How to Love Without Losing Yourself: A Buddhist Perspective (feat. Devon Hase)
Why do even the healthiest relationships bring up our deepest fears and insecurities? And what if those difficult moments aren't signs that something is wrong, but opportunities to grow?
In this episode, I sit down with Buddhist teacher and meditation practitioner Devon Hase to explore what Buddhism can teach us about love, conflict, emotional resilience, and authentic connection. We discuss how to cultivate intimacy without abandoning yourself, why relationships reveal our deepest patterns, and how to approach them with greater awareness and compassion.
If you'd like to build stronger, healthier relationships while staying true to yourself, I think you'll find this conversation both insightful and deeply reassuring.
Interview timestamps:
[00:02:52] Why relationships are our greatest teachers
[00:03:54] The myth of happily ever after
[00:06:47] Devon's journey into Buddhism and meditation
[00:09:19] Bringing spiritual practice into everyday life
[00:13:53] Why relationships can't make us happy
[00:16:44] What the honeymoon phase is really teaching us
[00:20:23] Why every relationship goes through deaths and rebirths
[00:21:30] The overlooked skill of deep listening
[00:23:51] Can technology make us worse listeners?
[00:25:52] The blind spots that sabotage relationships
[00:27:50] Which conflict style are you? Volcano, Diplomat, or Dodger
[00:34:09] Healthy conflict vs. emotional abuse
[00:36:15] How to love deeply without losing yourself
[00:38:29] The tightrope metaphor for balancing intimacy and independence
[00:41:43] Why there is no perfect relationship blueprint
[00:43:30] Daily rituals that strengthen a relationship
[00:46:03] What to do when your relationship is struggling
[00:48:17] How remembering mortality transforms love
[00:49:52] Becoming more human, not more perfect
