A Buddhist Secret for Calm, Energy, and Handling Obnoxious People | Trudy Goodman

Trudy Goodman, Ph.D., is the founding teacher of InsightLA and cofounder of The Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy. Trudy has trained in mindfulness and Zen since 1973, holds a graduate degree in developmental psychology from Harvard, and is widely known for her role as the voice of Trudy the Love Barbarian in the Netflix series The Midnight Gospel.

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The big takeaway

Trudy Goodman, PhD, a renowned Buddhist teacher, highlights the subtle yet transformative art of learning to trust yourself. She argues that self-trust, far from being at odds with Buddhist teachings on “no-self,” is an essential, trainable foundation for greater calm, equanimity, energy, and an ability to care for yourself—particularly when facing uncertainty or difficult people. Grounding yourself in awareness and authentic self-love, Trudy makes a case for trusting both our perceptions and our innate capacity for awakening.

Trusting yourself: The Buddhist secret to calm, confidence, and handling obnoxious people

Key takeaways

• Trust is a skill: Building self-trust is not an indulgence—it’s a vital, trainable capacity that helps you navigate life’s uncertainty and challenges.

• Intuition matters: Honing awareness and listening to your inner voice (instead of always falling victim to doubt or outside opinions) can be lifesaving and deeply liberating.

• Self-love ≠ selfishness: Real self-love, in a Buddhist context, looks like self-respect and clear boundaries—not narcissism or toxic self-sacrifice.

• Connection as remedy: Trusting yourself and forming healthy communities reinforces your ability to stay grounded, especially when facing bias, societal pressure, or division.

6 practical tips for developing trust in yourself