Counselling Psychologist & Mental Health Coach for Women

As humans we are good at worrying. Even when things are great and going really well in our lives, we find something that could possibly worry us. It’s not because we don’t like happiness, it’s because we’re used to worrying more than feeling happy and content. Think about it, imagine a life were everything was perfect and happy? Initially it would be a dream come true, honestly. But as time progressed, we probably would feel uneasy and for a lack of a better word, bored! We worry because we tend to anticipate the worst. We worry because we don’t have any control over what is going to happen. We like some amount of control in our lives or at the very least we want to be aware of what may happen. Therefore, we worry, thinking about the worst that may happen. I haven’t found an easy antidote to worry. It’s normal, natural and sometimes its also helpful. We all worry not because we want to but because it helps us have some control over the problem/situation. In this post, I’m not asking you to stop worrying but I want to help you relax and unwind despite the worry. Understand your Physical reactions – Worry is both mental and physical. Our physical reactions to worry range from crying to getting angry. It usually depends people to people and the intensity of the situation. Every situation has different response to worry. Sometimes when people are worried, they tend to shut off and spend most of their time either sleeping or eating or distracting themselves. Again, it depends if the worry is long term or short term. Knowing how you react physically can help you stay balanced if your reaction is very intense. For e.g., Excessive worry may lead to a headache. If you are aware of the reaction it’ll help you prevent the headache, probably you’ll focus on sleeping better or doing some meditation. Recognize your emotions and thought patterns – Naturally when we’re worried, we tend to think and feel of the worst case-scenario. Sometimes we’re aware of the pattern of these thoughts which help us shift our mindset from unhealthy to healthy and optimistic or pragmatic. It’s automatically triggered regardless of the reason for worry. We all have a pattern and the trick is to recognize that pattern so you can then change the way you think and perhaps even find a way to be hopeful. For e.g., Your thought and emotional pattern could be something on the lines of – “I don’t deserve it. I’m unworthy so naturally things won’t happen the way I want. I’m not cut out for this so it won’t happen the way I desire.” – You get the idea. It’s a pattern and not the fact. Watch out for these patterns. Analyse before you react – Take a minute to go over the situation. Is this situation in your control? Can you do something about it? Is it helpful to do nothing and let things play the way they should? Pausing to analyse the situation can prevent in your reaction. Which in turn will help in your worry and will further help you relax. Our reactions whether physical or mental are based on emotions. Analyzing will help you think in a pragmatic manner. Express your emotions and feelings in a healthy manner – Yes, your worry is 100% valid. You also have the right to worry the way you are, therefore it only makes sense that you express your worry in a manner that will not only help you calm down but may also give a partial solution to the situation. Anytime you’re worried let it out. Talk to a friend, partner, write it all down if you don’t feel like talking to anyone. Expressing your feelings and emotions of worry will help you analyse the situation further. You’ll get answers to all the questions you have. Breathe and relax your nerves – I don’t only mean meditation. But also, other methods you can apply to calm yourself. Go out in nature, sit by the ocean, go for a spa day, listen to music that calms you or motivates you, read a good fiction book, try breath-work and visualization, colour or sketch, dance, cook…. There are many ways to calm your mind and relax your nerves. To help you further understand your worry, you can also work on these journal prompts - What situations/events or people make you more anxious and panicky? What memories from your past situations influence your anxiety? What is the best- and worst-case scenarios of this anxious state? Affirmation - Even in chaos and anxiety I feel balanced, relaxed and stay Calm Hope this article gives you a different perspective on your worry and helps you to relax and unwind.

Without going into great detail, I want to tell you about this experience. Don’t worry its not traumatic or disturbing – although it did disturb me for a while. Before I tell you about this incident that disturbed me, I want to ask you a question – “Have you really moved on or have you pretended to move on, all the while still disturbed by it?” Take your time to answer, no rush. But I only ask that you stay faithful to yourself when you ask yourself this question. Let me help you narrow it down - If you have more than one incident or unable to pinpoint, here’s what you can do – Close your eyes, take a deep breath and allow your mind to wander, whatever incident that was too strong and had an impact will surface and your mind will take you there. Neat trick, right? Okay so, you have your incident, now ask yourself – “How do I feel about this right now?” Very honestly make a note of your response. If you feel neutral or don’t have any intense feelings then perhaps, you’re good and have moved on from that incident but if your response is too intense or if you still have feelings that are – let’s say for lack of a better word – ‘negative’ then odds are you’re still stuck in that moment. Now hold on to that and let me take you to my experience. It was a lazy noon. I was alone at home and this noon was warm and comfortable. You know those long afternoons where the entire world seems to have paused and there’s a comfortable silence? Yea, it was that kind of a noon. Perfect for a nap or tuck in with a good book. I Chose the latter. So, there I was tucked in with a good book, feeling relaxed and honestly, I felt as if nothing in the world could disturb me. A few pages in and I came across something that was otherwise perfectly normal but was very unsettling for me. This incident which was being described in the book was very similar to an incident that I had been through. It happens, sometimes some things are so universal and yet, they feel oddly personal. This was such an episode. An unsettling experience from reading a fiction book. I tried to read further but somehow my eyes and mind were stuck in that familiar incident, not because it was so familiar, I understand how that works, but because I thought I had moved on from it. I closed my eyes and there it was, a replay of that incident, still so fresh in my mind. My warm comfortable afternoon turned into a dark disturbing phase. To make things worse it started playing in my mind on a loop every time I closed my eyes. I thought I was over it. I really did. Then why was it bothering me so much? Well, the answer was fairly simple – I wasn’t! I had convinced myself that I had moved on. Obviously, I didn’t want to stay stuck there but I also knew I couldn’t push it down and suppress it any further. I had to deal with it. I had to face it, deal with the guilt and embarrassment that I felt each time I thought about it. Seeing as there was no way out, I decided to deal with it in the way I possibly knew and a way I’m going to share with you too. But before I delve into it, I should tell you that trying this method didn’t completely help me let go and move on in that moment. I had to repeatedly practice it, each time this incident came into my mind. With each repetition the intensity reduced and I felt lighter toward that incident. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you how long that may take, a few weeks, months, years… Even today when it surfaces, I touch the feeling of guilt and embarrassment but it no longer overwhelms me or overpowers me. Here’s what you need to do – Sit comfortably and close your eyes. Very gently go to that incident. Let it play. If you experience any anxiety focus on your breath, deepen it if it helps. Slowly and gently, let the incident play in your mind. Allow the emotions and feelings to surface in your present. See through the entire incident, start to finish. Yes, it will make you feel uncomfortable and will disturb you but try to see the full incident anyway. After it’s done, don’t get up just yet. Take deep breaths, minimum of 3, maximum of how many ever times you want or till you feel comfortable again. With every exhale allow the emotions of that incident leave your body, say this if it helps – ‘I allow this incident to leave my body’. If you feel like crying, don’t hold back. In a journal, note your response. This is what I did on that warm comfortable afternoon that turned dark and uncomfortable. I practiced at least 10 deep breaths till I felt light again. And yes, I went on to read my book and after a few minutes I was back to enjoying my warm comfortable noon. You know I understand, every incident Is different and our minds may not be able to completely erase it but our bodies go through the emotions each time. And therefore, it makes sense that we let these emotions leave our body. Breathing combined with the visualization helps in calming down our nerves. And the feelings we feel so intensely, tend to neutralize their effect on our bodies. This practice requires a lot of patience and some love but it helps. A few nuggets of wisdom that might help you in order to feel at ease about the past experiences – - You are not the same person – You’ve certainly improved and become a better version since that last incident of/from your past. You are not the same person, so try to see the past with a fresh perspective and with the ‘present’ you rather than the ‘past’ you. - You’ve made progress since then – Your beliefs and thoughts and mindset has definitely made so much progress. You are a lot more confident and aware in your mind and body today than you were when this incident occurred. Embrace the change, accept the change and you’ll feel a slight comfort from this incident too. - You need to forgive yourself now – It doesn’t matter if you were wronged or if you wronged someone. This incident is now in the past and it maybe a good time for bygones. Forgive yourself for all that you had to go through and for all that you put yourself through. It may not be easy but it’s certainly necessary to help you move on. - Your past doesn’t define you – Even if it feels that way today due to the impact it has on you, it certainly doesn’t define you. You have the power to change your story and start fresh. Keeping this in mind will allow you to move on from that troubling past. - Moving on is a (your) choice – Believe me it really is. You simply need to make this choice, this decision to move on and you’ll find a way to do just that. It may take time for you to reach to the other side but just a choice to walk away, will bear fruit. - Don’t stop living your present – I know you’re still affected by your past and things seem really stressful but don’t stop yourself from living your present moment. Go party, date, dance, laugh do all that makes you happy and at the same time try to work on your past too. The present is a lot more important than your past is, so don’t miss it. - Make dreams lists about your future – I think it’s important to continue dreaming, no matter what. It’s hard to dream when a part of you is stuck in this chaotic past but go ahead and motivate yourself to dream and take the step towards those dreams. You certainly deserve it. To be completely honest with you, it may not be possible to let go of it completely but it’s a good start. It will certainly have a good effect on your feelings, enough that you can try to move on from it. Take it slow and instead to hoping to jump from a to z take it slow and move from a to b and then b to c... take very small steps and you’ll notice yourself unfold. If you try this practice make sure to be kind and patient with yourself. If you don’t want to do it all by yourself, consider working with me. I’ve helped a lot of incredible, creative women get better clarity and help them move on from their past and help them get unstuck. Take a look at my coaching program. This guide is a great start to change your story and it's available for free claim the download soon. Shop e-journal to self-heal

This ritual will not only change your perspective on happiness but also help you attract more happiness. It'll help you stay hopeful and positive. Its a ritual that's used by many successful people all over the world and they have no side effects. Try it out! One day I hope you're able to attract all the happiness you want. But till that day comes, here's a little something to help you feel happy each day. If only for 5 minutes, if only for a minute, You are allowed to feel happy and content, You truly deserve it, but life is mixed bad of emotions and happiness is the toughest one to sustain. I hope this ritual helps in changing your perspective toward your life and happiness. I hope it brings a smile to your face even if for a second. I hope this ritual helps you find that hope you have lost. After a really tough and bad time there's something waiting out there for you, I hope this ritual helps you bring it closer to you. Like this Episode? Listen to more episodes on - Spotify, Google Podcast Journal mentioned in the episode for your every day happiness. Take a look at it here Book a Tarot Reading Session - Work with me for a full mindset change - Shop products to self-heal

In this episode I'm talking about the way we can set the tone for the day so we can feel more mindful about how our day goes. This simple little ritual can help you in your improving yourself and your lifestyle. If you're a believer in #slowliving then it's exactly what you need. If you're an entrepreneur it can help you in your burnout. If you're someone who worries a lot, it can help with that too. I've been practicing this for a while now and I feel much more calm and relaxed and focus throughout my day. This practice is especially amazing for procrastinators and those who usually wake up feeling groggy, irritable and feeling tired. As someone who spent days feeling totally lost about my day and having no idea as to how and where I would spend my time, from being all over the place and feeling totally messed up, I can see so much difference. I attract better work, I'm aware of my thoughts and can make mindful choices. I feel a lot less irritable. Hope you find this episode useful.

You are Important and here for a purpose. This episode is a reminder of how important you are. How you truly matter. Even if you don't feel like it today. You're not here without a purpose. You matter. Even though you may feel as if you don't matter and you're invisible, but, you aren't! Maybe you need someone to remind you how important you are and that's okay. But you do matter. Even if you feel you don't because you're shy or not a people pleasing person, you matter. You matter to yourself, you matter to the people who truly know you. They may not be people you hope or expected and while that can be heartbreaking, it doesn't change the fact that you matter. Perhaps you didn't think of this before, perhaps you were never told before, but you can change the way you feel about yourself now. You can accept yourself now. You can love yourself now. Let go of those who don't have your best interest in mind. Let go of those who stripped you of your confidence. You deserve the best because you matter. Say it with me, "I M A T T E R" Say it as often as you need to. Till you finally believe it and accept it. Hope the podcast episode helps you connect with this idea. If you'd like to work with me - take a look at my offerings If you'd like to get some clarity and insight - Book a reading If you're looking for some self-help - Check out the e-shop

Have you ever felt pressured to change the way you're feeling to something more positive or good, that instant? In this episode we'll talk about these feelings and what to do when we actually experience feelings that are uncomfortable. Like this Episode? Listen to more episodes on - Spotify, Google Podcast

I know pain. I know the way I attract it. The way it creeps into my life. The cause and effect of having pain in my life. Honestly? For a long time, I assumed that all I would have in my life would be tremendous pain, no happiness or peace. I was getting good at being normal with pain too, since it came to me so easily. I don’t think anyone understood what I was going through and I couldn’t explain either. I hated this feeling and felt so helpless because I couldn’t do anything about it. Even talking about this pain only made being in pain way too normal. It’s scary if you think about it. Believing in something so strongly. It took all of my strength to choose happiness instead of pain. Even today, I have to work on it, work on choosing happiness over pain. I guess that’s why I’m comfortable with the kind of work I do. Somewhere I feel as if I take away the pain of other people. It bothered me in my personal life but I learned how to balance it. For me its pain, for others its insecurity, jealousy, anger, feeling of betrayal and hatred, fear, apathy, etc., I cannot tell you if it’s okay to have these feelings or no because its something you can channel in your life for something better, but I know its not very healthy to live your life in the same theme over and over. You can choose the theme of your life. You can choose how you want to feel and reach and attract. There’s no right or wrong here. It’s about choices. It honestly doesn’t work if you force yourself but it important to understand the theme of your life at least in the current situation so you’re aware of your next steps. In control of your emotions and feelings. Change is scary. It’s like parting away from something you’re addicted to, especially if you’re not aware of it. I usually say that pain comes easily to me and that’s true but I poured all that into my work and I get to work with people who are dealing with so much pain. But I’ve also learned to say that happiness, peace and love comes easily to me too and I’ve seen the way my personal life has felt recently. It took all of my heart and soul to believe in it but it worked. Someone asked me about the law of attraction and if it works. It works for sure but there is definitely a lot of work that goes into it. I don’t believe in “only good” or “only positive” its way too much pressure and way too much chaos but I do believe in mindful choices that are for your good. Is it possible to stay always happy and always cheerful? I’m not so sure. Is it possible to stay in pain/anger/sadness forever? Probably not forever but it comes easily and goes after a lot of effort. Its not a fair equation that happiness requires effort and sadness comes easily but for some people that’s how it works. In my opinion it would be unhealthy to shut off these powerful emotions just because they disturb, it can be managed and understood. It’s a part of you and there’s nothing wrong with that. I guess the problem arises when you allow these emotions to control you. When you feel as if there’s only negativity and you’re not capable or deserve to experience anything positive. When you start to question about all the good things you want or desire and start to feel hopeless and convince yourself that its never going to happen. That’s a sign that you need to pause and reflect. I am not sure if everyone goes through this or only a certain few who’re openly vulnerable about their life events and situations. It’s not exactly a straight road. It’s challenging of course. But it’s like a sign that tells you how you’re living your life and the choices you’re making. I know that its too much to fathom, it’s confusing and requires a lot of introspection but it’s worth it. So, take a moment to pause, sit quietly and ask yourself certain questions that will help you understand better. Journal prompts Emotions that I am most drawn to in my life usually Emotions that help me connect with other people Emotions that terrify me Events that feel repetitive The kind of people I usually attract or connect with The emotions I want to feel The emotions/feelings that seem impossible in my life If I had an option to change the way my life was written, how would I want it? The feelings that are a part of me and why they’re so important to me Thank you for stopping by! Hope this article gives you something to think about and I hope the journal prompts help you in some way or the other.

Fear by nature is attractive, mysterious and charismatic. We resent it, of course but we’re also drawn toward its dark allure. I’d hate to label fear as bad or evil. I don’t really know what else to call it apart from calling it an emotion. It is an emotion. It’s a feeling. How do you label it? How do you see fear? Its an emotion that has the power to cage our happiness. It takes us to a place where we feel hopeless and helpless quite effortlessly. Our minds and body seem to go into a sort of freeze. It’s a powerful emotion and a force that can shape the foundation of our beliefs and at the same time tests our faith. It’s a common emotion, behaviour, feeling and thought. Even though it may seem uncontrollable and unpredictable, we have the capacity and the gift to understand it and manage it. Come to think of it, fear is also looking for a way out, a way to be free, a way to experience happiness and light. It appears to me a messenger instead of a threat. A guide instead of the doom. Just a four-letter word and yet envelopes so many minute sub-fears. Fear of Judgement Fear of Love Fear of Loss Fear of Uncertainty Fear of the past Fear of the future Fear of Living Fear or failure Fear of success Fear of shame Fear of Comparison Fear of Rejection The list can keep going on and on… Yes, fear is very real. Yes, it also manifests into anxiety, frustration, stress, negativity, guilt and so much more. I don’t deny that the feeling of fear, that the emotion fear doesn’t exist or its in our minds. Looking at a snake or a lion the fear of being harmed is quite real, as a result you’re not going to pet it but admire it from afar. There’s a term that is closely related to fear, called “Negativity Bias” perhaps that is how we are so susceptible to fear. Studies (Carpaccio & Berntston, 1999; Vaish et al., 2008; Normal et al., 2011) talk about this bias stemming from the time of evolution of man where the first men, assuming during the stone age, had to survive environmental threats. Hearing a sound or unusual noise would set them on alert and they would prepare themselves even before an imminent threat. Being so conscious about these negative stimuli helped in survival back in the stone age however it slowly made way in our lives as well as we share our DNAs with these early men, our ancestors, so to speak. If this study is to be taken into account then fear is also a behaviour that we learn and unlearn from time to time. It depends on the negative stimuli that we either face or assume is to come. Our brains are wired to attract to fear more easily. It activates within us what is called as a fight or flight response. Upon facing this fear, we either try to understand it and challenge it (do it anyway) or we turn away and step down. It’s also interesting to note that this response is not just emotional or mental but also physical. Certain neurotransmitters are responsible which are released during our bodies stress response. Perhaps the reason you experience an increased heartbeat, lump in the throat, sweaty palms or body, excessive heat, icy fingertips, feeling of puking, excessive anger/rage etc., It’s quite common for people to tell me they would like to free themselves from fear. It’s not wrong to want that, on the contrary is human. No one wants to live in fear all their lives. But if we were to take away the feeling of fear, you might do something that could potentially harm you such as pet the lion without protection. Certain assumptions of fear help us differentiate between acceptable and not acceptable, harmful and safe, they protect us. Whether in our personal lives, our relationships, professional lives or in general help us become aware and cautious. There is a way to calm the nerves and eventually navigate through the feeling of fear in order to take the next step, to do what you desire, overcome challenges. Main ways to deal with this fear is – The mindfulness techniques of breathing, meditation etc., Becoming self-aware of your emotions and negative chatter/pattern Re-framing the mindset Positivity techniques of gratitude, affirmations etc., One of the techniques that seem to combine it all is the writing therapy also known as Journaling. Its one of the most pleasant forms of becoming self-aware, bringing in positivity, being mindful as well as re-framing thoughts. Fear is a big emotion and needs to be dealt with a lot of care, patience and love. It won’t help to resent it or want to try to get rid of it. Here are some Journal Prompts that you can spend time with. I used this as a spread for a few clients who wanted to understand their fear, I hope this will also benefit you. What according to you is the fear that holds you back? Why do you think you’ve been holding onto this fear? Where do you think this fear has come from, the cause? In what way can you face this fear? Why has this feeling of fear come right now? What is this fear trying to teach you? What words of encouragement do you need? What strengths should you rely on, in order to face this fear? I hope this helps you re-frame the fear that cages you. Give it sometime if you can’t work on it right away or if the answers don’t come right away. Come back to it and let your answers flow. If you're interested in discussing your fear or relaxing your emotions you can work with me by choosing either of the services I offer - Counselling/Consult Tarot reading Don't live in fear or worry about what you fear. Try to understand it and work with it. I can help.

Welcome October 2020 with some insight and careful introspection. Every month brings a plethora of experiences, based on your sun sign I’ve come up with journal prompts that you can work on in your down time for better clarity and understanding of the month of October 2020. Take your time to work on these prompts and if you can, try to relate it to your intentions for October or your goals and plans for October and see how it helps you throughout the month. It’s totally okay if you can’t relate or don’t think it works for you, try journaling anyway, you never know what you may unearth from the bottom of your emotions. Aries – The obstacles I’m facing right now, where are they leading me? How can I make the most of it? What can I learn from it? Taurus – How do I feel about my dreams? Why do I feel so strongly about them? In what way can it change the course of my life? Gemini – How can I be more mindful about the things I’m trying to attract? How can I add joy in my attraction? What challenges tend to make me unhappy? Cancer – Where is my focus as of now? How do I feel about my focus? How can I use this focus to manifest what I want? Leo – In what way have I been avoiding my own needs? How can I be more aware of my needs? How can I be more comfortable with the challenges that I face due to my needs? Virgo – What needs healing in my life currently? What tends to trigger my pain? How can I spend time with my feelings? Libra – What are my views on happiness? What makes me happy honestly? In what way can I add more happiness in my life each day? Scorpio – What does my energy say about me currently? What can help me stay enthusiastic? What are my intentions towards my goal/life/dreams? Sagittarius – What am I trying to create in my life right now? What are the challenges that I usually face? What do I need so that I can create in peace? Capricorn – What are the things that make me uncomfortable? How can I step outside my comfort zone? In what way will this help in my growth? Aquarius – How do I truly feel about miracles? What am I truly hoping to change in my life? How can I be more hopeful about it? Pisces – What is my inner voice trying to tell me? What do I need to let go to feel more at ease with my inner voice? How does my inner voice guide me usually? If you’d like to go further in alignment of your month of October you can Journal these questions that I usually use as a spread to understand the month ahead. My current state of mind/feeling My personal theme of the month What should I aim to accomplish? What should I avoid or let go? What should I embrace? What obstacles should be aware of? How can I find support? What action or next steps should I take this month? Words of encouragement that I need right now You can apply these questions to your personal and professional life. If you’re interested in a spread for the same take a look at the details here and get in touch with me to know of your month ahead. Happy October!

What if your passion was something that didn’t match up to the world, would you still follow your passion? What if your passion felt less ambitious, would you go ahead and live it? What if it was belittled by the people around you, would you still go for it? Recently in a session my client had a question that left me wondering about the way people connect with their passion and their purpose. How some people have completely different passions than rest. She wanted to know if her passion, the thing she felt strongly for, if it was right for her. She didn’t mention about ‘her passion’ clearly and its common for first timers to not disclose everything, so I didn’t mind. I got to my reading and gave her the answer, her blockages and how this passion would help her. She heard my reading calmly and said, ‘you have no idea, what a big problem you’ve solved.’ She breathed a sigh of relief. I probed and asked about her question. She said, ‘I don’t have a big ambition. I don’t even want to make money. I’m not looking for fame. I love my family, always wanted a beautiful family. I love taking care of them and being there for them, cooking for them, I’m passionate about building a beautiful life with them, do you think it’s okay to have such a passion?’ I didn’t know what to say. Her cards showed success and happiness in great abundance. Naturally, I was a bit taken aback. Before commenting or giving my opinion I went ahead and asked her about her educational qualification and her work experience. She had a great job, she said. She held a good position in a company. But that wasn’t her passion. ‘I like to work, but I’m not fond of it. My job allows me to apply my skills and I’m happy there. But the truth is can’t wait to reach home to my family’ Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to tell her. In today’s world where women are finding their passion, leaving their well-paid jobs to follow their passion, I was talking to someone who had a passion that was so self-less. It was new for me and confusing. I asked her if she felt so strongly about her passion why did she find the need to consult with me? I was half expecting her to say what she said. Her friends felt as if she was passion-less, she had no passion in her life. She wasn’t creative enough and was a typical woman. She didn’t have that fire in her life! After much probing she came to a conclusion that she was passionate about her family and building a beautiful home and wanted to confirm with me. I understood why she felt the need to consult. The pressure of passion and purpose has reached many leaps and bounds in today’s creative and fast life. If you find someone who doesn’t have a passion then they’re usually (if not always) judged and concluded to be “simply living” or worse “whiling away their time”. This session with her took me back to the classics I’d grown up reading – ‘Pride and Prejudice’, ‘Little Women’ I always connected with the characters who went out to do something with their lives. They attracted me and inspired me. I also paused to wonder about how times had changed, in fact our opinions and worry about being perceived have changed. Back then, if a woman had a passion or itch to do something, she wasn’t viewed with a kind of respect she deserved and today women who don’t have a passion have to justify their self-worth and identity. I told her (my client) that I wasn’t sure if I’m in a position to give my opinion on her passion and how she felt toward her family, but if she felt so strongly, if she was happy then she shouldn’t have to justify to anyone or feel ashamed. It was a simple statement and she didn’t have to pay me money to know that but she was so happy to hear me say it. I wondered about passion and purpose and the thin line that separates and overlaps the two. I learned something that day about passion and purpose, that our passion and our purpose may not be aligned in a way we expect or hope. I’ve met so many people who are great poets, writers, photographers, designers, bakers, chefs, but their jobs are totally different. Some people I recalled also prefer the separation. Upon asking why haven’t they considered going full-time with their passion I’ve been told that they aren’t unhappy with their jobs and don’t feel the need to go full-time with what they love and that’s okay. I always assumed that my purpose and my passion was the same but to be honest the more I think about it the more I realize that even though there are similarities between my purpose and passion, I’ve come to realize that I’m passionate about so many other things such as, poetry, reading, history, writing, dance, art and heritage, photography, and the more I think about it the more free and happy I feel. I’ve come to understand that my passion doesn’t need to be unique, provide for me, serve me in any way. If it makes me happy, that’s good enough. If it connects with me, there’s nothing more satisfying than that. Passion can’t be judged or questioned. It can’t be measured in a conventional sense. Some people have passions that do change the course of their life. While some find “simply living” to be passionate enough. And there’s nothing wrong with that. This may feel like a known subject, something that feels obvious enough but, after the session with my client I wondered if there are other people out there who felt this way. As if they don’t seem to have any passion just because they feel they’re not doing something that sets them apart or they feel they aren’t creative enough. J O U R N A L P R O M P T - If you’ve ever felt this way too then ask yourself What’s holding you back from embracing your passion? Why do you feel as if your passion is not good enough? Why do you think you need to justify it? If you’ve felt as if you have no passion ask yourself what makes you happy?