#39 Jul 03, 25

Doing vs. Being: When Growth Becomes Another Grind

In this episode of The Circle, Eric and Tim explore how personal growth and spiritual practice can quietly slip into another form of hustle. Why do we sometimes treat healing like a to-do list? What happens when our breathwork, yoga, or journaling stops being supportive and starts becoming performative?

Together, they unpack perfectionism, self-trust, and the radical permission to just be. From Tim’s morning breathwork dilemma to Eric’s meditation hall ego trip, this episode is a heartfelt, humorous, and deeply honest look at what it means to grow without losing yourself in the process.

Topics include:

The trap of trying to “win” at healing
How spiritual practices can become performance
The importance of intention vs. outcome
The power of check-ins and body-based awareness
Why doing less might be exactly what you need

Whether you’re burned out from personal development or just curious about being more present, this conversation is an invitation to soften, slow down, and stop striving.

00:00 - Intro: The Hustle of Healing
02:03 - Why We Strive Even in Spiritual Spaces
06:20 - Eric’s “Best Meditator” Moment
09:45 - The Yoga Trap: Performing vs. Practicing
13:10 - External Validation in Embodiment Work
18:25 - The Slippery Slope of “Not Doing Enough”
22:42 - Spiritual Checklists: Help or Harm?
28:00 - Choosing What’s Right for *Today*
32:48 - The Fine Line Between Fixing and Growing
36:10 - Doing to Be: Yoga's Eight Limbs
42:12 - Intention, Not Just Action
46:40 - Is This Practice Serving Me?
50:55 - The Gift of Showing Up (Even When You Don’t Want To)
57:12 - Internal Validation: Can It Be Enough?
01:02:40 - From Broken to Better: Shifting Motivation
01:07:30 - Men’s Work & the Power of Just Being
01:11:58 - Check-Ins: A Simple, Radical Practice
01:20:00 - Feeling Without Explaining
01:25:30 - App Behavior, Loneliness & Conscious Choice
01:31:15 - Being with Discomfort Without Numbing
01:37:20 - Embodiment Is Not Measured in Metrics
01:41:00 - Closing Reflections: Let Being Guide Your Doing

Episode Video

Creators and Guests

Host

Eric Bomyea

Eric Bomyea has a curiosity for life and a passion for personal growth. While his journey into men’s work and spirituality is relatively new, he has found a deep connection through attending Tim's embodiment circle for the past year. Eric is currently training in the Transpersonal Facilitation Program under the guidance of Amir Khalighi. Having been sober for almost two years, his path has been one of self-discovery and exploring new ways to show up authentically. He approaches men’s work with humility and an open heart, eager to dive deeper into the unknown alongside his friend and co-host, Tim

Host

Timothy Bish

Timothy Bish has been a dedicated student of personal growth and spirituality for as long as he can remember. His journey began in New York City at the Jivamukti Yoga School, where he became an Advanced Certified Jivamukti Yoga Teacher. This practice ignited his passion for physical and subtle body wellness, leading him to explore Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. During the pandemic, Tim discovered Men’s Work and completed the Men’s Wisdom Work coach training program in 2020. He then met his current teacher, Amir Khalighi, with Embodied Masculine, and completed the Men's Wisdom Initiation Program, as well as Levels 1 and 2 of the Transpersonal Facilitation Training. Tim now serves as the lead assistant for that program alongside Amir. In addition to coaching and facilitating, Tim is the founder of the Men’s Embodiment Circle in Provincetown, where he continues to help men on their journey of personal and spiritual growth