Welcome to the Grow Inward Podcast, I am your host Adrian Petrillo.
I was blessed with growing up in the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountains. I feel very fortunate that I ended up here, my heart has always been drawn to the mountains. I was born back east, and I am told that my dad had always wanted to live in the mountains, so we headed out West to do just that. Somewhere along the way, my mom and dad separated. They were in the process of working that out, when my father was accidentally killed in a mountain climbing accident. I was only 6 years old at the time, and I know that this had a significant impact on my life.
My mother was always very supportive of me through and through. She still is, and I am so grateful for her encouragement to explore the more interesting and mysterious aspects of life, such as spirituality, energy, and the unknown. I love that she never dismissed these things, and actually encouraged their exploration. They came to make up the most important and interesting parts of my life. I find them endlessly fascinating, and I have had many strange experiences personally that helped me see that my view of the world is not so crazy after all.
There is something very interesting to me about this particular part of my own story. When I was very young, I knew that I was different that most people somehow? I felt like I was here to help people heal themselves, and to make people feel seen and heard. That sounds a bit trite, but I can't even explain to you the profound gravity these feelings have had in my life, even today? I have also been a very empathic person my whole life, I can somehow tune into and actually feel the feelings of others. This is both a blessing and a curse at times, but to me, it helps explain why I have always had a heart that wants to help more than to hurt.
There was a part of my life where I strayed away from these feelings, and who I was at my core, I fell into the trap of comparisons, competition, and judgement. I allowed feelings of unworthiness and poverty to consume my thoughts, beliefs, and my life. I spent so much time looking for proof of these things everywhere, and guess what, I could always easily find them! This is another important point that we will come back to, that what you focus on does impact your reality and experience, so be careful and always choose wisely!
I went in the wrong direction for years before I decided to do something about it. Ironically, one day I literally just woke up and said to myself, I am quitting drinking, and I am starting yoga and meditation. It was strange? I had no plans to do this, nothing special had happened, I just had this understanding that this was what needed to be done, and I did it? In addition to this huge change in my direction and attitude, I began to get those feelings back from when I was younger? The feelings that I had about wanting to help others. All of this started around 2014 for me, and I have never stopped since. I can't tell you how much of a difference this has made in my life! I am by no means finished, I have so much more work to do, but turning my attention inward with an honest desire to heal myself from the inside out, was the best thing I have ever done. Naturally, I wanted to share something so profound and amazing, and this is one of my reasons for creating this podcast.
I know there are so many people in the world that need a path out of the darkness and struggle, loneliness and lack of connection. I certainly don't have all the answers for everyone, but I do have enough personal experience to know that there are simple tools available to you that can radically alter the direction and quality of your life. What's even more amazing, is that these are small things done consistently over time, and they can create huge waves of positive change in your life. If you willing to try something new and keep an open mind about the effect it can have in your life, then this is for you!
Let's shift to another important aspect of my life that led me here to you today. I was always a creative kind of person, in fact, I worked in a pottery studio for 10 years and I loved it. A big shout out to Tony Heslop of Brentwood Pottery. Tony, you made such a huge and positive impact in my life, and I want to thank you sincerely for all that you did for me. It was such a pleasure working with you all those years my friend! I was young and confused for so much of that time in my life, but you were amazing and such a patient person, and I will always be grateful that I you were there at a time when I really needed that in my life.
Toward the end of that journey, I decided to go to school for computers. I had always loved technology, and I thought it would be a good career path. Turns out I was right in many ways, wrong in others? I have been blessed to have good jobs ever since, and I have learned so much. I still love technology, and I think my friends love me because I can help them with all their most difficult computer questions, haha! It's been great in so many ways, and I don't regret that choice to go that direction.
I do have to say, however, that my views about technology have changed significantly over the last 20 years. I still love it, I find it incredibly useful, and the potential is off the chart when it comes to technology. What I am struggling with now, is the addictive nature of technology, and the impact that many aspects of it is having on people, especially children. Have you noticed how many heads are down looking at screens today? Yeah, it's an issue, and it goes much further!
I have learned much more than I ever wanted to about the dark side of technology, and if you don't think there is an extremely dark side to it, then you are absolutely kidding yourself! I see the push for technology to be tightly integrated into every aspect of our lives, reaching quickly toward a transition to transhumanism and control. There are cameras and satellites watching and recording everything on every corner of the globe, they collect endless troves of data that are stored forever, just waiting for new technologies to unlock new ways to use them. There are active agendas that are openly stating the need for more technology and AI to “keep us safe” or to “solve our biggest problems”? The thing is, we ourselves have created every problem that we currently have, and we already have everything we need to fix every single one of these problems, but the true problem is the complete lack of integrity in leadership and institutions who have immense power and influence, to just be human, and do the right thing. Apparently, they are not interested in anything like that?
Something particularly relevant and important that I have learned, is that technology has its place, but it must never be allowed to substitute your humanity. There is a danger here, which is extremely dark and disturbing. I won't bother with the details here, and we may explore it in future episodes, but our connection to our own inner world and our spirituality are the most important connections we have been blessed with, and they are worth protecting. I cannot stress the importance of exercising your own will and determination in coming to understand these things for yourself, by turning within and honoring the connection to yourself and a higher power. Do not be fooled by the coming promises of technology. There is no going back from giving up your autonomy and consciousness.
Remember that you are an amazing and perfect human being, and you do not need technology to save you from anything. You are not missing anything, you are not less than, you are an incredible creation, your humanity and spirituality are sacred, valuable, and worth protecting. This may sound crazy to some people, speaking about technology this way, but I assure you that the day is soon approaching where technological upgrades will be available to modify or enhance your skills, abilities, and traits. These will be very enticing to those who put little value on patience and effort, in favor of a solution available immediately. The problem is that the price will cost much more than just the dollar amount. Soon, technology will be making exponential leaps and bounds with the help of AI, but not just technology, the level of intelligence will be unmatched in ways that we will not even begin to understand. Sound crazy? You will see exactly what I mean soon enough.
I decided that I need to take a stand for humanity itself, after what I have learned exploring my own inner world and understanding the trajectory of technology from my work. Our humanity itself is being challenged, somehow there are people who think that we are not enough as we are, or that they can play god and somehow vastly improve on what he created and intended? I can hardly even believe that level of foolishness and narcissism? I personally have no intention of giving up my autonomy or humanity, and who knows where this ideology is leading those who do agree with this notion? Be very wary of what you are told.
The thing that this whole agenda seems to miss completely, is that nothing of true value is ever gained without significant effort. We know this through years of history and experience, it is, in part, this reaching for and achieving growth that gives life meaning and value. If no effort is ever required, where does the meaning go? Even if it were some extraordinary ability or intelligence, the value would wear off eventually, because it was nothing more than another product that everyone else eventually has? Our modern world is completely fixated on instant gratification and materialism, that we have breached the point of literal insanity?
Focusing on your inner world and connecting to your spirituality is one of the most incredible and wondrous gifts of being human. The power that we have within us is almost unimaginable, and there are endless stories that back up this notion! The common thread in all of them though is that they require effort, diligence, and commitment, just like everything you have ever earned through hard work and determination. The value is in the effort, and this will never change!
I also don't want anyone to confuse effort with obsession, when it comes to getting results. I have found great success by doing just 15 minutes of yoga a day, and 15 minutes of meditation. I believe that most people will benefit greatly from something this simple. I realize that time is the biggest challenge for most people, but I want to assure you that improving your life significantly need not take an inordinate amount of time and effort. But you do have to make time for what matters to you! Consistency and curiosity will be your biggest allies when it comes to turning inward to improve your life.
I have so much to share because I find so much wonder in who we are, and what we are capable of as humans. I am so inspired by so many different aspects of this subject, it seems ridiculous to not share. I know we live in a sea of data and information, and having access to so much really is a blessing. I think it is great to use for sharing and learning, but we must stop looking outside of ourselves for every answer we seek in the world. You will be amazed at how many answers you can find within yourself, if you just take the time to quiet down, disconnect from technology, and engage with your inner self. It is the most valuable effort you could ever make. It's something nobody can ever take away from you, and it will not cost you any more than your time and effort.
One other thing that I would really like to say to you as we begin this journey together, is to remain open to an entire world of possibilities which lie far beyond yourself. Be curious about all that you don’t understand or have an explanation for. Understand that regardless of how you feel about the mysterious or unknown aspects of life, they do exist. They will continue to exist whether you believe in them or not, and it doesn’t matter what science tries to tell you what is and isn’t real. There are so many things that are beyond our ability to study or explain, and I encourage you to consider the possibility that these are the areas where you may find more meaningful answers to life than what you have been taught?
Spirituality has always been highly valued by nearly every culture throughout history. Although it takes many different forms, there is a reason that so much value has been placed upon it. Our connection to nature and to spirit were the very foundation of understanding and life for centuries upon centuries, by countless cultures and groups. These things existed long before technology and what we consider to be a highly evolved society, and they had a level of understanding and connection that we have all but forgotten in the much of the west today.
Those who dismiss the importance of cultivating and maintaining an ever closer connection to nature and spirit are only kidding themselves. Anyone who believe that this is not necessary, is simply mistaken, and I don’t blame them. These ideas are being systematically wiped from our memory, erased from our societal history, and dismissed out of hand, in favor of science and materialism. Please decide for yourself, but my contention is that our connection to both nature and spirituality are extremely important, and even necessary, when it comes to living in alignment with our purpose.
There is far too much wisdom and connection that has been forsaken at the altar of our ego, and we would do very well to bring these things back and closer into our own individual lives. These connections should be honored, appreciated, and shared worldwide. I am sorry, but the current trajectory of this collective materialist view is one of futility. It is completely unrealistic and unsustainable, in every conceivable way. I know that I will be chastised by all sorts of people for even daring to think this way, but I stand by it, and others are certainly welcome to believe whatever they like.
If there is one thing I want to accomplish in this podcast, it is to open your mind and heart enough to question everything. You can always choose the path that makes the most sense to you, but I hope that you will never forget the magic you have within you, and the opportunity you have to use nature and spirituality to fulfill the innate desire for true connection in your life. You are so much more than you know, maybe you are even willing to explore this idea further with me?
I hope you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a comment. You can email me at the link below, and I also have a free pdf to help give you a jump start on developing a truly supportive mindset. I look forward to exploring with you again soon. Until next time, never underestimate the power you have within you, and keep growing inward.
