Mindrolling – Raghu Markus – Ep. 368 – Not Afraid: Navigating Fear and Loss with Daniele Bolelli

Daniele Bolelli

Author and podcaster Daniele Bolelli drops by the Mindrolling podcast for a conversation around dealing with fear and suffering, facing loss, and balancing toughness and kindness as we go through life. 

Daniele Bolelli is a writer, martial artist, university professor, and podcaster. He was born in Italy and currently lives in Los Angeles. Learn more about Daniele at his website, follow him on Twitter, and check out his podcasts, The Drunken Taoist and History on Fire.

Dealing With Fear

Raghu welcomes Daniele to Mindrolling and asks about his background as a martial artist. Daniel talks about how martial arts helps get him out of his head and grounded in his body. It helps him deal not only with fear, but with loss as well. Daniele tells a story of loss from his life, and how his daughter helped with his healing.

“Martial arts started making me comfortable with the concept of losing, or with the concept of sometimes not having a choice on how things are going to turn out, only having a choice in how I’m going to react to them.” – Daniele Bolelli

RamDev explores how we can offer compassion to our fear on Healing at the Edge Ep. 46
Balancing Toughness and Kindness (18:00)

The conversation shifts to the concept of impermanence, and how we all need to take the curriculum of being human. They talk about dealing with suffering, and how a balancing of toughness and kindness is needed as we go through life. Raghu asks Daniele about his background in philosophy.

“That’s the gig, because on one end there’s a lot of amazing stuff about being human, there’s a lot of phenomenal experiences that go with our life, here and now. There’s also a lot of giant kicks in the balls, and it’s learning to navigate the two, learning how to be able to accept that that’s the reality of fate, but still not lose all the amazing stuff that goes with it.” – Daniele Bolelli 

Zen Flesh, Zen Bones (36:10)

Raghu asks Daniele about his Taoist background, and they chat about the influence Zen Flesh, Zen Bones has had on his life. Raghu explores how the combination of Bhatki and Buddhist traditions provides a balance of toughness and kindness. Daniele talks more about dealing with suffering, and the lessons about life we can learn from facing death.

“There’s a paradoxical moment of complete heartbreak, and yet this sense of relaxation because now you have nothing to cling to anymore.” – Daniele Bolelli

   

Image via Bruce Rolff