Love University with Dr. Alexander Avila

No description provided.

What if loving without expectation could activate your inner power and fulfill your dreams? On this week’s episode of Love University, we explore the secret to your triumph in life: extend love without expectation. Many people give love because they want something back, then they’re disappointed when they don’t receive what they were expecting. Things are different when loving energy flows naturally from your core. You become impervious to the reactions of others. You access your inner flame and restore the health and happiness in your life. Here are three ways to practice this principle in daily life: Be Like the SunThe sun shines on everyone and everything: the young, the old, the pretty, the no so pretty, the poor and the rich. Some people love the sun and lay out to receive its rays; others avoid it and cover up. But the sun doesn’t get mad or feels hurt if some people dislike it. It just keeps shining. In the same way, be like the sun. Be kind and loving to others regardless of how they respond to you. When you shine your loving energy without thinking of what you will get back, you become more powerful and inwardly accepting. You radiate kindness and goodwill because that is who you really are. What Type of Nice Are You? When you’re nice to yourself but not to others, you’re self-absorbed. When you’re nice to others and not yourself, you’re self-diminishing. When you’re nice to both yourself and others, you are a high loving energy person who has a great relationship with everything around you. When you’re truly kind, you know when to be generous and when to be firm. Your warmth is authentic because it reflects your balanced inner nature. Love Without FearFear grows when you become emotionally attached to specific outcomes. But when you love without expectation your life elevates. You realize there is no fear in giving, there is only fear in taking. When you focus on getting something from life or other people, you’re always worried that you won’t get enough, or that what you have will be taken from you. Love without expectation brings the comfort and security back into your emotional life. You give from the abundance of the love you have inside. When you do this, you will always win. Start today to extend love without expectation. Smile at others, pay sincere compliments, help in practical tasks, listen empathetically without judgement. Be like the sun and spread your warm and caring everywhere you go. Your world will be brighter and more joyous than ever before. For more self-wisdom, make sure you pick up a copy of Invincible You on Amazon at https://tinyurl.com/3y3szh27

On this week’s episode of Love University, we continue exploring the principle of Reversal and how paradoxical action can radically change the quality of your life. Instead of exhausting yourself by forcing outcomes, Reversal introduces a wiser approach. By changing how you relate to time, adversity, and even your own thoughts, you begin opening possibilities to better your life in a powerful way Here are three reversals that can transform your life: Get Your Time Back by Giving It AwayModern life teaches people to guard their time obsessively, yet rushing makes you feel emotionally depleted and disconnected. Reversal teaches that your experience of time expands when you invest it meaningfully in people and experiences you genuinely value. Sharing an unhurried conversation, spending relaxed time with family, helping others, or simply enjoying a quiet moment restores a sense of presence and spaciousness. Life begins to feel fuller, calmer, and more enjoyable. Be Grateful for the Bad as Well as the GoodPainful experiences often contain life-changing lessons. Loss, disappointment, and hardship can deepen your appreciation for love, friendship, and the fragile beauty of life itself. When you begin looking for the meaning inside difficulties, your emotional perspective widens and your resilience grows stronger. Gratitude becomes more mature because it now includes both the joys of life and the wisdom gained through struggle. Remove Thoughts That Weaken YouYou may carry mental habits that quietly drain your energy. These include perfectionism, fear, and regret. Reversal teaches you to separate yourself from destructive patterns rather than automatically believing them. As you stop identifying with fearful or self-critical thoughts, your mind becomes steadier, and your confidence more grounded. Over time, you begin experiencing a freer and stronger version of yourself. Paradoxical action can help you reverse frustration and overcome mental self-sabotage. Start today. Do the opposite of what you’ve been doing to receive the greatest prizes in life: joy, inner mastery, and love. For more self-wisdom, make sure you pick up a copy of Invincible You on Amazon at https://tinyurl.com/3y3szh27

On this week’s episode of Love University, we’re joined by Anne Abel, acclaimed memoirist, storyteller, and TikTok inspiration, whose book High Hopes (https://tinyurl.com/3bhmfb9t) recounts one woman’s unexpected reinvention. After decades of treatment-resistant depression—including psychiatric hospitalization and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)—Anne made a single, life-changing decision: she said “yes” to a solo 26-day trip to Australia to follow Bruce Springsteen on tour. That journey, at age 60, became far more than an adventure. It was the beginning of a full emotional reawakening. Here are three powerful insights from her story: The Cure to Sadness May Be as Simple as One “Yes” For much of her adult life, Anne lived behind a wall of emotional numbness. Highly educated, married, and outwardly functional, she moved through the world with deep internal pain. Therapies had come and gone. ECT helped, briefly. But nothing truly shifted—until she gave herself permission to act on something instinctual. That “yes” to a Springsteen concert tour—unreasonable, unplanned—became a way back to her authentic, powerful self. \ Healing Begins When You Stop Waiting to Feel Ready Anne didn’t fly to Australia because she felt courageous. She did it because she knew she couldn’t stay in the life she was living. Surrounded by strangers in packed Springsteen arenas, she found something she hadn’t felt in years: vitality, meaning, and self-validation. The music, the lyrics, the crowd energy—they stirred emotions that had long been locked away. Bruce didn’t just perform—he mirrored her back to herself. She began to feel, to connect, to hope. That alone was its own kind of healing. You Are Not Defined by Your Past—Unless You Keep Replaying It High Hopes is more than a travel memoir. It’s a guide to emotional renewal, bold reinvention, and reclaiming your voice after years of silence. Anne shows that transformation doesn’t require perfection—it needs permission. Through movement, music, and saying “yes” before she felt “ready,” she rewrote her narrative. Depression may have shaped her past, but it no longer had the final word. Her life began again when she stopped waiting for conditions to be perfect—and chose to live anyway. You can follow Anne’s example by listening to your intuition and saying “Yes” to the calling of your soul. 🎧 Listen to the full episode now on Love University and leave a comment on Apple Podcasts.

What if you could turn regret into wisdom and self-attack into self-love? This week on Love University, we explore how to finally break the grip of regret and live with full freedom and joy. The Regret Weakness is a subtle but persistent thought pattern—the belief that your past defines your future, and that you’re somehow unworthy of success, love, or happiness because of previous mistakes and failures. Regret, unfortunately, can lead to paralysis, low self-worth, and a repeated cycle of poor choices. But when reframed into wisdom and self-acceptance, it can be one of your greatest sources of strength and clarity. Here are three essential takeaways from the episode: Separate mistakes from your identity Regret becomes destructive when it turns into self-definition. It’s one thing to acknowledge a mistake—it’s another to believe that an error or failure means you’re fundamentally flawed. The Regret Weakness thrives on that confusion. Because of what happened in the past, you begin to believe you're “bad at relationships,” “not cut out for success,” or “too damaged to change.” But the truth is, the version of you who made those past decisions no longer exists. Healing begins when you stop dragging your old identity into your present and realize that the new you doesn’t need to repeat the cycles of the past. Allow progress without perfection A common regret trap is expecting overnight transformation—then feeling like a failure when old habits resurface. But growth isn’t linear. You will have setbacks—what matters is how you interpret them. If you shame yourself for every backward step, you reinforce the very patterns you’re trying to break. But when you allow yourself to return, recommit, and realign—without judgment—you build emotional strength. The Regret Weakness loses its power when you understand that healing includes imperfection, and growth encompasses wisdom from lessons learned. Convert regret into learning and hope When regret lingers, it’s usually because you haven’t yet mined the wisdom from the experience. You’re stuck in “If only…” instead of “Next time I will…” That shift—looking forward instead of backward—changes everything. Every painful memory contains valuable knowledge: what mattered to you, what you ignored, what boundary you didn’t set. When you uncover that meaning, you create a new imprint—a Loving Memory—where wisdom replaces shame, and acceptance surpasses imperfection. Now regret stops being a chain and becomes a compass to the discovery of your most loving and true self. The bottom line: Learn how to erase regret and look forward to a glorious and wonderful future.

What if you could transform your rushing and impatience into peace, clarity, and real accomplishment? This week on Love University, we explore how to do exactly that. In a world addicted to speed and urgency, many people are unknowingly ruled by what Dr. Avila calls the Rush Weakness—the inner pressure to do more, faster, all the time. But rushing rarely leads to real progress. Instead, it drains energy, clouds thinking, and invites mistakes. The good news is that this mental habit can be transformed into a deeper strength known as the Mind of Patience. Drawing from his class book, Invincible You (https://tinyurl.com/3y3szh27), Dr. Avila teaches you how to replace reactivity with calm direction so you can stop racing against time and start living with purpose. Here’s how transformation begins: Recognize the Rush Weakness as a fear-based habit Rushing feels productive, but it's often driven by fear—fear of falling behind, missing out, or not doing enough. It masquerades as urgency but creates inner tension and impulsive decisions. Transformation begins with awareness: noticing when the Rush Weakness is controlling your pace, and realizing that calm action often leads to better results. Train your patience like a mental muscle Patience is not passivity. It’s a deliberate, focused mindset that brings clarity under pressure. A key tool in building this strength is the “Choose the Longer Line” exercise: intentionally standing in the slower queue to recondition your tolerance for waiting. By facing down the discomfort, you gain control over your impulses and strengthen emotional resilience. Shift from rushing to rhythm When guided by the Mind of Patience, your actions become more grounded. You stop chasing time and start managing energy. This shift leads to fewer mistakes, less stress, and greater clarity. Results come not from moving faster, but from aligning thought with purpose—and trusting that the right outcomes will unfold when approached with steadiness and focus. Learn how to break free from the Rush Weakness and step into a new pace of life—one built on patience, presence, and sustainable achievement.

Why do we deliberately seek out fear—only to feel more alive afterward? This week on Love University, we’re exploring the psychology of horror with acclaimed supernatural thriller author Monica Kastle, creator of the Cascade Wolves series. Known for suspenseful plots, richly layered characters, and emotionally intelligent writing, Kastle crafts stories that don’t just scare you—they awaken something deeper in your mind and heart. Here’s what we uncovered about why fear fascinates us—and how her novels hook into our most primal wiring: Fear is our brain’s rehearsal room. Monica’s novels serve as controlled “threat simulators.” When we read scary scenes, the amygdala—the brain’s fear center—fires off as if we’re in danger. But the rational brain knows we’re safe, creating a unique tension loop. That loop, according to National Geographic, helps us process stress more efficiently. Horror fans often show greater emotional regulation and resilience—because they’ve practiced fear in a safe container. Kastle’s work gives readers that exact laboratory: fear without real harm, emotional risk without real loss. And the payoff? A psychological sense of mastery. The adrenaline-to-euphoria connection. Kastle’s books build suspense through rising tension, then release it through resolution. This taps into what scientists call excitation transfer: the idea that physiological arousal (like increased heart rate and sweaty palms) intensifies whatever emotion follows it. So when the monster disappears—or the hero survives—we feel extra relief, even joy.This adrenaline -to-euphoria payoff is hardwired in us. It’s why scary stories can be strangely uplifting. Monica’s smart layering of supernatural danger and emotional stakes creates exactly this effect—fear that leads to catharsis (emotional release). We learn from the worst-case scenario. Horror stories are deeply instructive. We unconsciously collect survival strategies as we read: What would I do in that cabin? Would I trust that character? How would I escape that pack of wolves? This “morbid curiosity” isn’t unhealthy—it’s evolutionary. Research during COVID-19 showed that horror fans were more psychologically prepared for uncertainty and threat. Kastle's readers aren't just along for the ride. They’re gathering intel. Her fiction activates our learning brain while thrilling our emotional core. Fear sharpens connection. One of the most fascinating psychological effects of horror is called misattribution of arousal. It means we can confuse fear for attraction. In a famous 1974 study, men were more likely to feel romantic interest after crossing a dangerous suspension bridge than a safe one. That’s because fear spikes adrenaline—which mimics the symptoms of romantic excitement. Kastle’s Cascade Wolves plays on this beautifully. Tense survival scenes mirror this “bridge effect,” where readers find themselves rooting not just for safety—but for slow-burn intimacy. Fear and empathy merge, drawing us closer to the characters and to ourselves. From fear to growth. In Cascade Wolves, Kastle’s heroines don’t just run from fear—they grow through it. This mirrors what psychologists call “coping rehearsal.” Just as physical exercise strengthens the body, scary stories help train emotional muscles. Readers learn to manage panic, slow their breathing, and stay alert in high-pressure moments—all while sitting safely on the couch. That’s the deeper brilliance of Kastle’s work: her stories aren’t just entertainment. They’re emotional conditioning. Monica Kastle uses the language of fear to teach courage, deepen empathy, and rewire how we experience stress and safety. If you’ve ever wondered why we love scary stories—or how they help us heal—this episode will change the way you think about horror.

Have you ever wondered if something as natural—and as ancient—as a mushroom could help you resolve trauma, reduce depression, or even diminish the fear of death? On this week’s episode of Love University, we met Dr. Stacey Simmons—psychotherapist and certified psychedelic-assisted therapy practitioner (staceysimmonsphd.com). Her work brings together neuroscience and and plant-medicine research. As the author of Mushroom Pharmacy, Dr. Simmons explores how psilocybin and other psychedelics may support emotional healing, spiritual awakening, and brain transformation. Here are a few highlights from our conversation: What is psilocybin therapy?Dr. Simmons explained that psilocybin—the psychoactive compound in “magic mushrooms”—has been used for thousands of years in sacred ritual. Today, it’s being clinically studied for depression, trauma, and end-of-life anxiety. Several U.S. states, including Oregon and Colorado, have already approved regulated use in therapeutic settings. Microdosing vs. full-dose journeys.We talked about the difference between microdosing (small, sub-perceptual doses taken regularly) and higher-dose “journey” sessions, which can open people to profound experiences of unity, inner clarity, or even a rehearsal of death—helping some individuals release long-held fear or emotional pain. The healing comes from preparation and integration.Dr. Simmons emphasized that psychedelics aren’t miracle pills. Safety, psychological screening, and careful integration afterward are essential—especially for those with conditions like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, where use is contraindicated. Beyond chemicals: spiritual repair.According to Dr. Simmons, psilocybin can temporarily silence the inner chatter of the “monkey mind,” opening space for deep insight, connection, and awe. She believes these moments remind us that we’re more than our bodies—and can reconnect us with a sense of mystery in an increasingly mechanized world. A new kind of medicine.With her clinical practice and book, Mushroom Pharmacy, Dr. Simmons invites us to rethink how healing happens—not just with prescriptions, but with purpose, intention, and reconnection to self and nature. Dr. Simmons left us with a simple reminder: Mushrooms alone may not save your life—but when used with wisdom, they can help you remember how to live it more fully. 🎧 Catch the full interview now on Love University to explore the intersection of brain science, plant medicine, and personal transformation—with one of the most grounded and inspiring voices in the psychedelic wellness space. Also make sure to follow Dr. Avila on Instagram at @dralexavila