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Ben Bidwell

Ben Bidwell

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@thenakedprofessor

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I’m back from an amazing few days helping the in

I’m back from an amazing few days helping the incredible @elementalresonance on her magical retreat - my heart is full in a way that can’t be easily explained. That’s because I witnessed people go to emotional places they don’t often go, a place where they feel deeply seen, heard & valued. It meant they (and I) experienced a sense of connection with both themselves & the people around them that leads to a magic feeling within. My passion is to see people thriving. For me that means seeing them live aligned to the person they really seek to be, as opposed to the version they’ve learned to be. Its here where I believe connection can thrive, & It’s a journey I’ve been fortunate enough to go on myself - I know how liberating & powerful it feels. These retreat experiences create exactly that. So, my passionate plea is this, if you have the means; the time, space & money, or if you have any element of intrigue as to what’s possible, then invest in yourself & explore the magic within you. If I’m someone you resonate with, then join me on what will be an incredible, liberating & heart opening experience in Greece this October. If it’s not me, then who does resonate with you that can help? What do they offer? It takes bravery to explore your inner world, but it’s worth it, that’s my promise 🙏🏼❤️. Ps - I’m going to go live on this this Sunday evening to chat more about it. If you have any sense of intrigue then feel free to join me then to ask ANY questions.

Play = time spent without purpose 🕺🏼 Time w

Play = time spent without purpose 🕺🏼 Time where there is no agenda, nothing to work towards or complete, no-one to compete against or compare ourselves to. It’s time in presence where we allow for our natural playful & curious spirit to be expressed without practical purpose. There is nothing to win or achieve, just an open curiosity. How often do you allow for that space? I’m working on it - in fact this post is a reminder for me as much as anything! My intention? To welcome & celebrate the play within me by letting go of my ego’s desire to rationally work out what doesn’t need to be worked out. Instead my aim is to feel into & allow for the child within to be expressed without judgement🕺🏼❤️. Where can you bring more play back into your life?

In October 2019 I ran my first retreat. 8 amazing

In October 2019 I ran my first retreat. 8 amazing & brave souls joined me in Ibiza to go on an adventure to find a deeper purpose & sense of fulfilment in their lives. As a group we laughed, cried, moved, played, relaxed, listened & learned. A space was held to let go of who they had learned to be, so that they could step beyond their comfort zones & step into who they really are. Liberated, open, loving & connected. I remember our celebratory dinner on our final evening. I looked around at beaming smiles, there was a new lightness to the people who were brave enough to come on the adventure with me. I won’t ever forget that, it was as if everyone had returned back to who they were meant to be. Covid meant my intentions to bring alive a retreat were scuppered in 2020, but, alongside the incredible team @seek.dharma , I’m so passionate, happy, excited & proud to bring back this incredible updated experience again. If you’re seeking more from your life, more connection, better relationships (with both yourself and others), more depth & intimacy, & more emotional freedom to just be you, then come & join me for a mixture of relaxation, adventure & transformational personal growth. This retreat is suitable for individual men or women, or for couples - the work is the same, you are going to open yourself up to a whole new life experience - better relationship with yourself and the people around you. Please click on the link in my bio for more info or email me 🙌🏼. Lastly, please do act quickly, places will be limited🙏🏼❤️

My work in recent months has asked me to be increa

My work in recent months has asked me to be increasingly present in my offline world. It’s meant I’ve struggled to find the energy to show up here in a sustainable way. That’s partly because, it appears to me that sharing static content is no longer encouraged on this platform. At the same time, I’ve found it a real challenge to create time to produce regular video content that flows from my heart. There is a part of me that wants to let social media go, it would give me so much more time and space. But I also recognise that I deeply value the connections I’ve made here and the opportunity to connect with an audience about a message I’m deeply passionate about & want to provide value on. Im trying to find my way, please bare with me. The journey continues, I hope I can bring a combination of purpose, play & thought provoking insight to your day, in a way that aligns with how I want to show up. Thank you for listening / reading, I’m grateful for your time 🙏🏼❤️

I didn’t always see my Dad as strong, that was m

I didn’t always see my Dad as strong, that was my own naivety… Because he’s strong in the way he knows, like how he selflessly gives, so that others feel comfortable to be strong themselves. And how he provides safety & love through kindness & doing whatever he physically can for the people around him. Now I can see the great strength in my Dad’s integrity, & how his word is his promise. He is reliable, honest & empowering to others. These are qualities I’m lucky to have seen in him & to have benefitted from. Thanks Dad, Happy Father’s Day 🙏🏼❤️

The world teaches us to live with a closed heart.

The world teaches us to live with a closed heart. Life can be easier that way, we aren’t judged for the depths of who we are and what we feel. Instead with a closed heart, we can wear an emotional straight jacket that keeps us looking cool & composed on the outside, but we live empty within. I speak from experience. With a closed heart we may not appear to fail or get rejected, but we may also struggle to feel truly alive. Empty on the inside, we go chasing life, choosing instant gratification ahead of what deeply fulfils us, and that becomes one long, constant chase, one that never seems to really fill us up. The solution is to go within & learn how to open up our heart’s once again. It’s a challenging journey, but one that brings us a deeper sense of fulfilment as we open up. Our heart is our most authentic truth. It is us without fear. It is us as a human being, not just a human doing. This is my work, this is my passion. If you want to join me in a life changing experience to open up your heart then let’s work together. That can be done either online or in beautiful surroundings at my next retreat In Greece this October. Places are limited, the experience will be magical. Please check out the unit through the link in my bio. 🙏🏼❤️

I asked you if you’d be interested in a free bre

I asked you if you’d be interested in a free breath session to discover a deeper connection to your heart. Hundreds of you said yes 💯. So, on Monday 6th June, 6.30pm BST we’ll do it! You’ll enter into a safe space with me on zoom, where I’ll guide you to somewhere magical, somewhere you don’t often go. Many of us live in our heads, constantly doing, we don’t hear the inner truth within, we don’t even know how to hear it. The breath can open up our hearts and help us connect in a different way. It’s here where life becomes different, more purposeful & fulfilling. If you’d like to join me, please drop a ❤️ below & sign-up in the link in my bio. It’s going to be intimate & powerful, it’s going to be my honour to breathe with you 🙌🏼. 🎥 @paulnelsonphotos 🪄

Last week I had the opportunity to deliver a numbe

Last week I had the opportunity to deliver a number of talks for #worldmentalhealthawarenessweek . I spoke about changing the stigma around mental health, men’s mental health & finding peace in a chaotic world. The content was different, but the theme was similar: Compassion is a healer, both for ourselves & others. As human behaviour researcher @brenebrown tells us “if we can share our story with someone who responds with empathy & understanding, shame can’t survive.” We ALL carry shame, burying it is part of what makes us lonely. So my message for this year (loneliness is the theme) is that we can all be someone who helps others feel less lonely by letting go of the judgements we think in our heads, & tune into the natural kindness, compassion & curiosity within our hearts. Alignment with our heart brings so much to ourselves & others. It’s who we really are when we are truly present. It’s where compassion lives. It’s where love flourishes. It’s where we need to return. It’s a superpower we all have within. I love my job, I’m grateful for what I have. Thank you for listening ☺️❤️.

What if we didn’t have to be who we told ourselv

What if we didn’t have to be who we told ourselves we should be? What if we could immerse ourselves more in a space of presence, not in thought, but in flow? What if we could be emotionally free? The journey out of my head and into my heart is one I continue to work on every day. The world I live in is regularly trying to pull me back into my head, so the work is to keep working on going beyond that. That’s where freedom lives, that’s where the most powerful relationships live, that’s where the deepest, most authentic confidence lives. I loved sharing this conversation with @catcaitlinn . Cato and I were formerly in a relationship, we’ve had time apart and space for emotions to settle, and now it was special to be able to sit in a space with one another on Cato’s podcast and share deeply about growth, empowering masculinity, masculine and feminine integration, and the practical tools to reconnect 🙏🏼❤️

I can feel my mind talking my body into a low vibr

I can feel my mind talking my body into a low vibration this morning. There’s no major reason for it, nothing dramatic has happened on a personal level, on the contrary I have much to be grateful & excited about. But small irritations have led my mind to become alert & more observant of perceived challengers & obstacles. As my thinking becomes louder, it appears that there is so much to do & limited resources to assist. The future appears foggy & difficult. The thoughts sink into my body & the energy feels heavy. Whilst my body wants me to stop & rest, my mind tells me there isn’t time to do that. In this space I feel irritable & want to retract, I don’t feel sociable or very welcoming of connection. Numbing the emotion is a possible option, but merely a short term fix that will also repress the beauty when that arrives too. I don’t choose that way, I welcome a world that doesn’t. You see, I could force out a smile & bring good energy if need be. But living in alignment isn’t to attempt to bury what’s true, it’s to listen & feel into what’s there & to allow feelings to be felt & expressed without judgement. There’s satisfaction within that way. It’s a powerful tool. Some will judge, some will be unsure how to receive this, others will try to fix - society doesn’t teach us how to comfortably sit with this expression. But Im comfortable in this place. I know my mood will soon change, in fact it already is. (Journalling helps 😉). What I don’t want to do is to try to force myself to move beyond it, before it’s ready. And so I reach here. Life is a balance. They’ll be “good” days & “bad” days. Of course the good days feel good, but Yin & Yang will question whether there can be a “good” day, without a “bad” one. There’s nothing wrong or right with either, just how we receive & perceive it. Thank you for listening, there’s a beauty for me in expressing this in a way that I hope allows space for others to live & express the full range of what’s true for them too. I’d love for you to drop a ❤️ if this resonates or you feel this too. With love & gratitude, Ben
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📸 @paulnelsonphotos 🪄

Do you know what’s happened as I’ve learned to

Do you know what’s happened as I’ve learned to get out of head & into my heart? I’ve found deeper joy in the simplest & smallest of things: Like the sound of the waves, as the sun sets or rises. So peaceful, so magical. Like listening to a busker play beautiful songs that bring back old memories & create new ones. Like open, liberated conversations with the special people willing to be vulnerable enough to sit with my heart, & to let me sit with their’s too. Like having healthy boundaries that mean I say no to what isn’t right for me, & yes to what truly fills me up. Regardless of how others perceive it. Like spending time with my parents, appreciating all they’ve done for me, & responding with appreciation through quality time, curiosity, playfulness & presence. Like connecting with other people who truly get me & I truly get them. We can talk for hours, learning from one another, receiving & sharing emotions without judgement, feeling seen, heard & valued. The list could go on, but I hope this offers something. It’s not to say that I don’t still live in my head at times, it has its value. But my heart is where ny inner world comes alive, & that brings joy in ways the mind won’t ever be able to successfully analyse or understand. I had a wkd filled with all of the above, my heart is feeling alive & full ❤️

What I’m saying is, we are all at our most power

What I’m saying is, we are all at our most powerful when we find the strength and willing to be open and vulnerable ❤️

Today I get to stand on stage to deliver a worksho

Today I get to stand on stage to deliver a workshop on “Masculinity uncovered in 2022” @mbswellbeing . I’ll be speaking for 1hr 15mins, it’s quite a long time. Everyone will be looking at me, there will be silence outside of my voice. The audience might not agree with what I share. I might bore them. I might get asked questions that I don’t know the answer too. I may re-open wounds that some spend their days trying to avoid or deny. I might stutter, become short of breath, lose the flow of the talk, fear may overcome me. I may get the timing wrong. People might leave early. On the other hand, I may just touch a heart & have an impact that changes someone’s life. I may bring tears or laughter or another meaningful emotion. I may even bring more love into someone’s heart. Or maybe I’ll help someone find more compassion for themselves. I’m a human being, therefore all of these things are possible. I’m a little scared, but I’m more excited. I’m in a vulnerable position, and with that I feel alive. With all that’s going on in the world, the truth is, I’m just grateful to have the opportunity to share my heart out in a safe space. I’m excited to see some of you later this afternoon 🙏🏼❤️
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📸 @paulnelsonphotos 🪄

You want to make someone feel special? Give them y

You want to make someone feel special? Give them your presence. Presence is a currency that sits within us all. It requires a willingness to be vulnerable, to get out of our head & to consciously choose to give our time & energy to someone else, without a need for our own voice or story to be significant. Lead with a respectful curiosity. An open, yet grounded nature that says im here for whatever you choose to bring. Listen attentively, not to respond, or to judge their emotion or behaviour, but just to hear them. This isn’t about you or the advice you can give, or trying to change their state, this is about giving them the space to express all of what is inside of them. Provide a space where they feel seen & heard. Honour them, hold the space for them & you’ll provide freedom, trust & connection. It’s a deeper way to provide love 🙏🏼❤️. In a world that doesn’t teach us to be present, how present are you with those you care about?

Judgement = he’s a bad person, he needs therapy,

Judgement = he’s a bad person, he needs therapy, he needs to learn to take a joke, he’s a bad man, he did the right thing, he’s a hero for standing up for his wife, he’s a real man, he’s a weak man, he should be punished, he should be celebrated, etc, etc. Compassion = who knows what’s going on in his life right now. Who knows what he’s been through before this event, both personally and with his partner. Who knows how much pain Jada feels when she is mocked or joked at around this subject, or what she’s been through on it in the past. Who knows what other challenges and emotions were alive within them for things outside of their control before or during the event. Who even knows if this was staged or not 🤷🏻‍♂️. Violence is never the answer regardless of the situation, & Will Smith will know this. It’s not ok to make violent mistakes, I agree, but before we make things right or wrong, good or bad, let’s also accept that we don’t know what we don’t know. When we acknowledge that, we open the doors to more compassion. Of course we will naturally have our opinions, but before we offer them, can we also acknowledge & understand that we don’t know the story behind the behaviour. That goes for Will Smith, or any other person, or any other area of life. We don’t know what we don’t know. A healthier world is one where there is more compassion & less judgement. Judgement divides us, compassion unites us. I’m not here to judge anyone who is judging, I’m just here to invite the possibility of more compassion into this world 🤗. What are your thoughts, does this resonate at all? How are you feeling about this? 🙏🏼❤️

I spent a lot of my life trying to avoid being cal

I spent a lot of my life trying to avoid being called or thought of as a mummy’s boy. It was a term that I associated with being weak. More concerned with how I was perceived than letting my truth be seen & felt, I had a period where I tried to switch off my love, I thought it wasn’t cool. In other words, I wasn’t strong enough to be me, because I was scared the real me wouldn’t be accepted. I’m glad I came through that period & let go of playing it cool. As @brenebrown says, playing it cool is an emotional straight jacket - we are trying to be who we think we should be, not who we really are. I’m very clear now.
Who I really am is someone who is full of love & kindness, especially for my dear Mum. She gives so much to me, from listening to how my day was, to putting up with my teasing, to offering so much kindness, love, support & both helpful & unhelpful advice. Hey, let’s be honest, Mum’s don’t know it all 😉. I’m happy that I let go of the emotional straight jacket & learned how to celebrate & share with my Mum quite how much she means to me 🙏🏼. Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mum’s out there. To those of you missing your Mum’s today, I promise to honour them by continuing to appreciate, love & cherish mine 🙏🏼❤️

I’m so passionate about the masculine journey &

I’m so passionate about the masculine journey & the inner challenges we face. It’s a passion that comes from my own pain. The truth is I didn’t know how emotionally lost I was until I went stopped, listened & learned about the complexities of why we behave as we do / our mental health. My aim now is help others see what’s possible by opening our hearts & exploring our inner world. We can all grow & experience more, my own journey still continues 🕺🏼. On Sunday 17th April I get to hold a workshop titled “Masculinity uncovered in 2022” at the amazing @mbswellbeing festival at Kensington Olympia, London. It’s a beautiful festival with all sorts of incredible health & wellness speakers sharing across the wkd, it’s my honour to stand on stage & share with an open heart. The talk is about my journey as a man, but it’s for all genders & there will be plenty of time to meet if you fancy a cup of tea & a 🤗. Tickets are linked in by bio, I’d really love to see lots of you there. Oh, and bring your brothers, Dads, boyfriends, husbands etc 😉 🙏🏼❤️. Ps - I’m doing an Insta live tomorrow (Tuesday) at 1.30pm GMT with @mbswellbeing to share a taster to the workshop then 🕺🏼

A stream of rambling thoughts, from a beautiful, q

A stream of rambling thoughts, from a beautiful, quiet, sunny sunday:
*these are merely thoughts. They naturally come & go, some I give more attention & energy to than others 🕺🏼😉. I love spending time with my parents, lots of time, especially time when there’s silence filled by moments of simple, silly connection. Is it weird to enjoy hanging out with my parents at my age? Do I care if it is weird?🤔💁🏻‍♂️. I love being by the sea, it’s so expansive, calm & peaceful, yet so powerful too. I’m so drawn to the sound of fresh water, the crashing waves, the trickle of a flourishing stream. I wonder if all humans are? I might Google that 🧐. I love music. I love the emotions it stirs. I love sharing my favourite songs with someone who matters to me. I really hope they like them too, I really do. Is that weird? Screw weird, I love being weird. I think we’re all weird. If we find our freedom🥳. I love being in the peace away from London. Life is quiet, I’m not spending much time with other people. Some may think that’s weird, I like it. Maybe I’m anti-social. Maybe I’m anti-BS. Or maybe I’m just happy in my own company😇. The more I think about it, the happier I am that I found my weird. I conformed for too long 🕺🏼. The more I think about it, the more I realise how much I love finding & connecting with the weird in others. It’s what makes them beautiful beyond surface level connection❤️. Life is better when I live true to what I value. Life feels good right now. I’m very fortunate. I’m happy, I’m grateful, I’m weird. I’m going to have an early night tonight. I love early nights ☺️. Happy Sunday 🙏🏼❤️

I grew up seeing my Mum embodying so much of what

I grew up seeing my Mum embodying so much of what it means to be a beautiful & powerful human being. So much kindness, sensitivity & care for others, whilst still so strong, independent & fierce about what she cares about. She remains such an incredible presence in my life today; still vibrant, still joyful, still strong enough to receive my BS & firmly put me in my place - yet still full of so much love & tenderness. She’s the person who has shown me what it is to be a loving human. Today on international women’s day I honour all of the women out there. You are the people who need to be so strong in a demanding world that asks you to be so many contrasting things. I honour all that you bring to this world, your love, flow & nurture, & also your strength, determination & resilience. I love life’s contrasts, I love the feminine & the masculine, I love that today we get to celebrate women, I love that I got the Mum I got, & I love the energy women bring to this world ❤️

I’ve had a few conversations with beautiful peop

I’ve had a few conversations with beautiful people about the state of the world over the last few days. A sense of helplessness has been a common theme between us. When I sink into that, I keep reaching the same place. That my lack of gratitude for the safety & freedom that I have in my life is the ultimate disrespect to those who aren’t blessed with the same fundamentals. So it’s very clear, I owe it to those who are less fortunate than me, to fully appreciate what I have. I believe we all do. When we recognise our own good fortune, we open the doors to compassion & kindness, two of the greatest healers out there🙏🏼❤️.

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