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(This post was originally published on January 27, 2022 and re-titled+updated on October 2, 2024). Check out the free event invitation in the post-scrript!  @Kamchatka via Canva.com When I think about the decisions I've made in my life, there are some that bring me joy and pride and others that make me think 'what on earth was I thinking'?!? I can now reflect on those latter ones and realize I WAS, in fact, THINKING --and not feeling. How often do we know deep down what we are meant to do yet we ignore those inner messages for our brain's more logical-seeming demands? We don't want to be looked upon as irrational or --gasp-- emotional! No, do what people expect and can make sense of. Right. That's what your ego keeps saying.
To be clear, I wouldn't change a thing about these past decisions because I know they were the lessons I needed at the time.....AND at present. To be able to reflect back on those experiences and how my decisions shaped my life, I can honor those lessons today. Today I'm in a space where I can listen self-compassionately and understand the hard messages, know how it has shaped my values and beliefs--- and make better decisions going-forward that support and develop a more elevated experience, a more true-to-me experience, an evolved experience, a purposeful, life-fulfilling experience. In other words: Joy. Peace. Freedom To get to where I am today, I had to look deeply at those feelings I ignored or stuffed down or escaped from through whatever self-sabotaging means I could. It's scary to start such an endeavor-- but it's so worth it! Clearing old feelings by meeting them stops them from haunting you further. It frees you from the subconscious reactions, responses, and personality malfunctions that make you wonder, 'why did I do or say that?'. Instead you stand tall, get clear, and feel assured in your ability to meet all challenges (even emotional ones) and are able to create a life you were born to love. Nowadays, I'm looking for: Deeper connections with the world– physically and spiritually. More opportunities to fail and grow. More fresh takes on life. More gratitudes. More openness. More healing energies. More fun. A shift out of 'the way things have always been done' into a more free and loving world that aligns with me. I can choose this life that I desire, making new decisions that inspire and uplift and hold me in my Truth. I can listen to and talk with my emotions safely because I know clearly that they are the voice of my soul, guiding me and crying out to protect me. I need only pause, breathe, and quiet the noise to hear.......and then decide. What do you desire these days? What has your emotional guides been telling you? How did you decide for you? Peace and wisdom, Anna SachKiret P.S. Join me THIS FRIDAY 10/4/2024 at Noon CT for a live online, complimentary session on the true purpose of our emotions and how they guide you. Register in advance. I hope to see you there!
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 If you feel angry, divided and confused, do your inner work.
If you feel scared, uncertain and unsettled, do your inner work. If you question your worth, do your inner work. If you can’t stop judging others, do your inner work. If you feel envy or victimized, do your inner work. If you don’t know what you want in life, do your inner work. It all starts here. Inside you. With grace, Anna SachKiret PS. Join me and Savitree Kaur (@Decision Confidence) for a free online celebration to experience some inner work practices in honor of the autumn transition: The Fall Equinox 2024, on Sunday 9/22/2024 at 10am CT (60 minutes). Message me for details or simply register here to attend. “Jack of all trades” turned “Jack of all trades, master of none” then “Jack of all trades, master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one” offers a shifty proverb to reflect upon when we consider our own sense of mastery in life. What started off as a positive description of one who is versatile and has a broad range of knowledge, the adage skewed into a negative opinion of someone who isn’t a master at anything, and then changed again to reclaim some of the merits of having more skill than just one trade. I’d like to change all of this to simply: “Jack of all trades and master of Me”.
So I celebrate the jack of all trades. AND, to both the jack and the single-master, I do suggest a special kind of mastery to support the understanding of interconnectedness and the whole. That is: the mastery of Self.
As is the micro, so is the macro. And vice versa. Master your Self and the world gains mastery. What is self-mastery? What does it look like? What it isn’t: perfection, always put-together, all-knowing What it IS: self-awareness, compassion, strength to look at one’s flaws & challenges, courage to make change, active reflection & realignment, equanimity to maneuver the ups & downs within and socially, deep gratitude and self-love. It is a conscious work-in-progress. Self-Mastery can involve many aspects of Self and yet the work of self-mastery can boil down to these key elements:
More on these later. Deep-Dive, not Shallow Yoga teaches us that deep breathing can counteract stress. By activating the parasympathetic nervous system, we can calm our mind and body. This allows us to face challenges with more clarity and make better decisions. Thus, we can both breathe deep and dive deep to gain mastery over who we are and how we live. To master ourselves, we delve into both our physical and emotional well-being. Addressing these areas can then positively impact other areas of well-being, including your spiritual and relational health. It can’t not! Let's start at the surface. This might involve exercise, nutrition, therapy, or spiritual guidance. To know where to begin, check-in…. Begin by asking yourself: 'What's bugging me?' and 'How much is it a problem for me?' This can help you identify areas of concern in your body, your situations, and state of being; and then decide on next steps. This is the simplistic version. The complexity comes in as you dig deeper. For example, if you're bothered by having woken up tired again, despite enough sleep, it might indicate underlying issues. It could lead to missed opportunities, self-doubt, and decreased motivation. These feelings can impact your entire day and even lead to despair and disconnection. Underneath the doubt and despair may be further emotions that need to be cleared, that stem from some childhood experience, and so on. As you dive deeper, the temptation to distract ourselves or self-medicate is strong. Fears of discomfort or unknowns can surface. This is where a 'jack of all trades' might find refuge by jumping to another area rather than diving into an inner conflict. But your subconscious knows and embodies truth despite your attempts to mask it. Is it worth the effort to release painful emotions now? This is what self-mastery is about and discovering the value that is your true self wishing to emerge. Here’s your chance to be your own master. Keys to Self-Mastery These six elements provide a holistic foundation to master the Self: 1. Self-Support: Harnessing Your Inner Resources. When faced with challenges, a strong nervous system and inner support system are essential for self-mastery. Through mindful practices like deep breathing, you can cultivate a calm and focused mind. Doing yoga to allow your energy to be balanced and flow helps the body to break-up inner blocks so you can help yourself. 2. Listen to Your Emotions: Allow emotions to surface and acknowledge them fully. This can help you identify underlying issues and determine next steps. Your emotions can guide you towards release, healing, and transformation. 3. Build Your Support Network: Everyone needs support. Seek guidance from mentors, coaches, friends, or family. Consider joining mastermind groups or social communities for camaraderie and accountability. 4. Commit to Your Practice: Consistent effort, even on challenging days, is key to self-mastery. Your practice should elevate your life, goals, and support systems. Remember, practice is a lifestyle! And don’t forget to celebrate your showing up for yourself, in both big and small ways. 5. Take Action: Action is an important accelerator; it provides impetus for the next step. Fear can often hinder action yet, with the support of your inner and outer tools, your road to self-mastery can begin with that first step. Even small steps can lead to significant progress. 6. Make Time for Gratitude: We all receive gifts along the way– many of them, if you pay attention. Gratitude can enhance patience, compassion, and self-love. Take time each day to appreciate even the mundane aspects of life. The Goal of Self-Mastery Understanding your complete Self, purpose and desires can feel like being a “jack of all trades”. You are a multi-faceted, holistic being that cannot be looked upon as just one singular aspect. Self-mastery involves discovering and embracing all aspects of yourself. The goal of your self-mastery work is to feel safe to be you, to be at peace within, and to live fearlessly in equanimity and bliss. Where are you in your self-mastery journey? What does it look like for you? With grit and grace, Anna P.S. If you would like a launch pad to start moving towards self-mastery, particularly if you are someone who tends to prioritize outer peace over inner peace, comment below or email reply to waitlist for my next 40-day challenge: a set of 4 inward and outward practices to promote peace and mastery. Peace to you on your journey!  In the busyness of modern life, even with all the comforts and conveniences which paradoxically often create more discomfort and inconvenience, it's easy to feel anxious and overwhelmed. Our clever brains will find ways to cope, and over time we may find that we’ve lost our inner sense, our direction in life. We run into queasy feelings of inner conflict and don’t understand what it is: an unspecified uneasiness. Discovering this state to be a loss of your own identity, it is essential to find ways to heal and embrace the journey back to your True Self. Two powerful tools to explore, that can also complement each other beautifully, are play and prayer.
The Power of Play Think back to when you first began to play. It was free will and abandon to your heart’s whim. You played from your own inner joy and inspiration. Can you remember what you were doing? What did play look like? The image that always comes up for me is playing on those monkey bars shaped in a dome. I loved testing my balance and walking up the bars on my feet (--no hands!)….and then, at the top, hanging down from my knees and chatting with friends, comfortably upside down. And Chinese jumprope, jumprope with rhymes, and lemon twist. Ahh, the sweet, carefree days! Adult play may look different —or even some of the same! As part of an adventurous healing journey, engaging in playful activities has many benefits– besides being a whole lot of fun!. Play usually means action; you are moving and doing something uplifting. It can also help lower stress hormones, promote relaxation and trigger elevated moods. When we play, we become loose and free from restraints that block creativity; indeed we gain inspiration for new ideas and our mind opens to possibilities! And play usually invites connection –not only do you get to tap into your own childlike senses, you strengthen bonds with those you play with. Play can bring people together in a universal language because it’s a universally human phenomenon with such purity. The Power of Prayer Prayer can look and feel different in various contexts. Do you pray aloud with your hands in prayer mudra? Maybe you bow or sing hymns or recite verses? You may pray to a certain deity, i.e., Jesus, within an organized religion or on your own. Thoughts are often said to be like prayer– if you think it enough, giving attention to a certain situation or quality, it is heard as prayer (so mind your thoughts!). Prayer shows up in yoga and meditation as chants or blessings. Like play, prayer invites connection– to your inner voice, to a greater source, to peace and understanding. It’s a chance to express and foster gratitude which cultivates a positive mindset and a deep feeling of trust, comfort and support. Prayer also brings guidance to help with any feelings of being lost in the world. Combining Play and Prayer Each on its own are powerful tools to bring into your healing journey. Furthermore, there are ways that we can bring the two together: to Play and Pray within an activity.
Play and prayer are personal journeys, so find what works best for you, what brings you joy and peace. With both, recognize the healing power it brings to your life and create space for them in your every day. And remember, you are not alone on your healing journey– community and connection are an essential part of soul-healing both for you and for others. My wish is to inspire you to start today if you don’t already have these in your life. With grace and gratitude, Anna SachKiret PS. Hit comment/reply to share what play and prayer looks like for you! xo So you’re choosing to see life as the adventurous and personal healing journey that it could be– one that elevates your life experience and promises a path to more joy and peace for your Soul. THIS IS A POWERFUL PATH TO CHOOSE! It’s a twisty-turny path that asks you to be: self-aware and self-compassionate; present, resilient and courageous; filled with hope, trust, and gratitude; and ready for connection and support with the world around you. It is a conscious path of growth and transformation. And it is soooo worthy because YOU ARE SO WORTHY! Here is a collection of inspiring quotes to guide and inspire you along your way. Notice how you respond to each. If it resonates, enjoy! If it doesn't, allow yourself to wonder about it, notice your self-reflection. This is part of your healing discovery. Self-Awareness and Acceptance 
Courage and Resilience 
Hope, Growth & Gratitude 
Mindfulness and Presence 
Compassion and Connection 
Which ones are most motivational or supportive for you? Are there any quotes you would add? With love and peace, Anna SachKiret PS. Share your favorite quotes (from the list or add your own) by reply to this post! Support starts with each of us, with simple connections. Sat nam! |
AuthorI am the Essential Soul Mama. I am a mama, a soulful-spiritual teacher, an intentional storyteller, and a lover of stories of all kinds, in all forms. I write about emotions, parenting, natural health options, mind-body-soul connections, and anything that elevates our lives. Archives
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Every other week I post a blog on my Substack on relevant topics including breathwork, healing, emotions, kundalini practices, and showing up for yourself. Monthly-ish I share events+updates you may be interested in. You can unsubscribe at any time. I'm happy to have you join my free Joymail!
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ESSENTIAL SOUL MAMA / Anna SachKiret Gratzl
Chicago, Illinois
Latitude 41.959740 Longitude -87.704821
established 2017 / copyright 2025
Chicago, Illinois
Latitude 41.959740 Longitude -87.704821
established 2017 / copyright 2025