Self-Awareness and the Freedom to Reset with Swami Nityananda

Kendra Chapman opens with the podcast's core invitation to slow down, then sits down with Swami Nityananda, a spiritual teacher with the Awake Yoga Meditation Community and a longtime professor of English, for a conversation about presence, kindness, and inner freedom. Together they explore how small daily pauses can reshape relationships, reduce stress, and help people live with more intention.In this episode, Kendra and Swami discuss practical ways to bring meditation and awareness into ordinary life, from the first few breaths of the morning to tense conversations, caregiving, and work pressure. The conversation centers on a simple but powerful idea: joy and wisdom are not things we chase outside ourselves - they are qualities we can recognize, trust, and strengthen from within. Key topics Swami Nityananda's background and perspective - Kendra introduces Swami as a spiritual teacher with the Awake Yoga Meditation Community, consecrated as a swami in 2014, and a former Loyola University professor with deep academic and spiritual experience. How to start the day slowly - Swami recommends meditation first thing in the morning, or even three quiet breaths before getting out of bed, to set intention and connect with inner quiet. The power of awareness and resetting - Swami explains that at any moment, you can pause, take a breath, get water, go outside, and return to a conversation or task with a calmer nervous system. Self-criticism vs. self-compassion - The conversation covers how harsh self-judgment triggers a stress response, while kindness toward yourself supports better sleep, presence, and healthier relationships. What non-dual awareness means - Swami describes it as the light within each person - always present, whether or not we consciously notice it - and the source of wisdom, creativity, and right action. Joy as part of responsibility, not opposed to it - Swami argues that joy does not make someone less serious or less effective; in fact, it can make attorneys, surgeons, caregivers, and leaders better at what they do. Discernment and healthy boundaries - Being compassionate does not mean carrying other people's burdens for them. Swami emphasizes honoring others' autonomy and allowing people to learn from their own journey. Caregiving as a spiritual practice - Kendra shares her experience helping her father recover from knee surgery, and the discussion reframes caregiving as a gift of being, not just doing. Nature, creativity, and abundance - Swami points to nature as a model for abundance and grounding, and says each person already has intrinsic talents and a natural capacity to express them. A daily kindness practice - Swami suggests dedicating the day to a spiritual quality like kindness, then reflecting at night on where it showed up and where it could be strengthened. Timestamps 00:00 - Kendra introduces the podcast and its slow-down philosophy 00:02 - Guest intro: Swami Nityananda and her teaching background 01:44 - The episode's focus on presence, kindness, and spiritual slowing down 00:26 - How Swami begins the day with meditation and quiet 01:59 - Setting the alarm earlier to create five to ten minutes of stillness 03:04 - Why awareness gives you the freedom to reset in any situation 04:32 - Self-awareness as the power to choose your next thought or word 05:35 - Rephrasing yourself when you speak from the wrong place 06:57 - How daily life keeps offering opportunities to grow in self-awareness 07:26 - Going outside for three breaths to reset the nervous system 08:51 - Making self-reflection a weekly practice, not just a daily one 09:47 - Treating yourself like a friend with compassion and honesty 11:15 - Why harsh self-criticism creates a threat response in the body 13:29 - Defining non-dual awareness as the light within everyone 15:25 - Why nature, dancing, and elders can all be access points to inner wisdom 17:21 - Flow, personality, and the different styles teachers use to express care 18:21 - Compassion with discernment: not carrying what is not yours to carry 20:22 - The role of healthy boundaries in honoring another person's growth 22:32 - Applying good boundary habits from one area of life to another 23:53 - Why the culture values activity but often forgets the art of downshifting 26:11 - Singing, music, and joy as support while doing daily chores and service 28:16 - Aligning with the natural pace of life instead of forcing speed 29:48 - Easy entry points for non-dual awareness in the middle of a busy day 31:39 - How small acts of kindness accumulate into inner strength 33:37 - Resetting anywhere, including in a business meeting 35:31 - When to step out of a situation because your nervous system is overwhelmed 36:30 - The amygdala, the prefrontal cortex, and the pause before reacting 39:16 - Why joy is natural, and how children model unselfconscious presence 41:35 - One person's peace can shift the tone of a tense room 42:47 - Joy as a strength for serious professions like law and surgery 44:22 - Healthy laughter versus disrespectful laughter 46:31 - Creativity, intuition, and the courage to express yourself freely 47:44 - Abundance as something natural, rooted in each person's gifts 51:35 - Reality as self-revealing and feedback as a tool for growth 52:19 - Where to connect with Awake Yoga Meditation Center 53:44 - Final reminder: connecting with your light creates a ripple effect 📩 For partnerships, consulting, speaking, and/or collaborations:   email: [email protected]   =================== Stay Connected with Me, Kendra Chapman   🌐 Website: www.coachingwithkendrachapman.com  📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachingwithkendrachapman/  📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/kendra.weber3  🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kendrachapmanliving123  💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendra-chapman-3-100kecb85539165/  ✍🏽 Substack: https://coachingwithkendrachapman.substack.com/    🎙️ Podcast Episodes: https://www.coachingwithkendrachapman.com/episodes/ Various platforms: https://sites.libsyn.com/505653/links    🌟 Connect with our Guest: Swami Nityananda   🌐 Website: https://www.awakeyogameditation.org/  📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swami_nityananda_giri/  🎥 YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeYogaMeditation    🎙️ Podcast Episodes: https://www.coachingwithkendrachapman.com/episodes/ Various platforms: https://sites.libsyn.com/505653/links    =============================  Video and podcast production by Tate Chapman.  To see more videos created by Tate Chapman and his brothers, check out the Triple Dare Adventures YouTube Channel here https://www.youtube.com/@TripleDareAdventures   Music featured in this podcast is licensed through Epidemic Sound. All music is used under a valid license. Copyright remains with the respective composers, artists, and Epidemic Sound. For more information about Epidemic Sound, visit their website. Intro and Outro music  Come Correct by the artist Teeklef The Go Slow To Go Fast Podcast is provided for entertainment and educational purposes only. The views and opinions shared are personal and are not intended as medical, mental health, financial, or professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional regarding your specific health, medical, or personal circumstances. Any actions you take based on this content are at your own discretion, and results depend on your individual commitment, circumstances, and responsibility.