Author and executive Bryan Welch shares how the grief of losing his child profoundly reshaped his heart, deepening his capacity for connection and compassion toward others.

Grab a copy of Bryan’s book, The Gift of a Broken Heart, HERE

In this episode, David and Bryan chat about:

How grief can transform us in a beautiful way
Bryan’s journey through the loss of his son, Noah
Developing a deeper sense of compassion through Buddhism
Grief as a bridge of connection between ourselves and others
Allowing ourselves to be vulnerable
Narratives of our own safety as narratives of superiority
Forgiveness and considering how the ego wants to be responsible
Our involuntary reactions to grief, when compared to those of animals
Permission to cry & the relief we can feel from allowing emotions to wash over us

Sign up for Dharma Moon’s upcoming 8-week Buddhist Psychology Course HERE.

About Bryan Welch:

Bryan Welch is an author, business executive, farmer, and entrepreneur. For nineteen years, from its founding, he ran Ogden Publications, Mother Earth News, Mother Earth Living, Utne Reader, and several other leading media brands focused on sustainability and natural health. More recently, he served as co-CEO of Silk Grass Holdings, a family office developing 32,000 acres of regenerative organic farms and wildlife preserves in Belize. He was founder and CEO of B The Change Media, a multiplatform media company focused on business as a force for good in the world; and was CEO of Mindful Communications, a media and corporate meditation-training company; and CEO of Foster Care Technologies, a B Corporation that provides software that improves placements of children in foster care. Welch has served on the boards of the Silk Grass Farms, the Magazine Publishers Association, the Social Venture Network, Down Home Ranch Foundation, and several nonprofits. He has also served on corporate boards of directors and advisory boards of companies involved in natural foods, agriculture, food processing, e-commerce, corporate training, and the media. He holds a master’s degree from Harvard University, where he studied at the Kennedy School of Government and Harvard Business School. As a Buddhist, Welch is a longtime meditator and advocate for mindfulness practices. Keep up with Bryan on Facebook and check out thegiftofabrokenheart.com.

“I spent some energy over the course of my life separating myself psychologically from the suffering from others, from the potential for my own suffering, and when I was up against it, I didn’t have those reasons to separate myself any longer. I felt a new sense of kinship with other people who were suffering. It occurred to me that as part of the healing, I wanted to see if I could preserve the new warmth I felt, the new openheartedness I felt. When your child dies of mental illness and addiction, you don’t want the pain and turmoil to be their legacy.” –Bryan Welch

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Ep. 61 – The Gift of a Broken Heart with Bryan Welch