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The Art of Letting Go

The Art of Letting Go

By JAMES STEENSMA

Host James Steensma invites you into his "inner circle" as he shares his story of emotional and prescription drug addiction stemming from his ileostomy surgery and liver transplant. His brutal, honest, sincere, and funny account of his past will leave you inspired to discover your own art to letting go.
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15. The Art of Letting Go - "Looks Like We Made It"

The Art of Letting GoFeb 05, 2021
00:00
36:08
15. The Art of Letting Go - "Looks Like We Made It"

15. The Art of Letting Go - "Looks Like We Made It"

In the final episode of Season One of "The Art of Letting Go", host James Steensma reflects on the year that was 2020, the issues that plagued us, and the successes and moments of joy in his own life. Along the way, Steensma previews the second season and encourages listeners to continue to #DoBetterBeBetter, and shares his love of Barry Manilow concerts. TMI? There's only one way to know: Listen now to episode 15 of "The Art of Letting Go"! 

Feb 05, 202136:08
14. The Art of Letting Go - "If Tomorrow Never Comes"

14. The Art of Letting Go - "If Tomorrow Never Comes"

COVID-19 is an Equal Opportunity Virus; it doesn't care who you are, and it can come out of nowhere. Host James Steensma (and his wife, Maggie) got the virus in the weeks leading up to Christmas, 2020. For Steensma, each day brought new symptoms, and by December 31, he questioned whether "tomorrow" would even come. He shares his story, and along the way encourages us to be a little kinder, a little more forgiving, a lot more loving, and - above all - to #DoBetterBeBetter.

Feb 05, 202136:35
13. The Art of Letting Go - "Things to Remember"

13. The Art of Letting Go - "Things to Remember"

What happens when we forget to respond to someone else's need, whether via e-mail, text, or direct message? In this episode, entitled "Things to Remember", host James Steensma relays a situation where he did not remember to respond to an important health-related e-mail from a friend...four months prior. What is the best way to acknowledge the slight, and how do we handle that frustration of being "left on read" when it happens to us? Steensma has some ideas that he's willing to try, and encourages the listener to join in doing, as well.
Dec 11, 202033:49
12. The Art of Letting Go - "Comfortably Numb"

12. The Art of Letting Go - "Comfortably Numb"

Episode 12 of Season One discusses how being "comfortable" can ultimately leave us unmoving and unfeeling. However, does this mean we should exhibit risky behaviors instead? Host James Steensma ponders these ideas in "Comfortably Numb", the current installment of "The Art of Letting Go". Additionally, a challenge is posed for 2021, along with an update to upcoming events for this podcast and others.

Dec 05, 202038:16
11. The Art of Letting Go - "It's A Wonderful Life"

11. The Art of Letting Go - "It's A Wonderful Life"

In "It's A Wonderful Life", the 11th episode of James Steensma's "The Art of Letting Go", the importance of community is discussed. Much like the fictitious movie of the same name, we each may sometimes need others outside of our "inner circle" to help us understand our worth. The art of letting go of the isolation and loneliness we may feel in the holiday season compels us to pay forward our own understanding to others in need. Along the way, we should take time to be grateful for the things and people in our lives that allow us to overcome and to make it through difficult times. As Steensma paraphrases from the movie, "No man is lonely (a failure) who has friends".   

Nov 27, 202034:60
10. The Art of Letting Go - "Control"

10. The Art of Letting Go - "Control"

In Episode 10 of "The Art of Letting Go", James Steensma discusses what it is about needing to have control that causes distrust and a lack of harmony toward others. Is needing to be in control a safety mechanism, Steensma asks, or is it more about pride. In the end, Steensma asks the listeners to consider what "control" means in their own life, and encourages them to learn how to let it go.
Nov 20, 202034:48
9. The Art of Letting Go - "Defying Gravity"

9. The Art of Letting Go - "Defying Gravity"

While the name suggests otherwise, Episode 9 of James Steensma's "The Art of Letting Go" is not a masterclass on Broadway songs. Instead, the host shares his personal struggle with anxiety, and letting go of what he feels he must hold on to for his own safety. In a revealing chapter, Steensma shares how an anxiety attack led him to believe that gravity was going to be shut off. Knowing the sensitivity of such revelations, Steensma encourages listeners to tune into their own needs, as well.
Nov 13, 202033:30
8. The Art of Letting Go - "James (Finally Goes to School)"

8. The Art of Letting Go - "James (Finally Goes to School)"

In this 8th episode of "The Art of Letting Go", host James Steensma recounts his failed attempt at college, and the false starts that came in the years that followed. It wasn't until Steensma received the news of his PSC diagnosis that he made a decision to eliminate excuses and to return to college. The lessons learned by recognizing that "can't is a cuss word" helped him achieve success on his own terms, but also served as a lesson to his own children. Ultimately, it was the freedom to "go fail" and learn from those mistakes that allowed him to finally "let it go".
Nov 13, 202035:19
7. The Art of Letting Go - "Old Friends"

7. The Art of Letting Go - "Old Friends"

In "Old Friends", the seventh episode of "The Art of Letting Go", host James Steensma introduces us to his "inner circle" of friends who have maintained a relationship with him for decades. From his earliest childhood memories of friendship to the recent loss of his dearest friend, Steensma shares how each person uniquely impacted him. He encourages the listener to "let in" others as a part of the process of "letting go".
Nov 06, 202034:29
6. The Art of Letting Go - "No Man Is An Island"

6. The Art of Letting Go - "No Man Is An Island"

Episode 6 of James Steensma's "The Art of Letting Go" turns its attention to those particular moments when we cannot be as present as we might hope. For Steensma, each of three specific moments led to dramatic changes in the lives of three people he loved...and for him. Realizing that, as John Donne wrote, "no man is an island", Steensma explores how to let go of the guilt associated with missing big events such as these, and to start living with joy through forgiveness.
Nov 06, 202033:34
5. The Art of Letting Go - "To Live On"

5. The Art of Letting Go - "To Live On"

In this episode of "The Art of Letting Go", we continue into part 2 of the story of host James Steensma's liver transplant. He shares the story of his donor, Ellen, and the improbable connections they shared before her anonymous donation. Reaffirming the notion that we are never alone, James points to a mysterious letter that brings both sadness and joy. In the aftermath, Steensma presses forward through survivor's guilt, gaining some clarity, but never full closure. Though Ellen passed away from injuries sustained in a car accident, Steensma chooses to honor her gift by seeking purpose and meaning in her donation.
Oct 30, 202034:15
4. The Art of Letting Go - "Second Chances"

4. The Art of Letting Go - "Second Chances"

In this episode of "The Art of Letting Go", host James Steensma shares the first half of the story of his life-saving liver transplant. In part one, we learn more about the ravaging effects of PSC, along with a little insight into the world of organ donation. He shares how a fateful phone call changed the course of his transplant, and how a second call set him on a path with destiny on July 24; the second time that day had changed his life forever. As he closes, Steensma encourages listeners to consider giving the gift of life by "recycling" their organs through organ donation.
Oct 30, 202033:47
3. The Art of Letting Go - "Sand and Water"

3. The Art of Letting Go - "Sand and Water"

In this episode of "The Art of Letting Go", host James Steensma focuses on those human experiences that bind us to one another: life, death, and the in-between. How do we avoid the pitfalls that come with understanding the finality of death, the isolation of anxiety, or the fear of letting go of past regrets? Steensma invites the listener to have hard conversations about mental health, but to never miss an opportunity to tell others about the important role they play in their lives.
Oct 30, 202033:22
2. The Art of Letting Go - "Changes"

2. The Art of Letting Go - "Changes"

In this episode of "The Art of Letting Go", host James Steensma takes us inside the darkest days of his usage of Oxycontin after a life-saving surgery. In a revealing, sometimes raw segment, he discusses the moment he realized the problem was bigger than he could handle...so he quit cold turkey. In the aftermath, he still finds it hard to forgive himself and let go of the pain he caused others - especially his wife - while working through his addictions. The listener is ultimately encouraged to face their own addiction and seek help.
Oct 30, 202033:34
1. The Art of Letting Go - "Getting to Know You"

1. The Art of Letting Go - "Getting to Know You"

"The Art of Letting Go" is a podcast designed to help listeners identify situations that may not be in their control, and how to finally let go of the authority those situations have in one's life. The host, James Steensma, shares his own story of dependency and addiction to prescription medication and, ultimately, emotional relationships. In this episode, "Getting to Know You", James invites the listener into his "circle of trust" and shares how issues of health - from teenage years to later adult years - have led him to understanding, but never quite letting go of, his past. As he shares, the listener is invited to ask themselves "why" instead of "why me", and to begin the journey of finally letting it go.
Oct 30, 202030:49