Cultivating Presence (with a Dash of Mischief): A Conversation with Mitch Davidowitz

In this episode, Traci Ruble, founder of Sidewalk Talk, sits down with longtime therapist and Vipassana practitioner Mitch Davidowitz to explore something that feels harder than ever: being present. Together, they wander into the heart of what it means to show up—truly and fully—for ourselves and others.

Mitch brings decades of wisdom wrapped in humility, humor, and a touch of rascal spirit. The two dig into the medicine of deep listening, the rebellious act of slowing down, and why love and compassion aren’t just soft concepts—they're radical practices in a fractured world.

This conversation is part invitation, part provocation: What if staying present is the real revolution? What if mischief is a doorway to wisdom? And what if, in this wild world, just being someone who cares deeply is a contribution worth being proud of?

About Mitch Davidowitz
Mitch Davidowitz, MSW, M.Ed, Ed.S. is a psychotherapist, writer, photographer and inspirational teacher known globally. His work is a confluence of his decades of intensive mindfulness training and being a clinician for the past 45 years. Mitch has trained healthcare and mental health professionals around the United States in the compassionate care of those facing loss since 1984. Mitch has appeared on radio and television to provide education about the challenges that mourners and those supporting them experience.

He is currently in private practice outside of Boston, Massachusetts seeing clients nationally and globally with a wide range of issues. His approach is diverse and deeply informed by his mindfulness training.

In addition to his clinical background, Mitch began intensive retreat practice in Vipassana meditation in 1974 with Anagarika Sujata. He continued these trainings extensively with Jack Kornfield, Joseph Goldstein and Sharon Salzberg. Baba Ram Dass was also one of his primary teachers.

Episode Timeline

• 00:00 Introduction to Sidewalk Talk

  01:04 Meet Mitch Davidowitz: Therapist and Vipasana Practitioner

  04:08 The Journey to Heart-Centeredness

  08:05 Love, Compassion, and Advocacy

  16:58 The Power of Discipline and Meditation

  21:53 The Changing Landscape of Human Suffering

  25:19 Rising Anxiety and Insecurity

  26:24 Guilt and Happiness Amidst Suffering

  27:49 The Power of Small Acts

  29:30 Introducing Playfulness and Mischief

  31:03 Therapeutic Approaches and Personal Growth

  36:25 The Importance of Listening

  38:53 Reflections and Future Plans

  45:00 Closing Thoughts and Encouragement

Standout Quotes

One can be very fierce and very strong from a place of empathy. (Mitch)

•   It's not that I spend my days lighting candles and sticks of incense. It's not that we don't get annoyed.  But we look and see what leads to well-being. What leads to contraction? What leads to openness and connectednes,s and what leads to estrangement? 

•  That doesn't mean not confronting people with things that are not right, you know?

• It's not indifference. But it's not reactivity. 

•  It takes a lot more strength and power to stand down and sit up and invite someone to share with you how they came to their thoughts and beliefs. 

•  Joseph Goldstein, one of my mindfulness teachers, said just assuming the position every day at the same time awakens those mind states that we're trying to cultivate. 

•  People are more afraid, people feel more vulnerable, and so what happens is that that is setting off and triggering other things that have happened that made them feel unsafe.

•  We can't save the world, but we can save the moment. We can show up in a way that restores this sense of belief in each other, of the fundamental goodness of humanity. Even though there's so much darkness, we do need to remind each other about hope and restoring the belief that good people are here available. 

•  help bring down the suffering on the planet. 

•  I'm helping people not to take themselves so seriously.

•  Carl Jung said, Know all the theories, master all the techniques, but when sitting with someone who's a human soul, just be another human soul.

Connect

Find | Mitch Davidowitz

On LinkedIn:@MitchDavidowitz
Facebook @MitchDavidowitz

Find | Sidewalk Talk 

At sidewalk-talk.org
On Instagram: @sidewalktalkorg
On Twitter: @sidewalktalkorg
On Facebook: @Sidewalktalksf
On LinkedIn: @SidewalkTalkOrg

Find | Traci Ruble

At Traciruble.com
On Instagram: @TraciRubleMFT
On LinkedIn: @traciruble
On Facebook: @TraciRubleMFT

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