For episode 196 of the Metta Hour, Sharon speaks to special guest Dr. Gabor Maté. Gabor is highly sought after for his expertise in working with addiction, stress, and childhood development. He has written several bestselling books, including the award-winning In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts, When the Body Says No, and Scattered, and co-authored the book Hold On to Your Kids. His works have been published internationally in nearly thirty languages. Gabor’s new book, The Myth of Normal, has just been released in September 2022.
• How Gabor defines the term “normal”
• Human’s incredible and sometimes dangerous adaptability
• The percentages of folks on medication
• How our culture engenders illness
• The evolutionary nature
• The essence of interconnection across culture, science & spirituality
• Thích Nhất Hạnh’s inter-being teaching
• The concept of the “identified person”
• Addiction as the canary in the mine
• Traumatic events versus the dramatic wounds we sustain as a result
• The complex factors that motivate caregivers
• Why caregivers tend toward trauma
• Compassion Fatigue is a lack of self-compassion
• Negative self-talk as an impact of trauma
• The difference between responsibility and blame
• The role of community in healing
• Authenticity versus attachment
• Childhood development
• Is it ever too late to heal?
• Gabor’s practice of Compassionate Inquiry
• The evolution of addiction treatments
• How our culture profits off of addiction
The conversation closes with a twelve-minute guided inquiry exercise by Gabor. To learn more about Gabor’s work, you can visit his website here or find his latest book, The Myth of Normal, available in hardcover, audio and ebook formats.
About The Metta Hour
Sharon’s Metta Hour Podcast features Buddhist wisdom for everyday life. With over five million downloads, Sharon’s wisdom and humor translate these ancient teachings, making them instantly accessible. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes for regular episodes. Make a donation to support the continuation of these podcasts.
