S9|EP14 - Making Wellness Your Super Power | Shawn Crystal Parker of Real Shift Happens: Wellness Podcast

All right, well, welcome, welcome, welcome to the podcast. We have a special guest today, uh, Shawn C. Parker. And, um, I don't know, this time around, to my listeners, we're not gonna— as you might be able to hear, I'm outside. It's a beautiful day. I'm enjoying the sun, and I want to have a conversation with a friend, and I want you to listen. So Shawn, if you may, you know, you can give a brief introduction to who you are. But just how you been? I haven't spoken to you in a while.

Yes, nice. Thank you so much for having me. I've been great. It's been challenging through these times, I mean, with everything going on. But I am an introvert, so I have not had to make many changes to my life.

Don't I know it. Don't I know it.

So yeah, just, I don't know, a little bit about me. I have a podcast as well called Real Shift Happens. Wellness Podcast. It's on all the platforms. And yeah, I'm just out here trying to help lift the consciousness of the people, um, with my podcast and meet people like you who are like-minded and, um, build with people like you. And so yeah, I'm here and Ready to talk, because that's what I love to do.

And that's kind of why I reached out to you today, and I'm very thankful that you even picked up the phone and had a time for me with your introverted life. But you're right, you're right, there's some— the world has changed, in at least in the perspective of it. But, um, I don't know, as an introvert, did anything shift for you? I mean, you're always home, you're a homebody, you meditate twice a day for 20 minutes since, what, 2012? You know, so what has shifted for you, if anything has shifted, as a woman and just, you know, as, as someone who hosts their own show and everything?

Yeah, um, honestly, like, not a lot. The only— like, I'm not a bulk buyer, you know, none of this stuff. So, like, honestly, I feel like the world has come into my life, like, in a way, um, because I've been living this type of life for 10 years, honestly. So, like, I've I was ready actually to come out of the hermit stage, and so the fact that it hit right when I was about to come out of the hermit stage is crazy. But I'm still trying to make it work with just like online meeting people that way instead. So I mean, I always— I feel like I always knew this was coming because I've, um, just been reading up on different things, and I'm kind of a conspiracy theorist in a way, I guess, even though I don't like that name. But you know, it's what it is. Now, now we're seeing stuff coming out. Yeah, it does sound negative, but what's happening now is like a lot of this stuff that people were talking about was conspiracy is starting to show, um, as true.

So yeah, yeah, I listened to Joe Rogan and he definitely opened up that same speech, you know, for all his conspiracy theorist friends and things. But yeah, I would say That's interesting. And I was going to ask, and you already answered, did you find a calling to go back into your shell? But you're saying you're just making it work. And it kind of— do you find it's easier now because it's literally, um, most people are focused on a virtual life, you know, in a virtual introduction versus a face-to-face, you know? Do you find it easier now to approach them, or is it more just like—

yeah, I mean, I do. It is kind of easier, I think, now. Like, it's— and I was just even tripping off of how there's—

I, um commercial—

I was watching Hulu and there's little ads in between, and the ads are now like commercials with people from home. Like, they're— yeah, it's just like everything now is just like, okay, stay at home and socialize this way. I mean, I kind of had been socializing a little bit that way anyway, but honestly, like, I feel like I've picked it up a little more. And now that everyone's doing it, it's probably just going to be even more. Like, I was, you know, already using the tools. Um, but it's a trip. It's, it's, it's— I mean, I didn't— I could have never ever predicted anything like this.

But so, I mean, you know, what about your inside work? What about your inside work? You say you meditate a lot. You do meditate a lot. What, what about your inside work? You know, has that shifted in any way? Has that changed?

I mean, Not a lot. Um, well, the only thing that's changed is I've been— I joined an online meditation group, and that's through the TM, and they do it with the members who are TM, and they've been doing it every single day. And so that makes it— they already had a group in person, but the center is kind of like an hour, maybe an hour away from me, so I didn't get to go that much. Um, so now I'm able to like meditate with the group, which makes it just a little more like powerful. And, um, I don't know, the group thing makes it, makes it really good. I love that. So I mean, I don't know, it's weird. I'm connecting more with people ever than, than the, in the last 10 years than I probably have. Um, so now, now in this time that everyone's in the house, so it's weird. I don't know.

Could you foresee that with the, um, or you said you felt you saw this coming, but more so now that like we're looking internally and with the work you do, do you feel like, um, you saw this coming, the internal shift with most of like as a yogi and, you know, as a meditator and someone who teaches and practice, like we are now collectively coming to an internal consciousness? Like, you know, the external world, the external world is, how can I put it? Because they're staying home now, they still may not realize how like the universe is telling go in. You know, we've been hearing that. We, you and I, like the spiritual workers, we've been hearing that go in for years. But now that they're the blue pill takers, I guess, Now they're going in the home, but I don't know if they're still— if they're seeing that as a sign to go inward, because you're hearing speeches and you're hearing, just like you said about the Netflix switch-up and things like that, they're, they're promoting the idea of doing stuff at home, but it's still not the internal work.

Yeah, that's true. That's so true, because even like they're throwing these virtual parties, and every time I see one, I'm thinking like, what is y'all partying? Like, what are you partying for? What, what, what's going on?

What you happy about?

Oh yeah, like, are you still trying to have that club atmosphere like at the house? Like, stop it. Like, it— I don't know. That's so— that's a great point. And it is like, yes, and it's a collective thing. It's like, maybe what I thought about was, um, people like me and you who maybe have gone through this dark night of the soul, this, you know, hermit stage beforehand. We got that lesson. We, we had to go through that beforehand all these years before. And then now everyone else is getting it so that we can help people, you know, get through this, like, because we had already been doing this, you know, responsibilities on our shoulders. Yeah. And it is— it's a collective time for everyone to go in. And you're right. I don't think people are getting that. I don't think people really are getting that yet, but I think the more that this cataclysmic shit starts to keep happening, which it will, I'm not trying to be like negative about things, but it's just reality. And that's when people will start to look for something. And the thing is that most people look for something outside of themselves. So it's just like how, you know, we have to be telling or helping people to go within, like to get to go in. And that's the reason why we're going through all of this stuff, or, you know, try to explain to people. I don't know, I, I'm not fully, fully, fully versed in it, what we're, you know, exactly what it is. But I know—

but what do you want to do? What do you think is your work in bringing that life forth? Like, what would you—

what would you need just to plant the seeds? Of just like, that's really my message too, is to go within. Because honestly, for years I had a mentor who told me that for years, and I didn't even know what he meant. I didn't know what he meant for years. He would just be like, go within. I'm like, what is he talking about, right? And then I finally started to, and so now I know. And I just want to help plant that seed in other people. And you either will take the seed and keep, you know, nurturing it, or you just don't get that seed. I don't, I don't know. I just have to look at it in a bigger overall picture of like soul lessons and who's ready to take that soul lesson, what level you are at on your soul, you know, level and all that too, you know.

So, well, you're also living, and I guess we, we're living the example You know, we are being the example by doing the work. And we definitely ask you as the— whether you are external or ourselves, we ask ourselves whether, you know, like through people because I like to think that you are me as much as I am you, you know, in all those levels. But like we learn from each other because of each other. So I learn from your mistakes. But then again, you can also learn from my successes. So it's the idea of there is a vibrational difference, like the chakras, if we want to bring that example in. But because there are vibrational differences or levels in the chakra, there's also the reality that there's a man and woman in this dimension.

Not—

but it's still all energy. You know, the chakra is still all energy, but there's different levels to it and for the reason thereof. And if we put it like what we say to our body, then it's the same thing. Well, I like to think of it that way. And I don't know, I didn't have mentors. I had life. I was— when I look at myself cosmically and I try to follow the stars and look at my birth rising and moon sign and just reflect and I journal, it really makes me comes to the conclusion or comes to a good understanding, maybe not a conclusion, but a very good understanding that, um, I am built or brought to in that, in this dimension, in perspective, to experience some shit. And even if I don't think I'm ready, I'm cosmo. I'm good enough to make it, whether it be a message that I learned, the message that's learned from me because I did something that people like, man, I'm not doing what he just did, you know.

Right.

And I'll be thankful for them to be able to get that, but at least I made it through it. Right. And, um, I've started thinking today even about just like what the children are thinking with the idea of COVID you know. I grew up with— I grew up with Andrew, um, like it was a hurricane in Florida and another big one And for us it was like a natural thing of nature that, you know, you just have to prepare for it. But there's also— they've been exposed so far to school shootings and now they're being exposed to COVID and the idea of separation. Because like with school shootings, in my opinion, it was emotional-based. Like you can feel the energy of that, the reason why this child would go out of their way to go this far.

It's emotional.

But now when we— so you can learn to separate from like, yo, that emo kid, you might want to watch out for him, or hey, you might want to go be his or her friend and find out if they're okay. You know, like if you're that— so that to me is a different approach. There's still a way to become one with someone there, or at least learn to keep your distance in a healthy way. But now with COVID it doesn't seem that way. It doesn't seem like even as a child I would be able to comprehend that it's okay to still be someone's friend, even if they get sick or not. And even if they choose to quote unquote wear a mask or not. And now it's probably going to go as far as being vaccinated or not. Right. So, don't know. You got any thoughts on that?

Um, I don't know. I, I— oh my God, I'm so sorry. I have thought about it anyway because I have a son and he's 14, and I, I asked him, um, what he thinks about all of this. And like, you know, is he— does he feel like it's something serious? Or— and he kind of was like, um, he didn't really care.

Interesting.

Like, he's 14, 14-year-old teenager. Yeah, he's on his game, you know, he's still talking to his friends. Like, I just feel like he does— he doesn't really get the, the gravity and like how huge this is right now. And maybe when he gets older, he'll look back and be like, oh, wow, that was crazy. You know, but I don't know. Like, there probably are some really woke kids. And my kid, you know, he— I know he's really smart and he does know a lot, but he's still 14 and he just really is into his own life. So I don't know. I mean, how is it going to affect him later in life? You know, because everything changed, may change. But then again, he grew up in a digital world. He's literally born in 2005. You know what I'm saying?

So yeah, that's a whole new— my daughter was born in 2007, and, um, for her it's been terrible. She misses hanging out with her friends and she misses the life, the outside life she had versus the virtual life she now exists in. And I don't really try to sugarcoat anything for her when I talk to her, but I definitely don't give her doom and gloom because I myself don't know. And you said it right, as an adult, the role we play as a parent as well, that for them to be able to grasp the the magnitude of what's happening and possibilities. It might take knowledge, but it's also important for them to have their own experience, especially at this age, because there's a lot that we can remember from ourselves that whether at that age or just growing up, and I've used my personal example of like going through like a hurricane or something, right? You know, for you living out in California, you have a totally different experience too. You got the riot wars and things like, you know, and race wars and things that came into your environment, that was different for me. I never experienced that. I might experience racism because of it is, but not like people coming up to you and Crips and Bloods and things like that. I read about that. I listen to rap music about that. You might have had a friend, you know, or some family members. So I just think it's different for the children growing up. Well, obviously, but how different it is for them now and the energy of that and how that even relates to mindfulness and meditation. I'm sure your son practices meditation, and I definitely promote to my daughter to be mindful and eat fruits and, you know, just be conscious of herself. But I also intentionally try to give her the freedom to exist. Exactly. My parenting approach is not traditional, but it's definitely always loving, and my intention is just that. So what, what does that even mean for the children growing up now? I, I don't even know. And it's so important, it's so important that we continue the work. But what this, this is my question, I guess, that I'm thinking of now is like, with your podcast and the idea of, um, introducing books, why did you choose that? Why did you choose, um, introducing wellness with promoting authors or just promoting these type of books versus even just, I don't know, any other approach?

Why did that call to you? I don't know. I'm a reader and I feel like, like over the years I've just come across some really, really amazing books. And I know people like don't read a lot anymore. And so, um, I just wanted to like bring some knowledge like out because also I think there's a lot of information out there right now, but, but it's hard for people to discern what's the good knowledge, you know, to, to get. And so yeah, I just, I wanted to— things that I've read that really, um, touched me in my life or just had an impact on my life, I wanted to just share. And that's really whole podcast is like, that's all it is, is like what— because I am a big researcher of just whatever. Like, my curiosity is just open. So I mentioned that conspiracy theorist. Yeah. So that for me has been a thing. And I've been on the internet since because I used to work at EarthLink years ago.

And like, yeah, you just brought back some memories, dude. I'm not— I don't even know if we have Please put that right now. EarthLink in Atlanta was big, dude.

I was— I worked at the Atlanta office. I started in Pasadena, and then I transferred to the EarthLink, yeah, in Atlanta office. What year? What year was it?

Was it '99 or 2000?

Oh, no, no, no.

I mean, I moved there then, but it wasn't then for EarthLink. Interesting.

All right, continue. Yeah, because I worked at the Pasadena one in '98, and then I think it was '99 maybe, or 2000, that I transferred to that. Because then they, they got with MindSpring, and so it was nothing exciting. Yeah, so, you know, I just felt like a lot of— yeah, I was okay. Atlanta's a trip. But AirFlink had its own culture too.

They just had— that's why I keep saying Black people. I remember that. I remember that office. So yeah, you were saying—

sorry. Yeah, so I was just, um, I just wanted to like, over the years, um— oh well, I didn't mention, like, um, it was probably like '98-ish, I think I kind of had like a spontaneous spiritual awakening. And like, back then I did— I had no clue what was happening. And, um, it's just been over all these years of just like being a student and not knowing what or why, you know, this happened and how it just changed my perspective on life instantly. And, um So over the years, I've just read, read, read all kinds of things and just wanted to share it with other people and not— and not tell people this, you should do this or that. It's just like I was saying, just like put seeds out there of like, this may resonate with you or not. And if, you know, don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Is that how you say it? Yeah, that's what it sounds like.

Yeah. Yeah, it's just whatever that is. Like, don't, you know, just take what you need from things, you know, and, um, then move on.

So just, I'm planting seeds for people, that's all. And that's pretty wonderful. I guess why I asked books, I love to read, and I definitely didn't grow up that way. And I think, um, it's important that we at least focus on the gifts or the tools that we feel we're good at when we want to share our most authentic version of ourselves. And that kind of leads me into my next question. What is mindfulness to you when you, when you hear that word and you use it?

That's a good question. Hmm, I never, I haven't really thought deeply on that, but I would say that it's just like being aware, being aware to me and not being, you know, just being, being aware of yourself, first of all, like being aware of yourself. So many people are, you know, so unaware of themselves. I mean, I have been too, and I probably slip into that a lot too. I'm not saying I'm so just aware and woke or whatever, but just being mindful of your thoughts, being mindful of your actions. Like, there's so many levels to it to me. But I think the main one, the main one when people talk about it in mindfulness and the practice and the meditation is being really mindful of your thoughts, because your thoughts are so powerful, you know, and they can, um, just manifest. Your thoughts manifest, bad or good. So, you know, being mindful of that and, um, awareness. I don't know, that's a good question and I didn't answer it good, but what are you talking about?

No, that's your opinion.

That's good.

Well, I mean, there's a definition, right? And then there's the space that we live in through the words, you know. But, uh, right, I asked that because, um, on your last one of the episodes I recently listened to, you had a guest on and you guys were talking about Eckhart's book, and you kind of went through the chapters and you kind of broke down the perspectives of what and how to apply. And one of the biggest takeaways, um, I took from it was how it meant, um, how you use each chapter and how each chapter you said went in succession and how it made it feel like if you got right with the first chapter, then it was just like a natural progression into the next and into the next and into the next until you end. And then I think you said at the end, or both of you kind of concluded, or she may have, was that, um, even though you've read the book before, now that you come back to it every— or now that you— the next time you come back to it, it always feels different, if not a new, a newer perspective. And I kind of, I want to ask like, and my last question to that is, if you could have a superpower, what would it be?

That's a good one. Honestly, I feel like I do have a superpower, and my superpower is, is, um, is, is empathy. I'm, I'm an empath. And so I didn't know that I had this. I mean, I didn't feel like it was a— okay, first I didn't even know it was a thing. I just have always been a super sensitive person, like, even as a kid. And so over the years, you know, I finally am finding out, like, yeah, and path is the word for it. And, um, even further, like, recently I just been finding out that, like, I— it's more clairsentient. Like, I just have a deep feeling. And, um, so yeah, that's one. I think all of us have superpowers. We all do. And so it's just like you have to figure out which one of you is yours. Because if you look at— I've been looking at the clairs, like clairvoyant, clairsentient, clair— you know, and all of us have those. All of us have all of them, but you may be just more drawn to one or the other. And, um, yes, so I feel like deeply feeling things is a superpower. And people who are out there who are very, very sensitive, who people make them feel bad about being sensitive. And, you know, you feel ashamed about because you're sensitive to things. Should not feel that way because you have a superpower.

Yep. Powerful, powerful, powerful. No, I grew up with animation and cartoons, and I always loved that.

So I asked, what's your superpower?

You know, I don't know. What I do remember that I do now is that when I'm growing up, I could always look at my friends or even people and kind of see them in an older perspective or as them being older, like see a version of them, an older version of them. Even if they were young like me, I could see them older. In the future. Yes, you can see their future self. Yes, yep, and I still can do that now. And so I do, and I don't necessarily do it, I promise you, it, it happens and then I experience it and then I interpret it as such. But then I go back to it because it becomes a, um, uh, an experience I can remember, so I, I replicate it, you know. I was like, oh, I wonder what that person would look like older, and then I try to And it kind of works, but it's been just happening. And I can remember the first time it happened. So if that's a superpower, I don't know what that means. But what I allow myself to do with that is do what I do with this show and do what I do with my life, like learn from my experience and kind of bring a sense of wisdom to it. I used to pretend that I had, like my father existed and he was always around and he would be like telling me these things, but he was in my head. And so my father was always in my head and I'd say, you know what, my father wouldn't say for me to do that. To the point where it became like a voice in my head saying, Howard, come on, son. You know, like, and I just went with it. And I don't know, it became a very useful tool, but I'm not rich and famous.

But I'm alive. No, but that's a great tool because that's your counsel. You know, that's like your spiritual counsel. And, you know, even if it's a man, like, not a real person or not, like, that's still your counsel, you know.

Exactly, exactly. Well, this was a wonderful conversation. I think, um, I don't, I don't know if the listeners were— if this is not my traditional approach, so I really hope that, um, they got something. If anything, they just enjoyed it. But I really enjoy talking with you all the time. I know, like you say, you have your space and I'm always busy, but I really want to thank you for taking this, making the space for being here today and just, um, being on a podcast. Um, oh, thanks very much. I'm definitely gonna plug your show and everything like that in the, in the comments, in the show notes. Uh, The Real Ship Happens on all the major podcast platforms, iTunes, Spotify, but Is there anything you want to say or leave me or the listeners with, or just to share?

Yeah, no, I just think it's really important in this time to, like, even though we're kind of isolated and people might feel alone, it's still a good time to, like, go within yourself and get some real quality time within yourself. And that's, you know, just even if it's a 5-minute meditation, um, find a little spot that's quiet, away from everyone, and try to get that in, you know, every day if you can. And that's just always my prescription for, you know, just to start out, um, you know, get being mindful, really, you know.

So yeah, great. Yeah. All right. All right. Well, thank Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you, Alan. You're welcome. You're welcome. I'll talk with you soon.