How to be yourself when you’re put in a box

How to be yourself when you’re put in a box

Author: SGI-USA September 4, 2021 Duration: 36:47

Today’s episode is about the power of believing in yourself, even if the people around you don’t. 


Having the courage to pursue the life you want isn’t easy, and it’s especially hard when the people around you put you in a box, or limit what they believe you can do. But Buddhism teaches us how to live a life of unlimited courage. 


Our guest is Jenny Ye, of Michigan who started her practice of SGI Nichiren Buddhism as a teenager in South Korea.


After being given little choice about her career options because of her gender, she decided to chant to transform her relationship with her family and believe in her own dreams. 


Today, she shares that journey and how, after conquering her fears back home, she was able to navigate entering a male-dominated industry in the United States, where she faced similar disbelief. Still, she won over it all.


CHEAT SHEET


2:07 Why Jenny started chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo

4:08 How she knew chanting worked 

5:13 How her relationship with her father changed

10:40 What it took to begin a new career-path on her own terms

17:35 How she dealt with feeling like an outsider in the U.S.

19:55 How she learned to believe in herself

24:20 Her favorite Buddhist concept about individuality

28:37 Her dream for the future

30:37 How her dad feels about her Buddhist practice now

33:32 Advice for anyone who feels limited by their environment or circumstances 


It’s easy to lose sight of our own strength when life gets complicated, but what if that inherent clarity and capability never actually left? Buddhability explores that very idea through the lived experiences of everyday people. Host Cassidy Bradford guides genuine conversations with a community of practicing Buddhists from SGI-USA, who share how they navigate real-world challenges. You’ll hear personal stories that touch on everything from mental resilience and physical well-being to navigating career shifts and personal relationships. This isn’t about abstract theory; it’s a practical look at applying Buddhist principles to uncover a more confident and compassionate way of living. Each episode of the podcast feels like a thoughtful dialogue, focusing on how to reconnect with that inner resourcefulness-your Buddhability-amidst the stress and clutter of modern life. The discussions are grounded in the belief that enlightenment isn’t a distant goal, but a potential we can all access right now to improve our own lives and positively impact the world around us. Tune in for honest reflections and discover how this perspective can transform the ordinary into something extraordinary.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 244

Buddhability
Podcast Episodes
On Boundaries and True Self-Care [May 2021] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:48
During the month of July, we're on short break and playing re-runs of our most popular episodes from the archives. We'll be back with brand new episodes the first Wednesday in August. This episode originally aired May 20…
What you do isn’t who you are [November 2021] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:26
During the month of July, we're on short break and playing re-runs of our most popular episodes from the archives. We'll be back with brand new episodes the first Wednesday in August. This episode originally aired Novemb…
How to get unstuck from a monotonous daily life [August 2021] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:52
During the month of July, we're on short break and playing re-runs of our most popular episodes from the archives. We'll be back with brand new episodes the first Wednesday in August. This episode originally aired August…
Tips & Insights: Yes, you can change your karma [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:35
“Tips & Insights” new episode series in which we’ll introduce one Buddhist concept each month and how it can be applied to your life! Today’s is: karma.References:Outshining Our Karma With the “Sun of Wisdom”For more in-…
Learning to Live My Truth, A Coming Out Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:34
Today’s episode is about learning to live your truth. Chris, of Detroit, shares the incredibly moving journey to affirm himself and how his Buddhist practice helped him find the courage to come out as a trans man. A foun…
Overcoming pessimism through action [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:41
Today’s topic is pessimism, which can be defined as a lack of hope or confidence in the future. At different times in our lives, all of us might experience pessimism, especially if our future is uncertain or we find ours…
Self-Doubt vs. Self-Trust [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:22
Today we’re talking about self-trust, which, if you’re the type of person who is constantly berating themselves internally, can feel really hard to build. Our guest is Anivat Chanachanchai, of Hawaii, who shares how taki…
Tips & Insights: What you feel isn’t who you are [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:23
"Tips & Insights” is a new episode series in which we’ll introduce one Buddhist concept each month and how it can be applied to your life! Today’s is: the mutual possession of the Ten Worlds.References:The Mutual Possess…
Overcoming Limiting Beliefs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:33
Today we are discussing limiting beliefs and self-doubt. Whatever form they take for you, whether it’s your own negative self-talk, the way you see yourself or limitations others have placed on you that you’ve internaliz…