ Learn more about Henry Shukman: https://henryshukman.com/ What’s one idea from this conversation you’ll take into your everyday life? Let me know in the comments. I hope you enjoy the episode 🙏.