David Nichtern – CSM Podcast – Ep. 53 – The Four Powers of Confidence with Ethan Nichtern

Exploring the themes in his new book, Confidence, Ethan Nichtern chats with his dad, David, about vulnerability, truth, and the state of the world.

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In this episode, David and Ethan speak about:
  • Ethan’s new book and what real confidence is
  • False confidence and manipulation
  • The current political environment and seeking the truth
  • Why authenticity is so important
  • Examples of people who radiate confidence and light the candles of others
  • How sadness can be an authentic response to the state of the world
  • The Eight Worldly Winds and practicing confidence
  • How we are all vulnerable to imposter syndrome
  • Awareness and tuning into our inner knowing to avoid being caught in emotions
  • Remembering our powerful and tender hearts
Check out these on-demand online courses from David Nichtern and an upcoming course from Ethan Nichtern based around his new book HERE.

“I think there is a compassion element to genuine confidence where you’re using your own confidence to light other people’s candle.” – Ethan Nichtern

About Ethan Nichtern:

Ethan Nichtern is a Buddhist teacher, and is the author of the acclaimed book The Road Home: A Contemporary Exploration of the Buddhist Path, which was selected as one of Library Journal’s Best Books of 2015, and one of Tech Insider’s “9 Books That Define 2015.” He also wrote The Dharma of The Princess Bride: What The Coolest Fairy Tale of Our Time Can Teach Us About Buddhism and Relationships and most recently, Confidence: Holding Your Seat through Life’s Eight Worldly Winds.

For the past 20+ years, Ethan has taught meditation and Buddhist psychology classes and workshops around New York City and North America and Europe, along with working with students privately. He has primarily studied in the Shambhala and other Tibetan traditions, but has also studied Theravadan and Soto Zen Buddhism. He is also an avid yoga practitioner. He served as Shastri, or Senior Teacher-In-Residence, for the Shambhala Meditation Center of New York, from 2010-2018. Continue listening to Ethan on his podcast, The Road Home.

Listen to more from David Nichtern:
David sits down with psychologist and author Daniel Goleman for conversation around the intersection of awareness, creativity and business, inCSM Ep. 1.
Krishna Das joins David for chanting and chatting about transforming negative karmas, the path of surrender, & the connections between Hinduism and Buddhism, in CSM Ep. 13
David speaks with his longtime friend, Jamie Lee Curtis, about her meditation practice, the bhav of creativity, and playing to your strongest suits in life, in CSM Ep. 2
Emmy-winning composer Sean Callery and David discuss true fearlessness, how Trungpa Rinpoche heard music, and the symphony of impermanence –  Composing Dharma