In this episode, Josh Lu is on the other side of the interview with Joe Hannan from BJJ Meditations! Hope you enjoy. From BJJ Meditations Podcast: Josh is a white belt based in San Diego, CA. He's been meditating for 12 years and has spent a total of 45 days (spread out over the years) on silent retreat. He's currently pursuing a mindfulness meditation teacher certification. In this conversation, we discuss the psychological challenges of competing in Jiu Jitsu and the importance of authenticity in finding one's own style. We explore the paradox of change and the illusion of self-improvement, emphasizing the value of being present and accepting oneself. The conversation also touches on the connection between Jiu Jitsu and Boyd Varty's idea of tracking, as well as the application of Jiu Jitsu lessons to life. Josh provides guidance on getting started with mindfulness and the role of journaling in cultivating self-awareness. And the conversation concludes with a guided meditation practice. Some weird thoughts and reflections on all of these things in this week's BJJ Meditations. 00:05:50 Reflection on the recent competition00:09:01 Exploring shame and mindfulness00:11:55 The feeling side of human experience00:16:00 The practice of patience and discipline00:19:04 The importance of an embodied practice00:21:15 Using mindfulness in coaching00:28:52 The journey into meditation00:32:01 The interrelationship between meditation and jiu-jitsu00:33:51 The value of mystery and the unknown00:37:56 Navigating the plateau in jiu-jitsu00:41:34 Optimizing for the long haul00:42:29 The Psychological Challenges of Competing00:44:09 The Paradox of Change00:44:51 The Illusion of Self-Improvement00:46:21 Being Authentic in Jiu-Jitsu00:47:35 Finding Your Own Style00:49:00 Discovering Your Passion00:50:39 The Themes of Jiu-Jitsu in Life00:53:38 Trusting Your Intuition00:55:11 The Connection Between Jiu-Jitsu and Tracking00:56:18 The Value of Being Authentic00:57:36 Applying Jiu-Jitsu Lessons to Life00:58:18 Getting Started with Mindfulness01:00:31 The Role of Journaling in Mindfulness01:02:28 Externalizing Internal Thoughts and Emotions01:03:13 Using Humor to Disarm Negative Emotions01:04:29 Avoiding Value Judgments in Language01:08:23 Guided Meditation Practice Check out BJJ Meditations on Instagram, Youtube, and the BJJ Meditations Podcast! Check out Sherpa, the AI-powered journal app for athletes. Sign up for the waitlist here. Check out Jake's Outlier Database to study match footage, get links to resources, and more. Use the code "HELP" to get 10% off Jake's "Less Impressed More Half Guard Passing" instructional. Thanks for supporting the show! Use code “BJJHELP” at submeta.io to try your first month for only $8! Use code “SISUhelp” for 10% off our favorite mouthguards.