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When things feel hopeless, here are a few stories to remind you of your capacity for grace, gratitude, and revolutionary self-love this Thanksgiving season.  I have a short list of favorite stories that have helped me rise to the challenge, overcome fears of circumstances out of my control, and see differently in a sea of uncomfortable differences. Stories that have offered me powerful clarity to shift my narrow viewpoints and expand through discomfort.
Wahe Guru! That feeling of ecstatic bliss going from darkness to light, ignorance to wisdom. Aha! Ahhhhh….. Ha!! (Relax and smile!) As I think about the things I’m grateful for this season, this is a big one: stories. Stories that light you up and stories of impact, especially when the impact can change the drudgery and anxieties of everyday life into something deeply touching and hopeful. Of course there are many Inspiring and incredible stories of perseverance, courage, struggle, and overcoming the odds— and these are powerful! But today I am thankful for those tales and takeaways that gift us support and guidance through daily challenges, ordinary circumstances, general stressors, and simply how to be in this diverse and crazy world with others and with yourself. These stories are absolute gems. Let me share a few of my favorites with you. In honor of these creators, I will offer links to their books or websites so that you can ‘meet’ them directly and support their work, if you wish. These are not sponsored, simply my deepest admiration and gratitude for their impact. I’m sharing my takeaways and how I found them to be so important. In most cases, the depth, power and synopsis of the stories are much more than what I’ve written. I hope you will read the full tales and discover for yourself. May you find them worthy and helpful in your life, as much as they have touched mine. In no particular order: See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love by Valarie Kaur One of the first books I included in my book club, this book contains those heroic and inspiring stories that make you believe in the goodness in humanity. Stories of forgiveness in circumstances that seem unforgivable….and how it can offer the perpetrator an opportunity to completely change 180 degrees, from what they believed to be true. How deeply that opening can heal not only the forgiven but the forgiver. The key gift I took from the book is in its title: See No Stranger. If we can see “strangers” as family, as the author suggests, instead of some unknown entity, we are more inclined to create an opening for “the other” to share who they are. We are more inclined to be curious about this relation. We can discover we are all in the family of this human race, on this earth, at this time together. We are more alike in our hopes and dreams, fears and blocks, and feelings than we think. “You are the part of me I do not yet know,” Ms. Kaur muses. When we are so bothered by someone else’s beliefs or actions, what is that part of us that is so disturbed? Not everyone feels the same way so what is it within you that needs examining? How can we wonder about ‘the other’ as “...the part of me I do not yet know”? How can we see ‘the other’ as family, not a stranger at all? What Happened To You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing By Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D. and Oprah Winfrey This is a collection of stories that showcase how our life experiences subconsciously shape who we are and how we respond. Responses or reactions that don’t make sense on the surface but, digging into what happened to that person--what is their story?—and their (mis-)behaviors make perfect sense. This book reminds me to consider “what happened to [that person]?” instead of thinking “what’s wrong with [them]?” “What happened to you” leaves space for empathy, for listening, for creating connection. When people react seemingly out of context, I wonder “what happened to them?” I can’t always get that answer, which is often buried deep in one’s subconscious even they don’t know why they are triggered. I can however create space for the possibility that something happened, even as I may never get to know. I can set my own boundaries (if their subconscious reaction might cross a line for me), and then trust and let go. I can choose to believe– as I once heard Brené Brown say: “What if everyone is doing the best they can?” It’s not OUR best, it’s THEIR best, based on where they are today and what they know or don’t know. Same applies to ourselves. Zen Shorts by Jon J Muth This children’s book is an excellent one for adults of all ages. I’ll focus on two of its tales. Its Buddhist messages are simple yet profound and seem to apply to so much of the social dynamics we encounter every day. First, The Farmer’s Luck or as I like to call it: the “maybe” story. The tale moves through unexpected outcomes that the people quickly judge as lucky or unlucky, only to stand corrected. It reminds me that no matter the situation that’s happening in the world, there’s no telling for sure if “my vote” is the best way. Best way for whom anyway? We don’t know for certain even when we feel so certain. Thus, don’t get worked up when things don’t go your way. Just maybe, that “unlucky” situation happened exactly so a subsequent “lucky” situation can happen…….maybe!! I’ve noticed so many of us digging our heels in for our beliefs and what we think is “the right way” or “the better of two evils”. The truth is……maybe! We are allowed our beliefs certainly and we can take actions that align and support “our truth”, but then, let go of the outcome or the angst over someone else’s alternate reality. You don’t know where they’ve been, what they’ve experienced, what they know and don’t know. And they can feel the same of you. The truth is…..maybe. Second, A Heavy Load is a tale of a wise older monk and an apprentice who run into an obnoxious and rude lady on their walk. Quite simply it teaches us the wisdom of “letting go” of things that don’t really matter. Yes, the situation was “wrong”, the person was unreasonable and annoying, and they dealt with it and kept going. Physically, the situation was over. Mentally, was it over or did you continue to carry the heavy burden? How many times do you find yourself replaying an experience that is over and out of your hands? Instead you carry the weight of judgment, rumination and anger, even after you’ve dealt with what was in your control? Does it serve you to keep dwelling on it? “Why are you still carrying it?” Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion by Gregory Boyle In this book, the author shares the intense stories of the gang members he offers his services to, helping them to find a path, self-worth, kindness and support. Truly heartbreaking and elevating stories of fellow humans surviving through tough circumstances and environments. These stories reminded me how our lives can change so meaningfully with even the smallest shift in connection, trust and faith– and that it’s never too late to receive that shift. Going from believing you are worthless and stuck in a life sentence to discovering you have support available to you, innate capacities and value can change not only your future outlook, but also your haunting low-image of your past self. Your much-improved future You develops a much-improved version of the past You. As I reflect back on my personal experience with low self-esteem, it is remarkable how completely that shift into self-love was able to change my long-held, negative self-assessment of the past. This is one of the reasons I always tell people it’s never too late to change your self-worth. It changes more than your present and future; it also elevates your past. The Little Soul and The Sun: A Children’s Parable by Donald Neale Walsch A children’s parable and another one that is powerful for adults, the author shares the tale of a sweet soul conversing with God. This soul wishes to learn what certain attributes actually feel like, such as forgiveness. We learn that we are all souls who get to live as humans in order to experience “light” and that some souls –our friends and fellow light beings– get to be the “dark” so that the “light” can be felt. The story offers a beautiful reminder that we are all innocent and light at our soul level; we just need to remember this as we encounter those souls who are playing “dark” so that our light can shine. In the world today, as we encounter “dark” others or situations, it can feel scary, frustrating, maddening, unfair and hopeless. I find it helpful to think of this story and the darkness that simply allows us to let our light shine. It seems the darker things get, the more we see courageous, forgiving, creative, graceful, generous, [insert your own “light” quality] heroes showing up in the world. There’s truth to this. I think of the Darth Vader-Luke Skywalker scene in Star Wars where Luke insists on the goodness underneath the “darkness” of his father, refuses to fight him, and through his courageous showing of love, draws out the light in Vader. Yet another story that conjures up this reminder of light shining on the dark..... .....of love answering fear’s call. A Thanksgiving Invitation for Stories If you’ve taken classes or coaching sessions with me, you’ve likely heard me reference one or more of these stories. They are currently my most meaningful stories I like to share. I have a handful of stories from “The Moth” podcast I also find deeply healing and elevating. And the list keeps growing. As we enter the holiday season, I invite you to share some of your favorite, impactful stories and ask others’ for theirs. Ask: are there any tales you’ve heard or read lately that moved you, elevated your life somehow, created a shift in perspective or outlook? Stories you are grateful for? Stories are a bridge or path to your next becoming. They are healing and a powerful way to internalize valuable lessons for growth and empowerment. And it’s so much fun to hear a good story. I wish you all of that and more. Please feel free to share the brilliant works I shared from my short list. I hope they spread more elevation, love and hope in the world. Happy Thanksgiving, friends! With grace, Anna SachKiret PS. Do you have your own short list of tales you’d like to share? Please share it with me, along with the impact it had on you! PSS. Speaking of sharing, every quarter Savitree Kaur and I host a live, online check-in to connect with you within community. We would love for you to join us for our next one, celebrating the Winter Solstice. More info to come– meanwhile, save the date/time of Saturday, December 21 at 10:00 AM central time.
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 When something traumatic happens in life, when we’re burdened by challenging emotions, when life seems to take a wrong turn, it can be confusing and set you up for despair. It’s in these moments we can find ourselves searching for answers.
Why did this happen? What could I have done differently? How can I process this? Is this a sign, a message from the Universe? What now? In the shock of trauma or change, I find it comforting to lean on gratitude. What am I grateful for? I know I am so blessed, and breathing life into this feeling can ease the pain and confusion. Tonight, I sought inspiration from one of my favorite poets– Rumi –and his poem The Guest House. It reminds me that every moment, every feeling, every challenge is a guest and guide to be cherished, no matter how they show up. The Guest House By Jalaluddin Rumi, 13th-century Persian Sufi mystic, poet and theologian -from The Essential Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight. The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing and invite them in. Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond. --RUMI Meet them at the door laughing. Indeed. And with great curiosity and wonder! I am truly grateful for this poetic reminder and inspiration for this life. It is grand and mysterious! And I am grateful for every guest. How does this poem land for you? Did you need to hear this today? With much grace and love, Anna SachKiret PS. A coming series? Speaking of poetic powerhouses, mantra meditation is one of the most powerful and comforting ways to code over negative thought patterns in your brain and create new, elevating thoughts to support and enhance your life. And they are so beautiful to listen to and to chant. I’m considering creating a separate series of posts to share mantra chants with you all. Is this something you’d be interested in? Please let me know!  In a YouTube Shorts video posted by Screenwriter, Consultant and Film Producer Slavica Bogdanov, she instructs you to raise your arms and jump up and down and exclaim, "I got it, I got it, I got it, I got it, I got what I wanted......!!!!" Just do that simple, if silly, action when you’re feeling small and afraid. and you will quickly feel pumped up, more motivated, energized and filled with positivity. I played along and tried it, and guess what? It worked! It felt so incredibly good! So simple yet so powerful. Little hacks like this to make your emotional life easier speaks volumes to me. How about for you? Decision Hack in a Hat One hack that I often share is the "how to decide" hack. If you're having difficulty choosing between things, write down your options on little slips of paper, fold the papers and throw them in a hat (or any container really). Blindly choose one and be prepared to notice your response. Open the slip of paper and..... you'll know. You'll know if you didn't actually want that. You'll know if you got the one you wanted and, hey, this just confirmed it! You'll feel it in your body. Instantly. Most of the time, if not all the time, WE KNOW what we want but something is blocking us from claiming that desire. Doing this hack is a way to start reconnecting with that inner wisdom. Eventually you'll start to believe in yourself and not have to go through the hack. In any case, other than possibly the time and paper to do the exercise, it doesn't hurt and can really help you to gain clarity and awareness. You're there already; remove the block. Don't stop there, by the way. When you notice your response to having chosen one that you didn't want or one that you did, stop to ask yourself: what was the block? What stopped you from "knowing" outright? What beliefs, influences, judgments or resistance attached themselves to the decision, to each option? This is a great exercise to develop deeper self-awareness on how you tick. We all have life experiences that shape our subconscious thoughts. The more you shine a light on these hidden inner messages, the more you can stop them from holding you back from the life you were meant to live. Here’s my own example of working the hack: “my next step indecision”. I needed to decide on the next level of support and coaching that would help me move the needle in my business. Faced with four excellent options with varied focuses, I wanted to do all of them but that would not be time- or money-efficient. Plus it would be overwhelming thus ineffective. Decision-in-a-Hat Hack: after placing the 4 slips of paper in a hat, I prepared to notice my responses.
Looking at your obstacles is not fun.
Once illuminated, you may realize there's a reason that block was hidden. With regret, you might wonder: can I put it back now? Out of sight, out of mind? In actuality, you probably can stuff it back down with a bit of self-sabotage and the usual self-soothing techniques….but do you really want to? These subconscious blocks that rendered you paralyzed-to-decide become thicker and taller walls in your life, brick by brick. You loosened one block. You can decide to knock it out completely and let the light in... which can then reflect out through your expressions. You have a gift that wants to shine, but it's stuck behind this wall. Do you know what IS fun? Getting to shine. Making decisions with more ease that move you forward in your journey. Discovering who you are when you are allowed to be. This is moving from fear to love. Whether you seek help from a trusted coach, mentor, therapist, or friend, or seek to figure it out on your own (--although having some form of support system is always recommended), decide to clear the block. And then the next one and the next. It'll surprise you how easy it is to face that next old emotional block once you've experienced the freedom from clearing the first. You'll realize you can do hard things and a proportionate --and often exponential-- measure of JOY will follow. Each time you do this, you can truly cheer for yourself: I did it, I did it!! (Or I got it!!!!) Because you did. Cheering for you with awe, Anna SachKiret PS. Tell me: what bricks have you removed (or started to remove) that you love to share about? Also, what's a favorite hack of yours to help you through an emotional challenge?  Often people will ask me how kundalini yoga differs from other types of yoga. I feel ill-equipped to offer a comparison as I never truly got into other kinds of yoga. I even wrote a post about it here. But it is a fair question, so this is my attempt to answer it in a fair way. A Door to Replace the Self-Help Section Early on for me, this practice of kundalini yoga and meditation was exactly as it was/is professed to be: “the yoga of awareness”. The brain fog cleared, my perspectives shifted, and a deeper understanding of myself felt possible. The best way I could describe it was: imagine if the entire self-help section at the bookstore could be replaced with simply a door which opened into a kundalini class. Yeah, that’s it in a nutshell. 5 Main Differences, In Other Words (Jill Enticknap’s words) I recently discovered this well-written account by Jill Enticknap, yoga teacher, entrepreneur and creator of Yogi Institute, online yoga studio and teacher training. She highlights the five main differences that set Kundalini Yoga apart from other yogas as:
This feels quite right to me as the keys to the practice-- and good to know these are differentiators of kundalini yoga. I encourage you to read her blog for a bit more on each of these. The only addition I may add is the prevalence of nervous and digestive system work, however that could be captured within energy/chakras, breathing techniques and essentially all of the five. While we work at flexibility, stretching, and strengthening our physical body, the focus is more from the inside-out. Moving energy to heal you from the inside through the conscious movement, breath and inner connection with your body’s divine wisdom. What matters most to me about this practice is its powerful impact, which for me and many others I know, was experienced soon after starting a regular practice. Life Before: What’s Wrong With Me? Prior to finding kundalini yoga, I worried incessantly about gloom and doom scenarios, especially for my family. I set my life’s priorities around making other people’s lives and dreams shine over my own. And that was a great place to focus because I didn’t know what I wanted or who I was anyway. Me? I didn’t quite fit in anywhere. At least that’s how I felt inside, though my friends didn’t see it. Except for momentous shifts like becoming a mother, I often wondered what’s wrong with me. Why couldn’t I figure it out? Self-help books tell you to “know thyself” - thanks, easier said than done! It was easier to lean on others’ lives and focus my attention there. I’m sure that wasn’t overbearing on anyone. 🙄  Life After: I am the sparkly, happy unicorn
The worrying about things I can’t control, the fixation on doomed possibilities….poof, suddenly gone. To have the strength, nerve and focus to finally see myself and still love and accept that person changed me. Self-awareness is no joke…how many of us walk around oblivious? My life’s direction started to unfold and I felt trust and support around my gifts and the lessons I needed to learn. I felt more open and steady when social triggers overwhelmed me. Unknowns and discomfort became an accepted part of an amazing life. Decisions for myself came easier. I could support others while staying true to my own needs and wants. I felt true self-love which translated into more empathy, compassion, and understanding for others. Energy and peace/relaxation happened at the same time. And I felt a deep connection with the Infinite. With God. I learned to Trust. This is me. A sparkly, happy unicorn. After kundalini yoga. THE WHISPER OF TRUTH….and Freedom! Inner work, spiritual connection, a balanced mind, and aligned energy IS physical-mental-spiritual health. An elevating and calming sensation experienced “on the mat” that stays with me through the turbulent and challenging episodes of each day “off the mat”. An equalizer that reminds me with its powerful whisper: you are divine spirit and “God’s gift”, loved and supported always. I feel grateful. It’s liberating to feel unstuck and nourished, loved for exactly who and how you are regardless of –or because of– your “failures” and willingness to show up fearlessly. It’s a lifestyle practice: taking out the garbage daily and self-care all day. A sweet whisper of love that surrounds you with empowerment and radiance. This is my practice. Is this yoga different? What say you? Have you experienced different yogas? What do you love about it? Does my experience ring true for you with your practice? I hope this was helpful to you. Share your thoughts in the comments! WIth grit and grace, Anna SachKiret P.S. Try a kundalini class with me this Saturday 10/19 at 9AM CT via Zoom - register here for this beginner’s class. Or join me for a monthly membership that would include the Saturday class –DM me for details. (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!  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!  Image by MythologyArt from Pixabay Healing implies existing pain or hurt. A journey suggests an arduous, beckoning path of challenge and unknowns. Are you on a healing journey? Is it for you? WHO THIS IS FOR. Anyone taking this road called Life is presented with this path. We are essentially all on it however not all of us are conscious of it. Some may never acknowledge and accept it. Some are thrust into the awareness necessarily— there was no choice but to see and accept it. To heal. To journey. NON-ACCEPTANCE IS A DEFAULT CHOICE. We all experience pain, hardships, existential crises. How you deal with these can vary widely from person to person as well as within one person dealing with work problems vs relationship issues vs self-concept vs everyday matters. Responses to the ‘hard knocks’ come from individual experiences, habit patterns, familial/cultural/societal influences, personal temperament, and even genetic or ancestral traits passed on. It’s what makes us all unique and gives life such a rich tapestry to take in. But encountering and processing pain is given to everyone. Oh joy! The degrees of pain vary widely as well. Pain comes:
We all have some level of all of these. You figure out how to deal with it. You stumble through it, side-stepping, overcompensating, distracting, numbing— or you meet it head on. Time passes and it becomes a memory. Enjoy life as much as possible….until the next turn. I would not have considered much of these experiences as “in need of healing”, just things to work through or get over. It’s just life. Right?
And if you don’t know, now you know.“ - Notorious B.I.G. WHY CHOOSE IT CONSCIOUSLY.
You don’t have to be in rehab or suffering from disease to require a healing journey. When life throws you into such a debilitating, life-changing situation, by default, you end up on such a path. A healing journey. To consciously choose to be on a healing journey without the emergency situation is the way to not only heal and live more fully and freely, but it’s also the way to change the world we live in. Your healing self inspires and uplifts those around you, creating a ripple effect of love and healing in others. And on and on. From a cut on your finger to dealing with everyday struggles like losing weight, challenging conversations, making a tough decision, these are all experiences that present an opportunity to heal. A healing journey dives deeper into the stories that cause stress and confusion in these situations. What is the source of this wound and how do I tend to it? It is NOT checking under the bandage every five minutes.,,, ✔️ It’s bringing awareness to the parts of you that are confused, unsettled, exposed and raw, wounded, in need of care. ✔️ It’s assessing the broken bone, setting the cast, keeping it clean and continuing to live your life while it’s healing. ✔️ It’s checking back periodically, grateful for the opportunity to heal, appreciating life’s miracles, and learning to have grace. Someone questions you or insults you and you respond in shame or with righteous indignation. Something there needs healing. A healed person responds with curiosity, listens and checks in with herself. A healed person responds with respect for all involved. The journey is about progress. An unhealthy response is not reason for shame, blame, or justification. It’s an alert system telling you that healing is required. When you choose to see your life experiences as a healing journey, you are choosing YOU. When you need to heal a deep gash, you give it attention. What about when your wound is internal? Your life deserves that magnanimous attention by YOU. You heal. Your life feels more joyful and abundant. You spread that into the world. It’s that simple. LIFE AS AN ADVENTUROUS HEALING JOURNEY. The best part about seeing life as a healing journey is, once you experience a deep healing, especially when the pain was so entrenched, not only do you feel powerful, you begin to understand what it means for things to be truly possible. For your dreams to be possible. The dance between trial and error, challenge and achievement become a delightful, harmonious movement with interesting subplots, creating a masterful symphony. A fascinating adventure. Life throws curveballs. Rain dampens a long-awaited event, a trusted friend reacts poorly due to their own issues, and even a seemingly joyous occasion sours. Yet, these ups and downs are part of the adventure. With a mind for healing, even the most difficult experiences can transform into chapters filled with wonder, resilience, and growth. Embracing life as an adventurous healing journey is undeniably one of the most powerful ways to heal yourself. A resilient nervous system, fostered through this very journey of healing, becomes foundational for navigating emotional challenges and discovering the hidden gifts within them. It's a practice (which will be explored further in my next post) For now, what do YOU think about choosing to see life as an adventurous healing journey? With grit and grace, Anna SachKiret PS. If you want to choose this healing journey, please comment “my [choose an adjective] healing journey!” –and may you be filled with the healing vibration you need today. Peace! |
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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