Talking With Paul Luftenegger – Part II: Depression, Therapy and the Pope

Q: Have you ever dealt with depression yourself?

A: No. I would have to say no. I have been sad many many times throughout my life but I have always been able to say that my glass is half full and somehow find the silver lining no matter the amount of pain. I am not really sure what mental health really means. I understand it of course as best I can from an external part of myself, but I have never really been able to put my finger on it and who is to say what tomorrow may bring. I know I have felt depressed or down so perhaps, yes, I try to live in my moments as best I can. I remember reading something soon after my dad died that really helped me and I am paraphrasing: “If you live too far
into the future you become anxious and if you live too far in the past you become depressed but somehow if you can live in the moment of now as best you can it really helps.” That is what I try to do and to be thankful for all that I am which is the entire sum of all of my parts. It really does take a lot of work to live with an open heart, but in my experience it is the only way to be truly free. This can mean that you have to be willing to feel the pain that surfaces to heal. I also know it is not easy to live a life on Earth the way it currently is but I have so much faith in people remembering their kindness and love for all life; we are all healing from something.

Q: Your music reveals an uplifting, therapeutic quality. What are some of the messages that you’re trying to get across in your songs?

My main goal and intention through my music and my life is to inspire kindness within so it becomes manifested outside of ourselves and part of our global world. We are all so hard on ourselves internally and we need
to start loving the inside of us (for all that we are) in order for the outside world to be loving. Oprah Winfrey really helped me with this. She is my absolute hero and mentor. I know Oprah is also her amazing team behind her that helps her every single day to be the Oprah we know and love. I absolutely adore what Oprah said once that really resonated with my heart and soul. No one can do this life alone…no one. Not you…. not me…. no one…. you are not big enough, I am not big enough…no one is big enough to do this life alone….we need everyone! Ultimately my message through my life and my music is to thrive within and to allow yourself to know that you are worthy because you are here and because you are alive with life, to serve others with love and kindness so you in turn receive the same.

Q: What was it like to sing for the late Pope John Paul II? How did that come about?

A: The best part about meeting the late Pope and singing for him in Rome was seeing him be kind to people that were less doting on his position of power. He gravitated to beautiful people with physical challenges that
were in wheelchairs or walkers and you could see his kindness in how he touched peoples hearts and souls when he offered a moment with them. He reminded me of Princess Diana’s kind energy when she would work with those
in need. The Pope was an amazingly kind energy to experience. This whole journey was because of an incredible music teacher I had the pleasure of being taught by in high school that had a dream that he shared with 100
kids to venture to Rome to perform for the late pontiff. The best part for me is that this experience exposed my heart and soul to our world and how large it really is. This taught me that great things take great preparation. This trip was planned for at least four years prior to it manifesting, and I would assume it was a lifelong dream of our teacher. I will always stand in the light of love and remind people that we need our dreamers. Dreams do in fact come true and I will always be here to remind people to live the life they imagine by removing the fear within
and replacing it with faith in love. There really is no such thing as luck…preparation meeting the point of opportunity. Everyone has to wake up, take responsibility and do the work and unite through love and kindness.

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If you missed it, click here for Part I of the talk with Paul Luftenegger. 

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Website:

http://www.paulluftenegger.com