Taking the steps to respect your own life

Taking the steps to respect your own life

Author: SGI-USA May 23, 2021 Duration: 59:57

Today we’re talking to Lorenna Garcia-Bochas, a young woman in Georgia who grew up around the Buddhist community and chanting. Her own practice developed when she started college and faced some major challenges in her family and with her own mental health, which drove her to dig deep into her own heart to find a way forward. 


We cover a lot today: how to grapple with multiple identities and feeling like you don’t fit anywhere; how to take care of your family when they are struggling; and how to find the courage to seek help for your mental health, if that’s what you need.


Ultimately, Lorenna’s story is an amazing example of how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo can be fuel for taking steady steps to respect your own life, which includes resolving doubt and pain, establishing a dream for the future and taking great care of yourself.

(Note: No information on this episode should be considered medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for any questions related to treatment for mental health issues.)


CHEAT SHEET


1:30 How Lorenna grew up

6:50 Why she started practicing Buddhism

8:30 The family challenges that drove her practice

11:59 What her day-to-day struggle looked like

21:46 How her expectations for herself started to change

25:25 How she changed her experience of school

30:28 What it took to believe in herself

33:46 How she found her dream career path

40:24 The challenges she faced being mixed-race

43:17 Transforming shame

45:34 Her favorite Buddhist concept

48:41 What it took to ask for help for her mental health

56:52 Advice for her younger self and anyone listening


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
The Grind: Self-Mastery and Success in Business [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:16
Chip Grossman, of Santa Monica, always thought spirituality and business were opposing goals. It wasn’t until he encountered SGI Nichiren Buddhism that he realized their deep ties. Today, Chip shares how chanting Nam-myo…
Buddhability Short: It's Never Too Late [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:40
Buddhability Shorts is a series where we break down a Buddhist concept or common life challenge we’ve touched on in an interview. Today, we’re talking about life milestones and feeling left behind. To ask a question abou…
When Plans Unexpectedly Change [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:35
Life can’t always go according to plan. So, what do we do when things change? Buddhist practice helps us to be flexible and turn everything into an opportunity for deeper happiness. Today’s guest, Camryn Snowden, of Okla…
Seeing Beyond My Complaints and Problems [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:27
Daily life throws a lot at us. When our state of life is low, it can be easy to get wrapped up in complaint. Buddhism teaches that caring for others helps us see beyond our problems, having a more expansive view of our l…
Perseverance is a Skill [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:30
What happens when you’ve failed at your goal… more than once? Today’s guest, Ayumi Sasaki, of Detroit, had a big career goal that took two years and many attempts to accomplish. We discuss how her Buddhist practice and c…
Buddhability Short: What Is Love? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:27
Buddhability Shorts is a series where we break down a Buddhist concept or common life challenge we’ve touched on in an interview. Today, we’re learning how Buddhism can help us in relationships and love. To ask a questio…
Believing in My Family Instead of Trying to Control Them [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:36
When we want others to change, we’re at the whim of our environment. One moment we’re happy with their actions and another we’re upset with something they said. Buddhism teaches us that when we work on our inner transfor…
Buddhability Short: Why Do We Have a Daily Practice? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:33
Buddhability Shorts is a series where we break down a Buddhist concept or common life challenge we’ve touched on in an interview. Today, we’re talking why SGI Nichiren Buddhists chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo every day. To as…
Your Past Decisions Don’t Define Your Future [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:23
We might have a laundry list of regrets but we don’t have to let them determine our lives today or tomorrow. Today’s guest, Jesse Thompson of Columbus, Indiana, shares how he used his Buddhist practice to overcome shame…
How a Tattoo Artist is Revitalizing Her Community [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:46
Buddhist practice empowers us to positively impact our environment. Amber Owens, of Anniston, Alabama, uncovered a deep sense of purpose in revitalizing her hometown’s art culture. Today we’re talking about how chanting…