My 15 Year Journey

Life presented overwhelming challenges, and I found myself giving up when the professional helps I seeked didn’t resolve my difficulties. I consulted therapists, doctors, and was prescribed various medications. However, the physical and emotional pain persisted, and the medications caused severe side effects, leading to a state of uncertainty and hopelessness. I relied on the support of loved ones and the serenity of nature to give me the strength to persevere while I looked for alternatives to help me heal.

My first most fortunate encounter was a meditation course, learning to meditate many hours a day for nearly 2 weeks. It was my first exposure to meditation and noble silence, making it extremely difficult. For the first time, I learned to turn inward and self-examine; this direct experience was life-changing. From this meditation experience, I began to learn to accept life “as it is for what it is,” rendering profound meaning to my new beginning. A journey inward revealing wisdom and clarity, giving me faith and devotion to move forward with more acceptance and compassion for myself and others.

Over time, I’ve learned to observe and to pay attention to my daily motions: brushing teeth, walking, cooking, eating, housework, yoga, zumba- learning to focus on the task at hand and be in the present moment with an equanimous mind. I started to understand the connection between body sensations, thoughts, and emotions. Learning to be self-aware leads to self-realization, helping me cultivate and overcome challenges. It became clear to me that we all hold the insight to transform ourselves; we just need to quiet the unnecessary noises to feel our inner knowledge with clarity.

Self-knowledge arises as I practice to be mindful in my daily thoughts, words, and actions. It took PTSD, ADD, stress, anxiety, chronic pain, and severe side effects from medications for me to discover a natural way to heal. Out of openness to examine who I am, I was able to see the light and shadow of my own being, leading me to explore a more meaningful path. Learning to quiet the mind gave me clarity to understand that we are here alongside ourselves, learning and elevating each other to grow as a whole. I left the corporate world, simplifying my life, devoting myself to practice mindfulness daily, and sharing these direct experiences with those who are open to practice and experience for themselves.