PODCAST · education
Calmer in 5
by Thom Walters
Calmer in 5, hosted by Thom Walters, helps you cultivate a more peaceful and balanced life in just five minutes a day. With insightful reflections and actionable tips, Thom guides listeners to slow down, reflect, and embrace calm amidst life's chaos. Perfect for those seeking a quick yet meaningful dose of mindfulness and serenity.
Episodes
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1812: Find Your Mini Sanctuary
What if a few minutes in the shower could become a little sanctuary? Today on Calmer in 5, we explore creating small spaces in your daily routine where planning the day and reviewing your to-do list can wait. The shower, a quiet cup of coffee, or a moment on the porch can offer an opportunity to...
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1811: The Tipping Point of Grief
There may come a moment in grief when a memory brings a smile before it brings a tear—when gratitude for having loved someone begins to share more space with the sadness of missing them. That shift doesn't mean grief is finished, and it doesn't have to happen on any schedule. In today's episode…
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1810: Will It Matter...
An irritating comment, an unfair interaction, or something that didn't go our way can take up far more of our day than the event itself. When you notice yourself replaying an angry thought, try asking, "Will this matter in 100 years?" The question offers a little distance, helping you consider…
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1809: Why Judgment Feels Unsettling
I will be working on becoming non-judgmental for the rest of my life. Not because I am horribly judgmental, but because I am able to see it when it appears. And I see it often…and I'm glad. I Love that I can (most times) transcend judgment. Let's talk about how that can lead to calm. Become a...
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1808: Rest When You're Sick
When you're sick, does resting come naturally, or do you find yourself feeling guilty about everything you aren't getting done? Today's episode invites you to set aside the pressure to be productive and listen kindly to what your body is asking for. Giving yourself permission to pause is an act…
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1807: Craft Store Epiphany
A moment in Michael's reminded me how much lighter life feels when I let go of judging others and allow them to be who they are. In today's episode, I share how that shift opened the door to greater ease and connection. When we loosen our expectations of how people should look or behave, we give...
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1806: Try Something New
Boredom may not be the opposite of calm, but sometimes when we feel in a rut, we are not feeling our best. The good news is, that regardless of age, there is a remedy…try something new. Become a super-fan of ZEN commuter and 5 Minute mojo and receive bonuses exclusively for Patreon subscribers....
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1805: Come to Your Senses
The warmth of a mug in your hands, the sound of leaves beneath your feet, the taste of your first bite—your senses offer simple invitations to return to the present. In today's episode, we explore how noticing the sights, sounds, scents, tastes, and textures around us can interrupt a busy stream…
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1804: Slow Your Roll
I hear all the time that the world is speeding up; that things seems more hurried than they were years ago. But I often wonder if that's true. A casual look says yes. But we don't do casual looks here; we dive in. Just because a pace is set, doesn't mean it needs to be kept. You get to determine...
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1803: From Little Acorns
With all that seems to be going on in the world, many times with think that things are chaotic, that there's no order to anything. One of the things that I enjoy about my meditation practice is its ability to show me order. Maybe a better word is interconnectedness. Today on my walk, a great...
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1802: To Binge or Not to Binge...
One more episode becomes three, and suddenly the evening has slipped away. Bingeing a favorite show can be a welcome pleasure, but it's helpful to pause and notice what's keeping us watching. Are we enjoying ourselves, following a habit, or putting off something we don't want to feel? Today, I...
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1801 Your Time
We all have commitments, but what do you do when you don't. Today I talk about the calm of doing…"whatever the hell you want to do" Become a super-fan of ZEN commuter and 5 Minute mojo and receive bonuses exclusively for Patreon subscribers. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Thanks again for listening to the...
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1800: Insidious Instagram
We all know that social media has been proven to contribute to poor mental health. I won't list the majority of ailments that it reportedly brings about or worsens. Suffice it to say, it's not good. To that end I limit my time with it, mainly Instagram. today I talk about a way that it adds to…
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1799: Restart
When a day gets disrupted or we lose our sense of calm, it can be tempting to write the whole thing off and promise ourselves we'll start fresh tomorrow. But beginning again doesn't require a clean slate. In today's episode of Calmer in 5, I talk about how one conscious breath and one intentional...
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1798: Questions about Calm
Your peace belongs to you. While you may not be able to control the noise, behavior, or circumstances around you, you can choose how much authority you give them over your inner world. Owning your calm doesn't mean ignoring frustration or pretending that everything is pleasant; it means…
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1797: Why You need a Sanctuary (R)
Sanctuary sounds like such a heavy word, steeped in religiousness perhaps. But it doesn't need to be so intense. Today I talk about the benefit of finding your own place of stillness and solitude. Come listen. Become a super-fan of ZEN commuter and 5 Minute mojo and receive bonuses exclusively…
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1796: Minimalism and Memories
When a loved one passes on, they leave behind their belongings. What do you do with those things? Obviously the decision is up to you. But today I thought I would talk about how sentiment and minimalism sometimes are at odds with each other, and what other options exist. Thanks for Listening! If...
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1795: What is Required?
How much of your stress comes from everything you believe you should be doing—even when none of it needs to happen right now? In today's episode, I invite you to pause and ask one calming question: "What is actually required of me in this moment?" When we release the imaginary obligations our…
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1794: Wash Over the Day
Have you ever had one unsettling moment take over an otherwise beautiful day? This morning, while out for a walk, I overheard an interaction that stayed with me long after the people involved had gone in another direction. I found myself replaying it, growing angrier each time, until I realized...
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1793: Come Back to Today
Have you ever noticed how much time you spend replaying old conversations, reliving regrets, or revisiting moments that have long since passed? In today's episode, Thom invites you to gently explore your relationship with the past. Reflection can be valuable, but when we spend too much time…
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1792: How Much Do You See?
Did you know that the mind can only have one thought at a time? That's good news. Because, if you focus on anything in your environment right now, that means you can't worry about the future, or regret the past. Sounds like a win-win. Oh yeah, it is, especially since it helps you regain a sense…
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1791: My Newest Friend
I'm thankful I make friends easily. But the latest friend I made was one of the easiest. And I'll say this, "he" is one of the most supportive friends I have. He is kind about helping me see things I may have missed, and he knows how to cook like no one's business. The most important thing to…
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1790:You Don't Need a Reason
It's easy to smile when you are hanging out with people you Love. easy when you are watching a funny movie or listening to a joke. But what about in the quiet moments; when you are alone, no media in sight? Today I talk about being overcome with joy, and how that shows up on your face.. More to…
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1790: You are Not Broken (R)
Welcome to Calmer in 5. Today's episode is a powerful reminder: you are not broken. So often, we move through life believing there's something wrong with us—something that needs fixing. But the truth is, you are whole just as you are. When we begin to understand and embrace that truth, we stop...
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1789: Tene Diem
Today, I invite you to explore a different way of moving through your day—not by seizing it, but by gently holding it. The Latin phrase tene diem reminds us that life isn't something to chase or control, but something to experience with presence and care. When we stop gripping and start allowing,...
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CI5 1788: Spareribs and Relief
One of the greatest gifts of a meditation practice is it's ability to allow us all to slow down enough to truly see what is going on. Specifically with our thoughts and how they sabotage us at any time. But here's the thing, thoughts are mutable. If we slow down, extract the drama, anger and...
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1787: Accessing the Calm Within
Calm isn't something that needs to be chased or captured. It resides in each of us. It is our default. the only thing we need to do to feel it is peel away the veil that keeps it hidden. Today I talk about how that is done. Thanks for Listening! If this episode helped you see your day in a...
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1786: Recovering from a Rough Night
We all have nights when sleep is elusive and the mind seems determined to wander everywhere except toward rest. When that happens, the next day can feel heavy before it even begins. In today's episode, I talk about how to meet those mornings with kindness rather than frustration. Instead of...
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1785: Don't Borrow Fear
Some people are naturally fearful. So what would be a good thing to do if they wanted to be calmer? That's easy; stop borrowing the fear of other people, sources Thanks for Listening! If this episode helped you see your day in a different light, consider sharing it with someone who might be…
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1784: It Takes Effort to Connect With People (R)
Some of the greatest pain we will feel comes from distancing ourselves from the world. Think about it. So many people spend their lives trying to belong, whether it is to one person or a group. To feel connected. What if I told you that you could feel happier, less alone, if you would only seek…
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1783: Your Soul Will Always Guide You When You're Quiet
Life can seem very chaotic. The good thing to know is that your lack of awareness leads to that belief. When we are chasing, conquering and living in the past or future, we miss the lessons that our soul is guiding us to experience. When we have any practice that cultivates silence and...
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1782: Judgment Blocks Connection
Judgment may feel protective, but it never creates closeness—internally or with others. In this episode, we explore how judgments quietly shut down curiosity, compassion, and connection, often without us realizing it. By becoming aware of our judging mind and gently loosening its grip, we create...
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1781: Awareness Lifts the Veil
So much of the beauty, kindness, and quiet magic of life is already here—but we often move through our days without truly seeing it. In this episode, I invite you to slow down and notice what awareness reveals when we stop living on autopilot. Awareness doesn't add anything new to our lives; it...
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1780: You Happen to Life
In today's Calmer in 5, we explore a simple but powerful shift in perspective: life doesn't happen to you—you happen to life. When we see ourselves as passive recipients of events, life can feel overwhelming and out of control. But when we remember that our presence, awareness, and response shape...
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1779: You Set Your Own Pace
It's no secret that the world seems pretty fast-paced. Do you want to know an even bigger secret? The world is not fast-paced…you are. As I will talk about today, you are the one who sets your pace, harried or calm. Once you know this, you can take the steps to find a pace that creates calm.…
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1778: Turning Inwardly Leads to a Calmer Life
Without some practice to help us understand what is right for us, we are at the whim of the world, society and all others we don a mask for. Today I explain how knowing yourself can put your mind at ease. I'll give a very topical example as it relates to my life and ZC and CI5. Come listen Thanks...
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1777: Calm Comes From Connection
In our search for calm, it's easy to think we need to withdraw, disconnect, or figure everything out on our own. In this episode, we explore a simple truth that often gets overlooked: calm doesn't come from isolation—it comes from connection. Whether it's with others, with the present moment, or...
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1776: You Don't Need to Scroll to Find Kindness
In today's episode, we explore how easy it is to look outside ourselves—especially online—for reminders of love, kindness, and goodness in the world. While social media can sometimes highlight beautiful acts of compassion, it can just as easily pull us into comparison, judgment, and worry. During...
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1775: You Don't Need to Do Anything to Matter
In today's episode, I explore a truth we rarely hear in a world that celebrates productivity above presence: you don't need to do anything to matter. Your worth isn't measured by output, achievement, or the roles you play — it's woven into your very being. Join me as I share a gentle reminder…
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1774: The Stillness That Asked Twice
Today's episode is a little different — and more honest than I expected. I recorded this once already, but after a technical mix-up and a little soul-searching, I realized the message was still calling me. So I sat back down behind the mic to tell the story the way it wanted to be told. It began...
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One Thing, Big Peace
Sometimes calm isn't found in meditation or deep breathing — it's found in the smallest actions. Today I share a simple moment from my morning that became a powerful reminder: when you give your full attention to just one thing, the whole world slows down with you. Join me for a quiet reflection…
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1773: Where Will Your Boots take You?
On my walk today, I realized something about my heavy boots — they let me go anywhere with confidence. Puddles, mud, snow… none of it stops me. And it made me think: when you're clear about who you are, the same is true for your life. In this episode, we explore how a grounded sense of self gives...
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1772: The Stillness that Showed Me Myself
I watched five little birds splashing in a puddle today — just playing, completely unbothered by the world around them. And for a moment, I felt self-conscious watching them… until I was reminded that letting joy in is always more important than worrying what others think. This episode is an...
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1771: The Last Sound You Heard
When we want to feel calm, we often turn to what we can see. But sound can bring us back to center just as powerfully. Today, I invite you to think about the last thing you heard that truly moved you — something that didn't just make you smile, but made your day. Let's reconnect with calm through...
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1770: The Moon Was Always There
In the stillness of a 3 a.m. drive, Thom reflects on how easily we can miss the beauty that's right beside us — until a simple turn brings it back into view. In this episode, The Moon Was Always There, he explores how calm often returns in the same way: quietly, faithfully, waiting for us to...
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1769: Why We Hide Our Joy — and How to Share It Openly
Joy is one of the most natural feelings we have — yet, strangely, one of the hardest to show. Somewhere along the way, many of us learned to keep it quiet, to tone it down, or to wait for "the right moment." But joy isn't meant to be contained. In this episode, we explore why we sometimes hide…
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1768: Nature's Lesson: The Beauty of Life's Steady Transitions
The thought of change is difficult for some people. In fact some people rail against change in any form. Ultimately though, they bring about uneasiness and stress trying to keep things the way they feel they should be. If only there were examples of how change happens every year and we barely...
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1767: The Selflessness of Self-Care: Why Caring for You Helps Everyone
One of the greatest challenges we face as a people is the misunderstanding that we must tend to the needs and suffering of those around us before we tend to our own. Often we are told to disregard our needs, to focus on others first, even exclusively. However, as I will talk about today, you are...
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1766: Where Your Attention Goes, Your Reality Grows
Here's something you might not know; your thoughts create your reality. Okay, if you're here then you have listened to Zen Commuter and you know that already. But what does that have to do with calm? What we focus on grows, good or bad. if we think the world is horrible, our brains actively look...
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1765: The Peace in Knowing Nothing Stays the Same
Many times, mostly when we are sad or lonely, we think things will never change. We think that the sorrow will remain forever. However, whether you are going through a good time or a tough one, it is certain that it will not remain the same. In challenging times this gives us hope that brighter...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Calmer in 5, hosted by Thom Walters, helps you cultivate a more peaceful and balanced life in just five minutes a day. With insightful reflections and actionable tips, Thom guides listeners to slow down, reflect, and embrace calm amidst life's chaos. Perfect for those seeking a quick yet meaningful dose of mindfulness and serenity.
HOSTED BY
Thom Walters
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