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Steven Webb
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Podcast episodes

Stillness by the Sea: Ageing Gracefully with Gratitude

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Episode Title: Stillness by the Sea: Ageing Gracefully with Gratitude

Description:

Welcome to another episode of Inner Peace Meditations. Today’s journey invites you to the serene shores of an imaginary sea—where stillness, reflection, and gratitude meet. This meditation offers a peaceful space to contemplate the beauty of ageing, releasing societal fears, and embracing the wisdom that comes with each passing year.

Through vivid imagery and gentle guidance, you’ll be encouraged to recognize your inner radiance and honour your journey. Whether you’re noticing the first signs of change or are well into your golden years, this meditation helps bring grace, presence, and self-acceptance to the process of growing older.

Take a deep breath, find a comfortable seat, and let the waves of peace carry you inward.

Benefits:

  • Cultivates gratitude for the ageing process
  • Supports emotional acceptance and inner peace
  • Encourages presence and self-reflection
  • Promotes a loving mindset towards life’s transitions
  • Fosters a sense of wisdom and inner resilience

The Freedom of Forgiveness: Letting Go For Yourself

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Episode Title: The Freedom of Forgiveness: Letting Go For Yourself

Podcast: Inner Peace Meditations with Steven Webb

Welcome to Inner Peace Meditations. This podcast will always be free and without adverts, made possible by the kind support of listeners. Thank you for being here.

A Note from Steven: If you find this meditation on forgiveness helpful, you may also wish to listen to the discussion on the same topic on my other podcast, Stillness in the Storms. You can find that episode here: [Insert Link to Stillness in the Storms episode]

About This Meditation

This guided meditation is an invitation to find freedom by forgiving. Forgiveness isn’t about excusing what happened or forgetting the pain; it’s about choosing to release the heavy weight of resentment for your own well being. It’s a gift you give to yourself. Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to be harmed; this practice is the antidote, allowing you to reclaim your own peace and move forward.

In this session, we will gently acknowledge past hurts and use the power of affirmation to cultivate an open and peaceful heart. You will be guided to see that you can be whole again, even after being hurt.

Who Is This Forgiveness Meditation For?

This meditation is designed to help if you are struggling with the pain of past events and want to find a way to move forward. It can be particularly helpful if you are looking to:

  • Find peace after being cheated on or betrayed in a relationship.
  • Let go of the anger and hurt caused by a friend or family member.
  • Heal from difficult experiences at work or from childhood.
  • Release resentment you hold towards a person, an organisation, or a situation that caused you pain.
  • Stop feeling stuck in a loop of thinking about what happened.
  • Learn how to forgive someone for your own peace, even if you never speak to them again.
  • Find a sense of freedom from the past so you can live more fully in the present.

Key Concepts in This Meditation

  • Forgiveness for You: The central theme is that this act is for your freedom, not because the other person deserves it.
  • Mushin (No-Mind): We touch on the Zen concept of a mind free from attachment and lingering resentment, allowing experiences to arise and pass freely.
  • Acknowledge, Don’t Re-live: You will be guided to acknowledge the event and the feelings it stirs without getting lost in the story.
  • Affirmations for Healing: The practice uses gentle, inward affirmations such as, “I forgive you. Not for you, but for me,” and, “May I live with an open and peaceful heart”.

Support the Podcast

These meditations are offered for free, without ads, to help as many people as possible. If you find value in this and would like to help support its creation, you can make a small donation. Thank you for your support.

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Forgiveness Begins When the Heart Breaks Open

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🎙 Episode Title: Forgiveness Begins When the Heart Breaks Open

Forgiveness Meditation: Forgiveness for Your Freedom

🧘 Host: Steven Webb | Stillness in the Storms

🎧 Episode Summary:

In this honest and raw episode, I talk about my own journey through heartbreak, betrayal and real forgiveness. Not the kind where you say the right words to move on. The kind that comes slowly. Quietly. The kind that has nothing to do with the other person.

I share the story of being cheated on. The numbness. The anger. The questions I never asked. And the moment, years later, when a single text made me realise I had already forgiven her.

This is not about forgetting. It is not about being okay with what happened. It is about breaking the grip that the past has on your heart. It is about grieving the life you thought you were going to live. It is about reclaiming your peace.

If someone has hurt you or left you, or if you are stuck in a story that replays over and over, this episode is for you.

🛠 In This Episode:

  • Why “forgive and forget” is a myth
  • How I navigated betrayal while living with paralysis
  • The day I realised I had truly forgiven
  • Why we grieve the imagined life more than the person
  • How to let go when there are no answers
  • A simple practice to begin your own path to forgiveness

🧘 Forgiveness Practice and Affirmations:

Find a quiet space. Sit comfortably. Bring to mind the person or situation that caused the pain. Let it sit without story. Just feel what is there. Then say inwardly:

  • I remember the harm that was done.
  • I may not be ready to forgive, but I am willing to try.
  • May I find peace in my heart.
  • May I be free from the pain that caused you to hurt me.
  • I release myself from the burden of this hurt.

You do not have to rush. You do not have to think about it every day. Just let the practice do its work. And when the mind brings it up again, simply say, I forgave them. Let it pass. And over time, the weight softens.

💬 Listener Support:

If this episode speaks to you, share it with someone who needs it. And if you can, help keep the podcast going by visiting stevenwebb.uk

Afternoon Stillness for a Busy Mind

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Afternoon Stillness for a Busy Mind

Sometimes the hardest part of the day is the middle. You’ve done a lot, but there’s still more ahead. Your mind races, your focus scatters, and your body feels tight or heavy. This five-minute guided meditation offers a simple pause to help you reconnect with calm, reset your attention, and soften the noise.

This practice is ideal for anyone who feels overwhelmed, distracted, or mentally exhausted during the afternoon. It’s especially supportive for those juggling work, caregiving, chronic health issues, or emotional burnout. Whether you’re sitting at your desk, taking a quiet moment in the car, or finding a few minutes alone between tasks — this meditation is a soft anchor to bring you back.

You’ll be guided through gentle breath awareness and subtle body connection to help ease tension and slow the pace of your thoughts. There’s no pressure to do it perfectly — just space to be, breathe, and return to your centre.

This track can help with:

  • Afternoon overwhelm or brain fog
  • Emotional stress or anxious thoughts
  • Reconnecting with presence and clarity
  • Creating a mindful break in your routine
  • Cultivating inner peace in the middle of busy days

Give yourself this small gift of stillness. You deserve it.

Overthinking Is Not Your Fault (But Here's How to Stop)

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Meditation that goes with this podcast: A Dharma Meditation Beyond Overthinking

Overthinking Is Not Your Fault (But Here’s How to Stop)

In this episode of ‘Stillness in the Storms’, host Steven Webb explores the concept that we are not our thoughts. He discusses how thoughts arise from the subconscious mind and how we can learn to observe them without attachment. Through personal anecdotes and insights into meditation, he emphasizes the importance of awareness in managing overthinking and anxiety. The episode encourages listeners to become observers of their thoughts and to choose which thoughts to engage with, ultimately leading to a more peaceful and mindful existence.

Takeaways

  • You are not your thoughts; you have thoughts, but they do not define you.
  • The subconscious mind generates thoughts that can be observed without attachment.
  • Meditation helps in recognizing the distinction between thoughts and awareness.
  • Negative thoughts are a natural part of human experience and survival.
  • Choosing which thoughts to engage with can change your mental trajectory.
  • Awareness of thoughts allows for greater control over emotional responses.
  • Thoughts often originate from external influences, not just personal experiences.
  • You can smile at your thoughts and not take them seriously.
  • The journey to awareness often involves exploring different spiritual practices.
  • Your subconscious mind is designed to support you and bring forth thoughts that align with your desires.

A Dharma Meditation Beyond Overthinking

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A Dharma Meditation Beyond Overthinking

This guided meditation gently blends spoken reflection with quiet awareness, offering a way to move beyond the restless swirl of thoughts without trying to stop them. You will be invited to notice the momentum of thinking, like a flywheel or a passing train, and then return attention to the simplicity of the body and the present moment.

Rather than fixing or fighting the mind, this Dharma talk meditation brings a sense of ease and acceptance. With soft encouragement, lovingkindness, and a gentle re-entry, it helps you remember that peace is not something you chase. It is something you return to by stepping out of thought and into now.

The Truth About Anxiety & Imposter Syndrome

Links to Steven Webb’s podcast and how you can support his work.

Episode 147: The Truth About Anxiety & Imposter Syndrome

Welcome to Stillness in the Storms with your host, Steven Webb. In this deeply personal and insightful episode, Steven tackles two of the most common yet misunderstood challenges: anxiety and imposter syndrome.

He argues that these feelings themselves are not the problem. The real issue? Our belief that we shouldn’t be experiencing them. Steven shares his own vulnerable journey, from council meetings feeling unqualified, to navigating high-pressure Q&A panels, and the everyday internal dialogues that come with stepping up.

Key Themes & Takeaways:

  • Reframing the “Problem”: Anxiety and imposter syndrome are natural human experiences, not flaws to be eradicated. The real struggle comes from resisting them.
  • The Power of Listening (Not Obeying): Our minds are full of voices – some fearful, some critical, some brave. The skill is in acknowledging them all, like a chairperson listening to a committee, without letting any single voice dictate your actions.
  • Authenticity in Vulnerability: Sharing your doubts and fears doesn’t make you weak; it makes you relatable and authentic. Steven would rather be in a room with people who acknowledge their imposter syndrome than those who deny it.
  • Showing Up Anyway: True courage isn’t the absence of fear, but acting despite it. Your unique 1% of knowledge or perspective might be exactly what someone else needs to hear.
  • Personal Anecdotes of Resilience:
  • Feeling like an outsider in professional council meetings.
  • The “climate change conference” Q&A panel where a simple, honest answer resonated most.
  • Being a charity trustee (Community Energy Plus) and doubting his contribution.
  • The internal battle when asked to apply for a vice-chair role.
  • The physical manifestations of anxiety before important events.
  • It Doesn’t Go Away, It Becomes Part of the Dialogue: These feelings may not disappear, but our relationship with them can change. They can become familiar (if sometimes annoying) companions rather than paralyzing enemies.

Food for Thought:

  • What if your anxiety and imposter syndrome are simply signals, not stop signs?
  • How can you “chair” the committee of voices in your own head more effectively?
  • Remember: “Confidence isn’t the absence of self-doubt; it’s showing up anyway.”

Support Stillness in the Storms:

This podcast is ad-free thanks to listeners like you! If you find value in these conversations, please consider supporting the show with a donation (like buying Steven a coffee!).

https://stevenwebb.uk

Self Acceptance – The Zen Way

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Self-acceptance is key, and today we dive into how Zen teaches us to stop needing to fix our lives. We explore what Zen really means and how we can apply it to our daily routines without it just being some trendy catchphrase. Through this episode, we challenge the idea that our lives are broken and discuss the importance of embracing the present moment as it is. I share personal stories and insights on how Zen can help us find peace amidst chaos. So, let’s sit back, relax, and learn how to just be in our moments without the urge to change everything around us.

Self acceptance is a journey we all navigate, and in this episode, Steven Webb dives deep into the concept of Zen and how it relates to our everyday lives. He shares a powerful quote: “Zen doesn’t fix your life; it stops you needing to.” This sets the stage for a conversation about what Zen truly means. It’s not just a trendy phrase or a meme we see online; it’s about embracing the present moment and realizing that life is not broken, but rather, we often feel the urge to fix things that don’t need fixing. Steven invites listeners to explore how to incorporate Zen into their lives, focusing on being present and accepting ourselves as we are. He emphasizes that life is full of challenges, but rather than trying to change everything, we can learn to sit with our experiences and recognize that suffering is part of being human. By adopting a Zen mindset, we can find peace in the chaos and appreciate the beauty of the moment without the constant need for improvement.

Takeaways:

  • Zen doesn’t fix your life but helps you stop needing to fix it.
  • Being present in the moment allows you to accept life as it is right now.
  • The desire to always fix things can lead to never-ending dissatisfaction in life.
  • Happiness is not an achievement but an experience that happens in the mundane.

Self Acceptance, the Zen Way

Links to Steven Webb’s podcast and how you can support his work.

Embrace self-acceptance through the gentle wisdom of Zen. This guided meditation helps you release the constant need to “fix” yourself and discover the profound peace of acknowledging your inherent worth. Learn to simply be, and find wholeness in the present moment, the Zen way.

Expanding Your Circle of Love

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Expanding Circle of Love – Guided Meditation

This episode offers a gentle, imagery‑rich meditation designed to help you widen the circle of people (and beings) you hold with warmth and goodwill. Inspired by a discussion on the Stillness in the Storms podcast (“Circle of Love & Circle of Care”), this practice turns concept into lived experience. The practice was inspired by our earlier talk‑episode “Circle of Love & Circle of Care,” where we explored the idea that compassion can be trained like a muscle. Today we move from theory to felt experience – settling the mind, then letting love ripple outward.

Why Listen?

  • Deepen empathy & soften judgment – practice seeing more of humanity as “in your circle.”
  • Soothe anxiety & self‑criticism – loving‑kindness lights up the brain’s calming networks.
  • Strengthen emotional resilience – caring connection is a proven buffer against stress.
  • Create positive ripple‑effects – the kinder you feel inside, the kinder you act outside.

What to Expect

  1. Context & gentle settling – a short reminder of the circle‑of‑care principle.
  2. Guided practice – Expanding Circle of Love (no background ads, just my voice and subtle music).
  3. Grounding close – simple ways to carry the feeling forward into your day.

Completely Ad‑Free

Every meditation in this feed stays serene and uninterrupted thanks to listeners who keep the lights on by treating me to a coffee. Your generosity lets these practices remain free for everyone. ☕💙