Is It Possible to Uproot All Anxiety and Anger? Steve Armstrong Says Yes.

Is It Possible to Uproot All Anxiety and Anger? Steve Armstrong Says Yes.

Meditation can be gorgeous… and it can be absolutely bewildering. If you've ever wondered, "Am I doing this right?" or "Why does this feel so intense?", this conversation is for you.

In this vintage conversation from 2016, Dan sits down with legendary dharma teacher Steve Armstrong for a clear, compassionate walkthrough of the progress of insight—including why meditation sometimes gets harder before it gets easier, how to navigate the so-called "dark night" phases, and how to keep going without getting lost in the weeds of self-doubt.

Steve Armstrong, our dear friend, teacher, and the founder of Vipassana Metta Dhamma Sanctuary, passed away peacefully at home on December 23, 2025. His wife and teaching partner, Kamala, was by his side. We are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to the fundraiser we shared, and held Steve and Kamala in their hearts.

Your generosity made it possible for Steve to receive the 24-hour care he needed in his final months, allowing him to remain at home with comfort and dignity. Your support also helped ease the many practical and emotional burdens Kamala carried during this time.

Steve devoted more than 40 years to teaching the Dhamma and to building Vipassana Metta Dhamma Sanctuary as a place for deep and sustained practice. His wisdom, kindness, and unwavering commitment to the path touched countless lives and will continue to live on through this work. Any future donations to this fundraiser will go toward supporting Kamala as she moves through this period of grief and transition, and as she continues the work at Vipassana Metta Dhamma Sanctuary that she and Steve began together.

If you feel moved, you can find the GoFundMe at this link. Our company has also made a significant contribution to support Steve and Kamala.

In this episode, you'll learn:

  • Why meditation can sometimes trigger emotional turbulence

  • How to understand the "stages" of insight (without clinging to them)

  • Practical ways to stay steady when your practice feels chaotic or confusing

  • How to distinguish between a genuine opening and plain old overwhelm

  • Why equanimity isn't passive—it's powerful

Steve has spent decades helping people wake up. This episode is a chance to receive that wisdom—and, if you're able, to reflect it back with your support.

Related Episodes:

Join Dan's online community here

Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Thanks to our sponsors:
Airbnb: Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.com/host.
HomeServe:   Help protect your home systems and your wallet with HomeServe against covered repairs. Go to homeserve.com to find a plan that's right for you.

To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/10HappierwithDanHarris

Jaksot(993)

How To Handle Exhaustion, Disconnection, and Physical Pain | Meditation with Bart van Melik

How To Handle Exhaustion, Disconnection, and Physical Pain | Meditation with Bart van Melik

A short, gentle body scan meditation from Bart van Melik, our Teacher of the Month for January. This isn't about fixing anything or achieving some special state. It's about finding one small place in ...

18 Tammi 12min

Seth Meyers On: Handling Performance Anxiety, Managing the Inner Critic, Hacks for Better Conversation, and Staying Joyful in Dark Times

Seth Meyers On: Handling Performance Anxiety, Managing the Inner Critic, Hacks for Better Conversation, and Staying Joyful in Dark Times

Plus, much more from the famed late-night TV show host. Seth Meyers is the host of Late Night with Seth Meyers. Before that, he was a cast member on Saturday Night Live for 13 seasons. In recent years...

16 Tammi 44min

The "Wellness" Industry Sells Us On Rigid Optimization. It Doesn't Work–But This Might. | Nidhi Bhanshali Pandya

The "Wellness" Industry Sells Us On Rigid Optimization. It Doesn't Work–But This Might. | Nidhi Bhanshali Pandya

A deep dive on Ayurveda, a sophisticated system for health that's been refined over millennia. Nidhi Bhanshali Pandya is a renowned NAMA-certified Ayurvedic Doctor, the bestselling author of Your Body...

14 Tammi 1h 18min

Why You Don't Exercise Even Though You Know You Should. And Strategies To Get Over the Hump. | Katy Bowman

Why You Don't Exercise Even Though You Know You Should. And Strategies To Get Over the Hump. | Katy Bowman

A toolkit for bringing more movement into your life.   Katy Bowman is a biomechanist who runs a movement education company, called Nutritious Movement. She's the author of 11 books, and her most recen...

12 Tammi 1h 17min

Buddhist Strategies for Protecting Yourself from Everyday Chaos | Bart van Melik

Buddhist Strategies for Protecting Yourself from Everyday Chaos | Bart van Melik

Ever lie awake at night replaying all the moments you lost it with your kids, your partner, or your co-workers? You're not alone. Bart van Melik is back on the show (his first appearance was four year...

11 Tammi 33min

How To Rewrite Your Story, Make Peace with the Past, and Break Old Patterns | Melissa Febos

How To Rewrite Your Story, Make Peace with the Past, and Break Old Patterns | Melissa Febos

Practical ways to upgrade your narrative. Melissa Febos is the national bestselling author of five books, including Girlhood, Body Work: The Radical Power of Personal Narrative, and a new memoir, Th...

9 Tammi 1h 8min

How To Use Psychology and Buddhism To Handle Your Inner Critic | Amita Schmidt

How To Use Psychology and Buddhism To Handle Your Inner Critic | Amita Schmidt

How psychology and spirituality can work together. Amita Schmidt is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Hawaii. She has taught Vipassana meditation for over thirty years, and was the Resident Teacher...

7 Tammi 1h 1min

Esther Perel: The Modern World Can Sap Your Life Force. Here's How To Recapture It.

Esther Perel: The Modern World Can Sap Your Life Force. Here's How To Recapture It.

The legendary psychotherapist unpacks the concept of "hostile dependency" and explains why cutting people off doesn't always work. Psychotherapist and New York Times bestselling author Esther Perel i...

5 Tammi 53min

Suosittua kategoriassa Terveys ja hyvinvointi

unicast
tiedenaiset-podcast
psykopodiaa-podcast
rss-pitaisko-erota
voi-hyvin-meditaatiot-2
vakeva-elama-viisaampi-mieli-vahvempi-keho
selvin-pain
meditaatiot-suomeksi
fitnessvastaanotto
selviytyjat-tarinoita-elamasta
rss-uplevel-by-sonja-hannus
rss-narsisti
fitnesskulmapodcast
rss-nautinto
paaasia-podcast
terapiassa
aamukahvilla
junnut-pelissa
rss-kuumilla-aalloilla
katilon-kahvitunti