Handling Difficult Conversations, with Kessonga
Kessonga and Robin answer questions about how to apply mindfulness during difficult conversations, how to know if you’re making progress on a healing journey, and how to honor ancestors when you have negative feelings toward them.
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Please note that this week's episode contains discussion about rape that may bring up strong emotions for some listeners. If you feel that hearing this content could potentially impact your mental wellbeing, please skip the section from seven minutes and 30 seconds to nine minutes and 30 seconds, or perhaps this particular episode, whatever feels right for you. (button moving and clicking) (bright ambient music) Headspace Studios. I know the resiliency and the strength that the enslaved people had to deal with in this country. I pull from that strength all the times, Robin, 'cause I know that if they can deal with that, just like that trauma is intergenerational, so is that strength and resiliency. (bright music) Have you ever wished you had a wise meditation teacher on speed dial? Someone you can call after a long day? Someone you could lean on for their advice? Someone to listen and help you to see things differently? Welcome to "Dear Headspace." Hello, everyone, I am excited to be sitting here with you for another episode of "Dear Headspace," a podcast where I sit down with one of our meditation teachers, and we answer your questions about, quite frankly, whatever floats your boat. I'm Robin Hopkins, and today, it's me and Kessonga coming at ya. (chuckling) How you doing, Robin? Always a pleasure. What floats to your boat? (Kessonga laughing) Here's the thing, I feel like lately, work's been taking up a lot of my time, and I don't know, I'm starting to think like maybe a little bit too much, like 'cause I'm nothing if not, I mean, you've met me, overcommitted, (Kessonga chuckling) but I wanted to ask you, apart from work, like, what takes up too much of your time? What takes up, I guess, related is my kids. Mm. You know, particularly my oldest one, she's 17, and you know, she has one more year in the house. I have noticed. Doesn't it go by so fast? So fast, robin. But yet so slow fast. So fast. (Kessonga chuckling) Yeah. Depending on the day. Yeah, yeah, (Robin chuckling) but in the grand scheme of things, it's like, it happens so fast. Yeah. So I have recently noticed that I've been intentionally trying to like, spend as much time with her, Aww. And be in her space as much as possible. I think that's so nice though. You know, because yeah, she's gonna be off to school, no, to college, and it's like, ugh. Does she notice you're doing this? Yeah, yeah, we talk about it. You talk about it, okay. Yeah, we talk about it. 'Cause I was like, is this like a sneaky thing, or is this like a- No, no, no, no, no, we talk about it. Lemme tell you, I'm gonna be a full mess God, I know. When she leaves for college. I know. My sister came to visit this past week, and we went out to eat, and it's like, we left the restaurant, we were saying goodbyes and I love yous for...
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About your teachers
- Andy PuddicomeHeadspace Co-founderMore about Andy
A former Buddhist monk, Andy has guided people in meditation and mindfulness for 20 years. In his mission to make these practices accessible to all, he co-created the Headspace app in 2010.
- Eve Lewis PrietoHeadspace Director of MeditationMore about Eve
Eve is a mindfulness teacher, overseeing Headspace’s meditation curriculum. She is passionate about sharing meditation to help others feel less stressed and experience more compassion in their lives.
- Dora KamauMeditation TeacherMore about Dora
As a meditation teacher, Dora encourages others to live, breathe, and be with the fullness of their experiences. She loves meditation’s power to create community and bring clarity to people’s minds.
- Kessonga GiscombeMeditation TeacherMore about Kessonga
Kessonga has been an acupuncturists, therapist, and meditation teacher, working to bring mindfulness to the diverse populations of the world.
- Rosie AcostaMeditation TeacherMore about Rosie
Rosie Acosta has studied yoga and mindfulness for more than 20 years and taught for over a decade. Rosie’s mission is to help others overcome adversity and experience radical love.

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