#24 - Intentionality, Part 9: Life is a Joke – Either You Get It or You Don’t

#24 - Intentionality, Part 9: Life is a Joke – Either You Get It or You Don’t

Life is a joke … and a precious gift. Kelly and Nyssa explore how both can be true through two of Uncle Murray’s most powerful intentionality slogans: “When in doubt, choose the belief that is most useful to you” and “Life is a joke, either you get it or you don’t.” They unpack how consciously choosing your beliefs shapes your emotions, relationships, spirituality, and even how you cope with grief, loss, construction chaos, and dying pets—without bypassing pain or pretending everything is “fine.” Drawing on Tibetan Lojong teachings, existential philosophy, family stories, and Murray’s irreverent humor, they explore doubt, faith, openness, and what it really means to “get” life before it’s over. If you’ve ever wrestled with what to believe, struggled to lighten up, or wondered how to honor both the absurdity and sacredness of being alive, this conversation on intentionality, mindset, and meaning‑making is for you. Main Topics Covered: * How choosing the belief that’s most useful (not “most true”) can transform your daily emotional life * The hidden link between beliefs, resentment, and why we get so grumpy doing dishes or standing in line * What it really means to “get” the joke of life—and what happens if you don’t * The double meaning inside the slogan “Life is a joke, either you get it or you don’t” * How Tibetan Lojong teachings and Uncle Murray’s sayings overlap in surprising ways * Using intentionality to navigate grief, dying pets, and house‑under‑construction chaos without bypassing pain * Why people with strong traditions may not feel “in doubt”—and how openness changes your relationship to belief * The idea of a “precious human life” and how it can deepen love, gratitude, and presence * Finding meaning in synchronicities (like the AC breaking during hospice) and the absurd timing of life * How humor, irreverence, and not taking yourself so seriously can actually make you more compassionate Links: * Episode #16 - Intentionality, Part 1: Everything You’ve Done Prepared You For This Moment [https://www.nyssahanger.com/podcast/ep16] * Episode #17 - Intentionality, Part 2: Feeling Good Needs No Excuse [https://www.nyssahanger.com/podcast/ep17] * Episode #18 - Intentionality, Part 3: If You Think You Can Change the World, You Have a Better Chance [https://www.nyssahanger.com/podcast/ep18] * Episode #19 - Intentionality, Part 4: Your Reality is as Good as Anyone Else’s [https://www.nyssahanger.com/podcast/ep19] * Episode #20 - Intentionality, Part 5: It’s Useful to View the Past in a Friendly Way [https://www.nyssahanger.com/podcast/ep20] * Episode #21 - Intentionality, Part 6: There’s More Than Two Ways to Skin a Cat [https://www.nyssahanger.com/podcast/ep21] * Episode #22 - Intentionality, Part 7: Take the Hard Things Easy [https://www.nyssahanger.com/podcast/ep22] * Episode #23 - Intentionality, Part 8: You’re Already Ready [https://www.nyssahanger.com/podcast/ep23] * SONG: Everybody Cook [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJzE0AULogg] by Sofi Tucker * BOOK: The Artist’s Way [https://bookshop.org/a/119981/9780143129257] by Julia Cameron * BOOK: Writing Down the Bones [https://bookshop.org/a/119981/9781611803082] by Natalie Goldberg Newsletter Sign Up: * Going Upward Newsletter – Get Nyssa’s email newsletter here [https://nyssa-hanger.kit.com/profile?_gl=1*1igr51m*_gcl_au*NTUxMTcxODg4LjE3NzYwOTIyOTkuNjE3OTkwNjQzLjE3Nzc5MDMwNDMuMTc3NzkwMzA0Mg..] Stay in Touch: Nyssa Hanger: www.nyssahanger.com [http://www.nyssahanger.com/] | IG: @nyssahanger Kelly Brady: www.kellybrady.me [http://www.kellybrady.me/] | IG: @drkellybrady

#23 - Intentionality, Part 8: You’re Already Ready

In this episode of Being Different Together, Kelly and Nyssa continue their intentionality mini-series by unpacking two classic Murray Landsman sayings: "You're already ready" and "Trying is not doing it."  They explore how these deceptively simple phrases cut through resistance, perfectionism, and the “I don’t feel like it” mindset, especially around creative work, meditation, relationships, and everyday tasks like decluttering and home projects. Through stories about writing, inner critics, therapy, and the “great stuff shuffle,” they show how willingness, imperfect action, and giving yourself permission to be a beginner can transform how you show up for the things that matter.  If you’ve ever felt stuck waiting to feel ready, told yourself you’re “trying” but not actually moving forward, or struggled with following your bliss without becoming self‑indulgent, this conversation will help you take compassionate, grounded action right where you are. Main Topics Covered: * How the sayings “You’re already ready” and “Trying is not doing it” can bust through resistance and procrastination * The sneaky ways “I don’t feel like it” and “I’m not ready yet” block our goals (and what we’re really afraid of) * Why following your bliss 24/7 can turn into hedonism—and how to stay intentional without being self‑indulgent * The “great stuff shuffle” and what decluttering during a home renovation reveals about readiness and attachment * How inner critics overprotect us like an overactive immune system—and how to lovingly turn down their volume * Why it’s often easier to talk than to write about big ideas, and how writers can tolerate imperfect first drafts * The difference between wanting to do something and being willing to do it (especially for unglamorous tasks) * What therapy clients, creative practices, and meditation have in common when it comes to actually doing the work * How giving yourself permission to be a beginner changes your relationship with learning, risk, and “getting it right” Links: * Episode #16 - Intentionality, Part 1: Everything You’ve Done Prepared You For This Moment [https://www.nyssahanger.com/podcast/ep16] * Episode #17 - Intentionality, Part 2: Feeling Good Needs No Excuse [https://www.nyssahanger.com/podcast/ep17] * Episode #18 - Intentionality, Part 3: If You Think You Can Change the World, You Have a Better Chance [https://www.nyssahanger.com/podcast/ep18] * Episode #19 - Intentionality, Part 4: Your Reality is as Good as Anyone Else’s [https://www.nyssahanger.com/podcast/ep19] * Episode #20 - Intentionality, Part 5: It’s Useful to View the Past in a Friendly Way [https://www.nyssahanger.com/podcast/ep20] * Episode #21 - Intentionality, Part 6: There’s More Than Two Ways to Skin a Cat [https://www.nyssahanger.com/podcast/ep21] * Episode #22 - Intentionality, Part 7: Take the Hard Things Easy [https://www.nyssahanger.com/podcast/ep22] Newsletter Sign Up: * Going Upward Newsletter – Get Nyssa’s email newsletter here [https://nyssa-hanger.kit.com/profile?_gl=1*1igr51m*_gcl_au*NTUxMTcxODg4LjE3NzYwOTIyOTkuNjE3OTkwNjQzLjE3Nzc5MDMwNDMuMTc3NzkwMzA0Mg..] Stay in Touch: Nyssa Hanger: www.nyssahanger.com [http://www.nyssahanger.com/] | IG: @nyssahanger Kelly Brady: www.kellybrady.me [http://www.kellybrady.me/] | IG: @drkellybrady

#22 - Intentionality, Part 7: Take the Hard Things Easy

In this episode of Being Different Together, Kelly and Nyssa continue their intentionality mini-series by unpacking another Murray Landsman saying: “Take the hard things easy.”  They explore how unconscious beliefs about suffering shape our identity—through stories like an anesthesiologist-turned-donut-shop-worker, navigating home renovations, and walking through grief in ways that don’t match other people’s expectations. Along the way, they weave in Zen and Buddhist teachings, the “strong back, soft front” practice, the body’s stress responses (hello, tight psoas and low back pain), and how vulnerability and courage can transform difficult conversations and life transitions.  If you’ve ever wondered how to meet hard things without hardening yourself—whether it’s loss, conflict, or everyday stress—this episode offers practical, compassionate insights for approaching life with more ease and intention. Main Topics Covered: * How much of our suffering is actually required—and how much is a secret performance tied to identity? * The anesthesiologist who “lost everything” and found unexpected relief working at a donut shop. * What happens when your grief doesn’t look like what other people expect (and why that can be unsettling for them). * The surprising connection between low back pain, tight bellies, the psoas muscle, and feeling emotionally under threat. * “Strong back, soft front”: a Zen-inspired way to meet hard things without hardening yourself. * How Western individualism and Eastern contemplative traditions offer very different stories about who we are. * Turning stressful life events—like home renovations and family decluttering—into chances to practice taking the hard things easy. * The subtle ways we can get “inflated” around our suffering and slip into martyr mode without realizing it. * Why vulnerability always comes with that inner quiver—and how courage depends on letting it be there. Links: * Episode #16 - Intentionality, Part 1: Everything You’ve Done Prepared You For This Moment [https://www.nyssahanger.com/podcast/ep16] * Episode #17 - Intentionality, Part 2: Feeling Good Needs No Excuse [https://www.nyssahanger.com/podcast/ep17] * Episode #18 - Intentionality, Part 3: If You Think You Can Change the World, You Have a Better Chance [https://www.nyssahanger.com/podcast/ep18] * Episode #19 - Intentionality, Part 4: Your Reality is as Good as Anyone Else’s [https://www.nyssahanger.com/podcast/ep19] * Episode #20 - Intentionality, Part 5: It’s Useful to View the Past in a Friendly Way [https://www.nyssahanger.com/podcast/ep20] * Episode #21 - Intentionality, Part 6: There’s More Than Two Ways to Skin a Cat [https://www.nyssahanger.com/podcast/ep21] Newsletter Sign Up: * Going Upward Newsletter – Get Nyssa’s email newsletter here [https://nyssa-hanger.kit.com/profile?_gl=1*1igr51m*_gcl_au*NTUxMTcxODg4LjE3NzYwOTIyOTkuNjE3OTkwNjQzLjE3Nzc5MDMwNDMuMTc3NzkwMzA0Mg..] Stay in Touch: Nyssa Hanger: www.nyssahanger.com [http://www.nyssahanger.com/] | IG: @nyssahanger Kelly Brady: www.kellybrady.me [http://www.kellybrady.me/] | IG: @drkellybrady

#21 - Intentionality, Part 6: There’s More Than Two Ways to Skin a Cat

In this episode of Being Different Together, Kelly and Nyssa continue their intentionality mini-series with two Murray Landsman sayings: “Doing it does it” and “There’s more than two ways to skin a cat.”  They unpack how taking imperfect action creates clarity, how to move through overthinking and perfectionism, and why there’s never just one “right” way to build a life, business, or relationship.  If you struggle with procrastination, fear of doing it wrong, or waiting to feel ready before you start, this conversation offers practical, compassionate guidance for showing up more intentionally and creatively in your everyday life. Main Topics Covered: * How “Doing it does it” can break you out of overthinking and get you into real-life momentum * The surprising link between intentionality and how you actually show up in your relationships, work, and daily life * Why clarity comes from engagement, not thought—and what that means for dating, business, and big life changes * How perfectionism disguises itself as “planning” and “strategy” (and keeps you safely stuck) * The coaching question Nyssa uses to unlock action: “What’s the smallest viable step?” * What Murray meant by “There’s more than two ways to skin a cat”—and how it challenges rigid social rules * The connection between creativity, anti‑perfectionism, and emotional regulation (including Virginia Satir’s “10 solutions” idea) * Why chronic stress and fight‑or‑flight shut down creativity—and how to find more options when you feel boxed in * Real-life examples: podcasting with barking dogs, tired brains, and takeout dinners… and choosing to do it anyway Links: * Episode #16 - Intentionality, Part 1: Everything You’ve Done Prepared You For This Moment [https://www.nyssahanger.com/podcast/ep16] * Episode #17 - Intentionality, Part 2: Feeling Good Needs No Excuse [https://www.nyssahanger.com/podcast/ep17] * Episode #18 - Intentionality, Part 3: If You Think You Can Change the World, You Have a Better Chance [https://www.nyssahanger.com/podcast/ep18] * Episode #19 - Intentionality, Part 4: Your Reality is as Good as Anyone Else’s [https://www.nyssahanger.com/podcast/ep19] * Episode #20 - Intentionality, Part 5: It’s Useful to View the Past in a Friendly Way [https://www.nyssahanger.com/podcast/ep20] Newsletter Sign Up: * Going Upward Newsletter – Get Nyssa’s email newsletter here [https://nyssa-hanger.kit.com/profile?_gl=1*1igr51m*_gcl_au*NTUxMTcxODg4LjE3NzYwOTIyOTkuNjE3OTkwNjQzLjE3Nzc5MDMwNDMuMTc3NzkwMzA0Mg..] Stay in Touch: Nyssa Hanger: www.nyssahanger.com [http://www.nyssahanger.com/] | IG: @nyssahanger Kelly Brady: www.kellybrady.me [http://www.kellybrady.me/] | IG: @drkellybrady

#20 - Intentionality, Part 5: It’s Useful to View the Past in a Friendly Way

In this episode of Being Different Together, Kelly and Nyssa continue their intentionality mini-series by unpacking another Murray Landsman saying: “It is useful to view the past in a friendly way.” They explore what it really means to make peace with your past, including how to work with regret, grief, and painful memories without spiritually bypassing or pretending everything was “meant to be.” Through stories of a woman dancing on the beach to honor friends who died, family history at Cocoa Beach, and a powerful dream about everything in life being a gift wrapped in challenges, they show how intentionality and self-awareness can shift how you relate to what’s already happened. They also touch on the unconscious mind, Zen teachings on regret, and our cultural obsession with self‑improvement—why it’s so tempting to replay the past, and how to learn from your history without living in the rearview mirror.  If you’ve ever wondered how to let go of regret, be kinder to your past self, or hold grief and loss without getting stuck there, this conversation is for you. Main Topics Covered: * How the simple phrase “It is useful to view the past in a friendly way” can completely change your relationship with regret and memory * The story of a woman dancing at sunrise on the beach to honor friends who died—and what it teaches about grief * Why humans are 95–99% unconscious (according to some neuropsychologists) and what that means for how we judge ourselves and others * The difference between being actually cruel and just being unconscious and automatic in our behavior * How to tell the difference between genuinely learning from the past and just replaying it in your mental rearview mirror * Why trying to be “less human” (through self‑improvement, perfectionism, or avoiding aging and death) actually increases suffering * What Zen teachings suggest about regret, karma, and the idea that things couldn’t have happened any other way * A powerful dream message that “everything in life is a gift—and the really good gifts come wrapped in challenges” * Practical ways to be friendlier to your past self without bypassing pain or pretending everything is “for the best” * How seeing your past more kindly can open up more compassion, freedom, and joy in the present Links: * Episode #16 - Intentionality, Part 1: Everything You’ve Done Prepared You For This Moment [https://www.nyssahanger.com/podcast/ep16] * Episode #17 - Intentionality, Part 2: Feeling Good Needs No Excuse [https://www.nyssahanger.com/podcast/ep17] * Episode #18 - Intentionality, Part 3: If You Think You Can Change the World, You Have a Better Chance [https://www.nyssahanger.com/podcast/ep18] * Episode #19 - Intentionality, Part 4: Your Reality is as Good as Anyone Else’s [https://www.nyssahanger.com/podcast/ep19] Books: * The Four Tendencies [https://bookshop.org/a/119981/9781524760915] by Gretchen Rubin Stay in Touch: Nyssa Hanger: www.nyssahanger.com [http://www.nyssahanger.com/] | IG: @nyssahanger Kelly Brady: www.kellybrady.me [http://www.kellybrady.me/] | IG: @drkellybrady