Episode 5: Tapping into Intuition: A Journey Back to Self with Garrett Brill
Episode Summary:
In this deeply reflective episode of the Plant.Body.Soul. Podcast, we sit down with the soulful and articulate Garrett Brill, a Spoken Word Poet, Consultant, and Coach who shares his unique journey. From finding his inner voice in the solitude of nature to harnessing his creative spirit through intuitive guidance, Garrett inspires with his profound insights into the interconnectedness of mind, body, and soul. With engaging discussion around conscious living, self-compassion, and the transformational power of journaling, this episode offers listeners a profound exploration into self-awareness. Dive in for a thought-provoking chat and some of Garrett's captivating poetry.
Check out Garrett’s Children’s Book Kickstarter Campaign
Show Notes:
Introduction (00:00:00 - 00:03:07)
Introduction to Garrett Brill, also known as G-Link, who is a spoken word artist, coach, consultant, and soon-to-be children's book author.
Jennifer Miles and Garrett Brill reminisce about how they met and their shared experiences, including events like Walter Yoga and a memorable ceremony of love at Burning Man.
The Evolution of G-Link (00:03:08 - 00:04:14)
Garrett talks about his journey of living life with intention and compassion, being a support system for those around him, and connecting people.
The hosts appreciate Garrett's positive energy and his ability to uplift others.
Messages of Compassion and Self-Belief (00:04:15 - 00:06:40)
Garrett discusses his recurring themes of compassion, self-belief, and intuition.
He talks about his transformation from leading a life of practicality to listening to the inner whisper that guided him towards joy and happiness.
Garrett emphasizes the importance of following one's intuition and taking actions based on it.
Navigating Against Societal Expectations (00:06:54 - 00:11:35)
Jennifer Miles questions Garrett about a time when he had to go against conventional wisdom or societal expectations.
Garrett shares his experience of leaving a successful career, in which he had achieved conventional success markers, to follow his heart's whisper.
He talks about the challenges he faced in letting go of things that were no longer serving him and embarking on a journey into the unknown with his partner, Sarafina.
Garrett advises listeners to listen to their inner whisper and follow it, regardless of the factors that might try to stop them.
The Poetry and Energy of Human Emotions (00:15:06 - 00:17:31)
Garrett Brill shares his view on the interconnectedness of human experiences, and how universal emotions such as love, fear, and grief unite us all. He believes that we're all part of the same collective experience or singularity.
Jennifer Miles discusses the power of poetry and the shared energy that can be felt when it's recited to a group of people.
Garrett discusses his approach to public speaking and the conscious decision he makes to be a "channel of love." He aims for his stories to resonate with others, serving as a reminder of shared human experiences.
Garrett shares a teaching from his mentor: everything a person does is either an act of love or a cry for help. This perspective has allowed him to evaluate his own actions and intentions with greater awareness.
Tuning Into Intuition and Higher Self (00:17:31 - 00:22:03)
Jennifer Miles asks Garrett about his habits and rituals for connecting with his higher self and tapping into his intuition.
Garrett suggests mindfulness activities like meditation, running, and yoga as effective ways to connect with one's intuition. He believes that these activities put one in a receptive state.
Garrett explains his three-step approach to intuition: having an open mind, being in a receptive state, and taking action. He gives an example of a time when he received a message while journaling and saw it come to fruition years later because he took action on it.
Jennifer points out that meditation has been a common theme among their podcast guests. Garrett agrees, emphasizing that meditation is a practice that has to be maintained regularly.
The Role of Intuition in Creativity (00:22:04 - 00:23:45)
In response to Gordon Ogden's question about intuition's role in creativity, Garrett talks about how his poetry often comes to him as messages that he receives and writes down.
He mentions that a children's book he wrote came to him during a yoga session. He advises that creativity involves being in a state of "receivership" and also taking action.
Garrett talks about balancing discipline with receivership in his creative process. He shares that his poetry often came from the discipline of writing two lines of poetry every day.
Compassion and Self-Compassion in Poetry (00:23:46 - 00:25:09)
Jennifer Miles asks Garrett about the theme of compassion and self-compassion in his poetry. She wants to know where Garrett learned about compassion and how he applies it, especially when it's challenging.
Garrett begins to explain how he learned compassion from his experiences, particularly having a cleft lip and later working with families of sick children. He mentions that everyone is going through something and that his experiences have made him more aware and compassionate towards others.
Introducing Sarafina, Garrett's Life Partner [00:28:30 - 00:29:31]
Garrett introduces Sarafina, his fiancee, partner, and best friend who has significantly influenced his personal growth and self-awareness.
Garrett and Sarafina have been together for 11 years and celebrate their unconventional approach to their relationship.
Coping with the Challenges of Providing Care [00:29:30 - 00:30:59]
Garrett discusses the challenges of providing care and support to families with needs beyond their capacity to meet.
He explains his use of affirmations as a coping mechanism for times when they had to let families down due to limited resources.
Garrett highlights the importance of self-compassion when dealing with such difficult situations.
Writing a Book for Children [00:30:59 - 00:34:11]
Jennifer asks Garrett about the inspiration behind the children's book he's writing, leading him to share the story of how the idea came to him during a yoga class.
Garrett shares his experiences with the Clubhouse app where he first began to share his poetry, and how this exposure led him to opportunities such as speaking at a conference.
Garrett discusses how receiving feedback from the audience and seeing a demand for his work among children inspired him to start writing a children's book.
The Journey of Writing the Children's Book [00:34:11 - 00:37:06]
Garrett describes how his collaboration with artist Daniel Fleck came about, transforming his dream of illustrating his poem into a reality.
He speaks about the unexpected confirmations he received along the way, validating his decision to pursue this path.
He gives an overview of the children's book which is about a character named Naledi, traveling inner and outer universes to appreciate life, and how life's challenges provide the greatest gifts.
The Book's Kickstarter Launch and Importance of Listening to Children [00:37:06 - 00:38:50]
The book is set to launch on Kickstarter at the end of June.
Garrett discusses the importance of listening to children and learning from them, referring to his book as a "kidult" book - for both children and adults.
He shares an instance when his four-year-old niece reflected on the message of his book, expressing how it reaffirmed the relevance and impact of his work.
Connection between mind, body, and soul [00:39:07 - 00:40:27]
Garrett Brill shares his perspective on the connection between mind, body, and soul, expressing the belief that there is a universal energy connecting everything.
He suggests that the same energy that influences the natural world also inspires our personal creative endeavors, such as writing or starting a business.
He describes the energy as flowing through our minds, spirits, and bodies, connecting us all.
Current reading and listening [00:40:37 - 00:41:49]
Brill talks about his current reading list, which includes works by Dr. Wayne Dyer and "Principles" by Ray Dalio.
He resonates with Dyer's thoughts, describing his words as landing as truth.
Brill finds Dalio's "Principles" to be a great guide for maintaining balance while pursuing an intuition-driven path.
Daily tools and practices [00:42:01 - 00:43:15]
Brill shares his daily tools for easier living, mentioning journaling as his most significant practice.
He also finds value in using Zoom for connecting with people globally, and apps like Insight Timer and Headspace for meditation support.
Brill runs a bi-weekly journaling call, where people write and discuss based on prompts he provides, fostering personal reflection and connection with others.
Self-Compassion through Poetry [00:43:47 - 00:47:42]
Responding to a request, Brill shares a self-compassion focused poem titled "Blooming," reflecting his journey from traveling to settling back home and learning to trust the process.
The poem highlights the importance of being present, experiencing emotions, and allowing oneself to rest, mirroring the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly.
Brill's recital of the poem is well-received by the hosts, who express their admiration for his talent.
Wrapping Up and Final Words [00:47:43 - 00:49:53]
Brill shares where listeners can find him: on Instagram as @glink and his website, garrettbrill.com.
He also extends an open invitation for anyone interested in his journaling call.
As the episode concludes, the hosts encourage listeners to subscribe, leave a review, and follow them on Instagram and plantbodysoul.com
Connect with our guest:
GARRETT BRILL
Spoken Word Artist | Human Connection Facilitator | Reflection of Love | Web 3.0
IG: @G__LINK
GARRETTBRILL.COM
Check out Garrett’s Children’s Book Kickstarter Campaign