Success is often measured by wealth, job titles, and material possessions. However, my human experience has led me to recognize that the essence of success lies in the energy we contribute and the impact we make, rather than in our material achievements.

Each person possesses a unique set of qualities that can positively affect the world, whether through leadership, organization, teaching, nurturing, protecting or other attributes. It's the application of these qualities in our daily activities that matters most, not the specific roles we assume. We must challenge and look beyond societal expectations and consider the real value we bring to our communities and the planet.

The relationship between fulfilling our purpose and financial gain is complex. Achieving financial success is possible when aligning with our purpose, but it shouldn't be the primary goal. Engaging in work solely for financial reasons, especially in industries that prioritize profit over people, lead to personal dissatisfaction and contribute to societal imbalances. This is evident in the discontent found among individuals who have pursued wealth at the expense of their values and well-being.

There's a reason why certain industries, like finance, are labeled as 'soulless' because they lack a soul purpose and require actions contrary to one's soul's purpose, focusing solely on monetary gain. A soul's purpose is never about accumulating wealth.

We need to redefine success to emphasize the importance of our contributions over material gain. By focusing on how our actions align with our core values, we can achieve a sense of success that is both fulfilling and sustainable. This shift requires us to critically evaluate our priorities and make conscious choices that reflect our true purposes.

I encourage everyone to reflect on my broader definition of success. By focusing on the impact of our actions and the energy we bring to our endeavors, we can create a legacy that goes beyond material wealth and contributes to a better world for future generations. We prioritize actions and choices that reflect our true values and purposes, leading to genuine success and fulfillment. As the CEO of PIROOZ Conscious Self-Care and Our Highest Mantra, I recognize that our ultimate goal should be to contribute positively to the world through our innate abilities and actions.

My spiritual journey has been a lifelong odyssey marked by moments of profound realization, personal challenges, and an unwavering quest for understanding. Growing up in a Bengali Hindu family, my father, a physicist and pantheist, influenced my early ventures into spirituality. However, it was my sister’s health struggles and eventual kidney transplant that significantly shaped my spiritual path.

From a young age, I practiced meditation, cultivating a sense of inner peace amidst external turmoil. In my twenties, my outlook shifted towards hedonism, as I sought to experience life’s varied aspects to integrate myself into reality and grapple with my own struggles. This phase was crucial in confronting and eventually overcoming my ‘savior complex,’ a trait common among teachers, coaches, and therapists who often wrestle with issues of self-worth and control.

The journey towards spiritual maturity involves acknowledging the complexity of emotions and experiences. Vulnerability and genuineness are not just virtues but necessities in relationships—both personal and professional. It’s important to understand that one’s duty is not to control another’s healing journey but to facilitate an environment where they can walk their path, learn from their falls, and progress at their own pace.

In this context, the balance of yin and yang energies becomes a vital component. These energies exist within everyone, transcending gender and identity. Understanding and harnessing these energies can guide us through personal and collective transformation. This concept is particularly resonant within the queer community, where fluidity of identity often aligns with the fluidity of spiritual energy.

Spirituality aids in addressing the savior complex by emphasizing self-exploration and questioning. It highlights the importance of healthy detachment, observing others with love and support without imposing one’s will. This journey leads to a deeper understanding of universal love, divine masculine and feminine energies, and the original meanings of spiritual concepts.

As I continue my exploration, I am drawn to the concept of happiness, believing that honesty is the first step towards attaining it. Balancing expectations with reality is crucial in this quest, as highlighted by the discussions with my host. Ultimately, spirituality offers a path to joy and liberation, not just for oneself but for all beings, as we collectively navigate the intricacies of existence.

In my years of spiritual exploration, I’ve come to understand that the journey of queerness and spirituality is intrinsically intertwined. At its core, the balancing act between yin and yang energies is a universal theme that resonates deeply within the queer community. This balance is not merely a theoretical construct but a lived experience that challenges cultural and religious projections about identity.

The concept of yin and yang, deeply rooted in various religions and spiritual practices, highlights the necessity of balance within the self. For queer individuals, this equilibrium often manifests through the fluidity of energy and roles within society and relationships. Despite the cultural hurdles, queer people possess an inherent ability to connect with varying energies and perspectives, transcending binary notions of existence.

My vision is to create a sanctuary for the queer community—an intimate space where these energies can be harmonized. A space that not only acknowledges the spectrum of identities but also fosters personal exploration in spirituality. This is not about assimilating into existing frameworks but about deconstructing and reconstructing our spiritual selves in ways that honor our unique experiences.

The harmful deployment of spirituality in social change movements often arises from a lack of understanding and genuine inclusivity. It’s crucial to avoid the pitfalls of identity politics within spiritual spaces. We must recognize the diverse expressions of spirituality and facilitate an environment where queer individuals can authentically engage with their spiritual selves.

Ultimately, the journey towards a balanced yin and yang in spirituality is a collective effort. It’s about observing each other with love, supporting one another without imposing control, and allowing everyone to be on their own unique path. By embracing this holistic approach, we can create a more inclusive and spiritually enriched community for all.

At this point, it's fair to say that most of us have heard of the term "self-sabotage." We've likely seen others engage in self-sabotaging behaviors, and we may have even done so ourselves at some point. Habits and patterns form for a number of reasons. They form through childhood experiences, genetics, culture, and environments. Maybe you were shown a certain example of love in childhood, and that example was wired into your nervous system. So, in relationships, you unconsciously seek those same patterns and deny anyone who offers something different. This doesn't make us wrong or bad; it's simply human.

Self-sabotaging allows us to predict what is going to happen, which gives us the illusion of control over our pain. As human beings, we are hardwired to keep ourselves safe and alive. If something in our patterning—our past experiences—has shown us that being vulnerable, using our voice, or exercising autonomy is a threat to our survival, then our brains and bodies will flag this as a threat.

Self-sabotage is a Survival Response

Changing self-sabotage requires understanding what it actually is: a powerful survival response. When we engage in self-sabotaging behaviors, our nervous system is trying to keep us safe.

Neuroscience tells us that experiences, traumas, and situations in our upbringing and past influence our interoceptive accuracy.

What is familiar is translated to be what is safe. Our brains cannot tell the difference between the two. Neuroscience tells us that the brain's fear center, the amygdala, is activated when we encounter something unfamiliar. This activates the body's stress response, which can lead to anxiety, fear, and even panic.

It’s not that you don’t want that relationship that is wildly loving and expansive because maybe love has always felt limiting or maybe tense or perhaps even unsafe.

It’s not that you don’t want that financial success, but maybe you’ve only ever known struggle and living paycheck-to-paycheck (or barely making ends meet)

It’s not that you don’t want that community of friends and bonds, it’s just that in the past friendship has only been something where you’ve only been able to show certain parts of yourself in order to be accepted.

So, when we try to change our habits or patterns, our brains may resist because they see it as a threat to our safety. This is why it can be so difficult to break bad habits or start new ones.

To see a change in your outer world, start by examining the narratives you tell yourself that define your concept of self. When you begin to shift those internal dialogues, you will shift the experience for yourself and actually feel capable of having what you desire.

The Control of Self-Sabotage

Self-sabotage is a complex behavior with numerous contributing factors. One way to understand it is as a coping mechanism for dealing with fear and powerlessness. When we feel powerless in a situation, we may self-sabotage in order to regain some sense of control. Self-sabotage is a way to take back control over people and situations where you feel you are losing power. The one who does the sabotaging is the one who is controlling the trajectory of the relationship.

Neuroscience research supports the idea that self-sabotage is often driven by fear. When we are afraid, our brains activate the amygdala, which is the fear center of the brain. The amygdala triggers a cascade of physiological responses,including increased heart rate, breathing, and muscle tension—the fight-or-flight response.

In some cases, the fight-or-flight response can be so intense that it leads you to make the exact opposite choice you want to make. This is because the amygdala bypasses the rational part of the brain and makes you act on impulse.

Self-sabotage can also be seen as a form of manipulation. When you self-sabotage, you are essentially forcing the outcome of a situation, even if it is not the outcome you want. This can be a way of protecting ourselves from further hurt or disappointment.

However, self-sabotage is ultimately counterproductive. It reinforces the limiting beliefs that you have about yourself and the world around you. It also prevents you from achieving your goals and living a fulfilling life.

Staying in Alignment

From a spiritual perspective, self-sabotage can be seen as a sign that we are out of alignment with our true selves. When we are not living in alignment with our true selves, we experience a sense of inner conflict. This conflict can manifest in a variety of ways, including self-sabotage.

To overcome self-sabotage, we need to first identify the underlying beliefs that are driving it. Once we have identified these beliefs, we can begin to challenge them and replace them with more positive and empowering beliefs.

We also need to learn to trust ourselves and our ability to handle whatever life throws our way. When we trust ourselves, we no longer need to self-sabotage in order to protect ourselves.

Releasing self-sabotaging reactions and behaviors takes intense alchemy and inner work. However, it is incredibly important to do so in order to feel peace and happiness, and experience love, and real and healthy attachment. It is something each human must confront at some point in their life.

Choosing Is Not Selfish

When we choose ourselves it’s not Selfish. Selfishness is about putting your own needs ahead of others without any regard for their needs or feelings. Selflessness asks that you sacrifice your own needs and well-being for the sake of others, even when it is not necessary or healthy. Often and across cultures and belief systems, selflessness is touted as altruistic, holy, and something to strive towards.

It is not selfish to choose yourself; it is an act of self-honor. Self-honor is about taking care of your own needs and well-being so that you can show up for yourself and others in your fullness, not at your own expense. You should never give from your own cup. Most of us would never ask our closest loved ones to give from their own cup what is theirs to fill their needs, yet we as humans consistently seem to deny ourselves that same honor. When you honor yourself and give from your overflow, that is how you can best show up for yourself and those around you. That is how you embody your sovereignty. It’s okay to say no to people, places, or situations if what is being asked is to give from a place of self-betrayal.

You Are Always Choosing

Along this Phoenix path of death and rebirth, you will continuously be presented with choices. You are always choosing, whether you decide to be conscious of it is another matter. However, your thoughts precede your actions and your actions come from a decision being made. There is power in choice because in that choice you are placing your intent there.

The illusion of safety from not making a choice is simply that, an illusion. There is perceived safety in having lots of options and allowing yourself to stay in the place of indecision. The truth of the matter is though, when you are not consciously choosing, others are automatically choosing for you. Whether it’s a partner, a workplace, a situation, an ideology, a culture, or a systemic belief, the choice is still happening; the choice is being made for you. Whether we decide to be active co-creators in the outcome of our lives or not, life continues to progress.

When we begin to make conscious choices, on a micro or macro level, we are choosing to honor our needs and boundaries. We are honoring our capacity, giving from a place of overflow and not at a detriment to ourselves. Choosing yourself is a radical act of love and in that, there is immense power to begin to direct and shape our lives as active creators of our future.

Choosing Yourself is Sovereignty

When we choose ourselves, we engage in a powerful act of alchemy. We are consciously and energetically making a statement to ourselves of our own inherent worthiness, our Sovereignty. We engage in an act of healing when we make choices that are aligned with our values.

We are transforming our lives from the inside out. We are creating a new reality for ourselves, one that is based on our values and desires. We are creating a life that both honors us and from that honor, we, in turn, honor others. We begin to enter into a world whose vibrational frequency is one of reciprocity and mutual respect. The more we embody unconditional Love and Sovereignty within ourselves, the more we co-create a harmonious world, by the mere energetic effect our lives have.

The Beauty of Choice

Choosing yourself doesn’t happen in one singular moment, but rather in the everyday choices that you are presented with. That is the beauty of choice as well. You will feel drawn to what resonates with you, in your own unique language. Yes, there are healthy tools that are designed to help you along your path and they absolutely do. However, it matters less what those tools are so much as you come to the point of clarity on what it is you want for yourself. If you don’t have clarity on your values and what it is you inherently desire to see in your life then that is an invitation to continue deepening your understanding of yourself.

Know Your Values

Knowing what your values are is foundational. Continuing to make choices as you figure it out is also foundational. Experience is your teacher. You are invited into a state of being where there is unconditional love as you learn to embody your authentic self. Most of us have spent our entire lives disconnected from our innermost core selves. The core self that exists outside of labels and structures. The you that was always there before the world told you that you had to be someone else in order to be seen and loved. Your power lies in the work of going inward, confronting your patterns and wounds, and allowing all parts of you to be held in honor and wholeness.

Take a moment to reflect on your week.

Did you make choices that honored your authentic self?

Did you make choices that were based on obligation or fear? Wounding?

Is this a pattern that keeps showing up?

When you take the time to observe and reflect, you allow a further deepening of understanding and trust within yourself. It is an invitation to allow radical compassion towards ourselves through this process. We learn by doing. Each day presents you with an opportunity to choose.

There is liberation in choosing. There is honor in choosing you. It is a radical act of love.

Have you chosen yourself today?

Mantra: I choose to make conscious choices that honor myself.

Sovereignty, a foundational concept symbolizing the utmost authority and the inherent interconnectedness of things, grants governing power to an entity, whether it's a nation, a state, or an individual.

This takes an even deeper meaning when you approach it from a personal perspective. Sovereignty fosters a sense of responsibility, encouraging the wise and judicious exercise of that authority for the betterment of all, and when approached this way, whether on a national or personal level, invites a harmonious coexistence where individuality thrives within the framework of collective interdependence.

Sovereignty is not simply about our own individual power and liberation. It is also about our interconnectedness with others and with the planet as a whole. When we claim our Sovereignty, we are also empowering others to do the same. And when we create a world where everyone is sovereign, we create a world that is more just, equitable, and sustainable.

Sovereignty is the core of self-determination, empowering you as you make choices aligned with your core needs and desires. It refers to the state of being self-governing, autonomous, and empowered in your own life. It encompasses the freedom to make conscious choices, embrace personal values and beliefs, and take responsibility for your growth and well-being. Sovereignty involves living in alignment with yourself, accessing inner wisdom, and cultivating a sense of inner authority.

Sovereignty is also tied with the concept of self-concept and both are fundamental components in psychology. Self-concept is the overall image we have of ourselves. It includes our thoughts, feelings, and beliefs about our physical appearance, personality, abilities, and roles in life. Our self-concept is shaped by our experiences, relationships, and culture. It is also rooted in the idea that we are all active creators of our own reality. Our thoughts, feelings, and beliefs about ourselves influence our behavior, which in turn influences our experiences. This creates a feedback loop that can either reinforce our existing self-concept or lead to change.

The thing is, self-concept is not fixed. As you continue to make choices in integrity with your authentic values and beliefs, your self-concept shifts. As your self-concept shifts, so does your outer world.

Sovereignty is inherent at the quantum level as well. One of the key principles of quantum physics is the principle of superposition. Superposition means that a quantum particle can be in multiple states at the same time. Another key principle of quantum physics is the principle of entanglement. Entanglement means that two quantum particles can be linked together in such a way that they share the same fate, even if they are separated by a large distance. They suggest that we are not fixed and static beings at all. Rather, we are fluid and dynamic beings who are constantly changing and evolving.

How you see yourself, how you interact with others, and how you set and achieve your goals are all determined by the inherent truth you believe about yourself.

Sovereignty is the power to choose your own reality. It's the ability to live your life according to your own values and beliefs, without interference from others. It's about making choices that are aligned with who you are and what you want. It's the permission you give yourself to live in complete authenticity.

Sovereignty and Freedom

It’s important to understand that Sovereignty, though it intersects with freedom, is still a fundamentally different concept. This is especially true when you are talking about human beings. Freedom can mean a lot of the same things as Sovereignty yet there are a few key differences that shift the narrative when viewed through the lens of Sovereignty.

Sovereignty refers to the supreme authority and independence vested in a governing entity, be it a nation, state, or individual. Freedom is a broader term that refers to the absence of constraints or the right to act according to one's own will within the framework of laws or societal norms. Unlike Sovereignty, freedom doesn't necessarily imply the power or authority to govern. While both terms are powerful and essential components of the human experience, with Sovereignty the focus is on your authority to make decisions free from external control. With freedom, the focus is on the absence of constraints in making decisions aligned with your will.

Sovereignty extends beyond freedom. It permeates every aspect of your life. It is a deep and reverent honoring of yourself. Your energy, your time, your body, your autonomy, your security. It is a no to anything that asks you to betray yourself and a yes to honoring your inherent right to live a life fully expressed and authentically embodied. It is a state of being where there is unconditional love for yourself in such a way that that same love pours out through your interactions, in your relationships. Your outer world begins to reflect your inner world as you continue to step even deeper into who you always were. Remembering. Waiting.

Sovereignty is your Birthright

Sovereignty is your birthright. Sovereignty is you as the commander of your own life, living according to your own values and beliefs. It is you being rooted in yourself. It's the power to create the life you want, on your own terms. It's the freedom to be authentic, without fear of judgment. It's the ability to say no to the things that don't serve you and yes to the things that do.

What if instead of fighting against yourself to fit into a mold that was never meant for you to fit into, you began to cultivate a deep and intimate relationship with yourself and from that knowing, dictate what your life will be?

Sometimes it means setting new boundaries and protecting your energy. Sometimes it means saying no to people and things that only accept you as long as you are operating from a state of self-betrayal. It means speaking your truth and living your life in full authenticity.

Begin to sit with yourself. What are your values? What are your beliefs? What do you want out of life? The more you know about yourself, the more empowered you will be to make choices that are aligned with your true self.

You will face challenges and obstacles in life, it is part of the human experience each of us go through. Allow yourself the respect and space to flex new muscles as you walk your path. You learn through experience. Just because it feels like you are going in a circle doesn’t mean you aren’t also moving upwards. As shifts happen, give yourself infinite amounts of love and compassion.

Sovereignty is at its core essence, unconditional love. It’s a remembrance of your inherent worthiness that exists within you and is not something that can be taken from you. It is yours. It is a deeply devoted radical unconditional love within yourself so powerful it radiates from you and permeates every aspect of your life and those around you.

You are worthy of a life that is defined by your core self, fully embodied, and unconditionally loved. You are worthy of a life that is not your wounding, patterns, and traumas. A life unapologetically living its fullest expansion, your highest self, your Phoenix.

Self-sabotage is complex and multi-faceted. It’s also something everyone has done, to various degrees, in their work, relationships, and love, whether consciously or unconsciously. So many humans self-sabotage and most aren’t even aware they are doing it. There’s always a compelling and, on the surface level, often logical reason people have for their self-sabotaging behaviors. At one point or another, we can relate to the various situations that trigger humans to self-sabotage. Maybe you purposefully pull or run away from a relationship that you feel excited about. Or, perhaps after leaving a toxic relationship, you are finding yourself anxiously overthinking and reacting out of that wounding in your next one. Maybe you cheat to control the level of commitment or emotion you are giving to your partner. Maybe you purposefully avoid taking that learning course or career opportunity you know you want because you don’t want to be disappointed and the possibility of failure feels daunting.

Think about how self-sabotage has been present in your life. What situations have you been in where you’ve felt you might have engaged in self-sabotaging behaviors? What were you trying to protect yourself from? What outcome were you trying to avoid? What did you potentially miss out on by doing so?

Liberation from Shame

Understanding that identifying with the idea of sabotaging yourself can produce shame is key. What you are actually doing is following the autonomic impulse to stay within what is familiar. New is unknown. It’s something that has never been done before. A new pattern is being built oftentimes with no prior framework. It can be both liberating and terrifying to ask ourselves what it might look like for us to live in complete expansiveness.

Shame is a body response driven by the frozen state of the nervous system when its survival response is activated. This part of your nervous system shuts down and immobilizes your energy. This shows up as a disconnection from yourself and also your environment and presents itself in both the mind and the body. This system shutdown is an attempt to bring yourself back into a state of regulation, or harmony. It is a protective response when you are feeling emotional overload and are extended past your current capacity.

If that feeling of shame occurs often enough without being harmonized by connection and belonging, it becomes an ingrained pattern, and a new neural pathway is formed with the framework of shame activating it.

Your behavior, the one that produced the intense feelings of shame, actually makes sense when you observe it through the layer of your nervous system. Defensiveness may present as a very real way of coping when shame is being experienced and you may argue, blame, or criticize others to not feel it. You may leave vulnerable situations or avoid what you’re afraid of failing at. You may overgive and appease others in a situation that triggers this survival response or experience feelings of powerlessness that lead to a nervous system shutdown.

The problem isn’t shame. It’s allowing your nervous system to notice and begin to show radical amounts of compassion where shame resides, easing yourself out of that freeze state. When you can begin to cultivate a relationship with your shame that is based on love, when can more easily identify when you are engaging in self-sabotaging behaviors and begin to shift the internal narrative that manifests in the way you choose to respond.

As you examine those narratives and patterns, approach yourself with gentleness. This can be a deeply uncomfortable process, especially if you aren’t used to sitting and reflecting. If you want to break the cycle and start something new, you first have to notice the patterns that you unconsciously seek. Bring them from your unconscious into your consciousness. Be gentle with yourself because this process comes up as we cycle through life in different ways at various times. The beauty and radical unconditional love that result from this re-patterning are wildly expansive. You are cultivating a relationship with yourself and in discovering that you possess the capability to determine what your life will ultimately be. In understanding our patterns and narratives that prevent us from experiencing liberation.

Work with Your Body

As much as the process of reframing self-sabotage occurs in the mind, it also happens in the body. Your survival response is just as much a state that occurs in your body as well as your mind. Work with your body and not against it. You are never going to get to where you want by bullying yourself into doing it. It just doesn’t work that way. Your body has done a tremendous job of getting you to exactly where you are today. Part of not avoiding discomfort means learning to cultivate a relationship with your body that is centered around safety and unconditional love so that we don’t continually go back and forth away from our bodies in order to find safety.

When you want to change your patterns, you need to first self-regulate your nervous system. This means finding ways to calm down and feel safe so that you can make clear choices. When you are feeling overwhelmed, it can be helpful to engage in activities that help to calm down your nervous system. These activities include breathing exercises such as breathwork, progressive muscle relaxation and body scanning, and lastly meditation. You can also co-regulate with nature and the people around us, by spending time in nature, connecting with others, and receiving support. You can work with your body to rewire the way you respond to new people, relationships, and situations.

Part of observing without shame is to pay attention to your body's signals. When you are feeling threatened or unsafe, your body will give you signals. These signals may include muscle tension, sweating, or a racing heart. Pay attention to these signals and learn to identify what they mean.

What would it look like to explore the idea that your body is safe to reside in?

Notice the Patterns

Once we have regulated our nervous system, we can then acknowledge what we desire. This means being honest with ourselves about what we want, and not letting our old patterns get in the way. If we want a wildly expansive, loving relationship, we need to remember that we want it, and then notice the old patterns that are holding us back. We can then choose a new way to take action, such as setting boundaries, communicating our needs, and being vulnerable.

The same is true for wanting a community that is reciprocal and enriching. We need to remember that we want it, notice the old patterns, and then choose a new way to take action. This might mean putting ourselves out there, being open to meeting new people, and being willing to take risks.

We can think of this process as a cycle of Awareness → Re-Alignment → Action. We become aware of our old patterns, we re-align ourselves with our desires, and then we take action. We can repeat this cycle over and over again until we create the life we are commanding for ourselves.

Cultivate Compassion

It is important to cultivate compassion for what was. This means forgiving ourselves for the mistakes we have made and letting go of the old patterns that no longer serve us. We can also take action on what can be. This means believing in ourselves and our ability to create the life we want.

By doing these things, we can teach ourselves, moment by moment, that we deserve it all. As we step deeper into our authenticity, we further recognize our power. The more we recognize our power, the more our reality begins to shift around us.

What would your reality look like if you allowed yourself to know that there was nothing holding you back?

Everything in life starts with a choice. Our earliest choices are subconscious and reflexive, but they are essential for our survival and well-being. We choose to turn our heads towards light, to reach for comfort or nourishment, and to cry out when we are uncomfortable. As we get older, our choices become more conscious and deliberate. We are shaped by our experiences, values, and beliefs, as well as the people around us. We choose what we want to eat, what we want to wear, who we want to play with, and how we want to live our lives.

Choice is a fundamental property of human consciousness. Consciousness is the ability to be aware of one's own existence and to make choices about one's future. Choice is the essence of humanity; we are human because we can choose, and our choices allow us to shape our own futures. Without choice, we would be nothing more than creatures of habit, responding to our environment in predetermined ways. Our choices matter. They define who we are and what we want to achieve in life. They form the framework of our reality.

When we choose ourselves, we are engaging in a powerful act of alchemy. We are transforming our lives from the inside out. We are creating a new reality for ourselves, one that is based on our values and desires.

Neuroplasticity and the Power of Choice

The principle of our choices shaping our brains is grounded in psychology, specifically in the field of neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain to change and adapt in response to experience. It is now well-established that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors can all have a significant impact on the structure and function of our brains.

One of the key ways our choices shape our brains is through the release of dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure, motivation, and learning. When we make choices that are aligned with our values and desires, our brains release dopamine, which reinforces those choices and makes us more likely to repeat them in the future.

Another way our choices shape our brains is through the formation of new neural pathways. When we learn something new or experience something new, our brains form new neural pathways. These new neural pathways make it easier for us to repeat those experiences in the future. It suggests that we can change our brains and behavior by making conscious choices about how we live our lives.

Choice is Everywhere

One of the key principles of quantum physics is the interconnectedness of the universe. Quantum physics teaches us that everything is made up of energy and that all energy is interconnected. This means that our thoughts and emotions, which are also forms of energy, are interconnected with the energy field of the universe. Another key principle of quantum physics is the observer effect. The observer effect states that the act of observation affects the outcome of an experiment. This is because the observer is interacting with the energy field of the experiment, and this interaction can alter the outcome.

So, how does this relate to the belief that our thoughts and actions have a real impact on the world around us?

Well, if we think of ourselves as observers of the universe, then our thoughts and emotions are essentially observations. And if our observations can affect the outcome of experiments, then it stands to reason that our thoughts and emotions can also affect the outcome of our own lives and the lives of others.

The universe is a mirror of our minds. What we think and feel, we create. Our thoughts and actions have a real impact on the world around us and on ourselves. Our choices are powerful.

Choosing is Liberation

When we choose ourselves, we are creating a new reality for ourselves. We are no longer living according to the expectations of others. We are living our lives on our own terms. We are fully Sovereign. Consciously choosing is an active breathing movable framework. Choice is what shapes our reality.

Freedom is not about having the most options possible, but about making choices. This is a subtle but important distinction. While having lots of options may seem like a good thing, it can actually be paralyzing. When we have too many choices, we can get overwhelmed and start to doubt ourselves. This can lead to analysis paralysis, where we get stuck in the "in-between" and never make a decision at all.

Staying in the in-between is not liberation. It is a form of self-imposed imprisonment. When we don't make choices, we are giving up our power and control over our lives. We are allowing other people and circumstances to dictate our destiny. Choice is the framework that allows us to live our lives according to our own values and desires, regardless of what others think or expect of us.

When we make a choice, we are not just choosing between different options. We are also choosing who we want to be and how we want to live our lives. We are choosing our own destiny.

The world is full of duality. We are surrounded by it. We see it displayed across our screens, in our communities, and across the globe. There is light and dark, good and evil, love and hate, masculine and feminine, science and spirituality. We so often see these things as opposites, when in fact, they are two aspects of the same reality. They are interdependent on one another.

In the Upanishads, it is said that "the universe is both one and many, both light and dark.” In the Tao Te Ching, it is said that "the way of the Tao is like the way of the river. It flows both dark and light, yin and yang." The dark and the light are both necessary for the river to flow. In the Kabbalah, it is said that "God is both light and dark, good and evil."

The dark is not something to be feared or avoided, but rather it is a necessary part of the journey of growth and transformation.

When we deny our dark, we are denying the part of ourselves that needs to be healed and transformed. We are also denying ourselves the opportunity to access our deepest wisdom and the nucleus of our power.

The dark is often associated with fear, pain, and difficulty. But it is also the place where we can find our deepest creativity, intuition, and strength. When we choose to go within, into our own dark, we are opening ourselves up to the possibility of change. We are allowing ourselves to see things that we have been avoiding. Our wounding, our patterns, the cycles we keep seeing play out in our lives, our self-limiting beliefs, the frameworks we’ve built around us - a combination of our deepest fears and our perception of who we believe we are supposed to be as individuals in this world. When we allow ourselves to understand our dark is there to walk us through our deepest transformations, we are giving ourselves the chance to heal and shift our reality in a way that embodies the wholeness that is you.

Facing Our Darkness

Facing our darkness is not known to be easy. It can be painful and uncomfortable. But it is ultimately the path to understanding and acceptance. It is a call to come home. When we do experience dense emotions, observe them without Judgement. This means paying attention to the physical, behavioral, and cognitive signs of our emotions. It also means allowing ourselves to feel our emotions without trying to suppress or deny them. Simply put: pay attention to it.

Dense emotions are strong, often overwhelming emotions that can feel difficult to manage. They can be caused by a variety of factors, such as trauma, stress, or unresolved issues. Dense emotions can manifest in a variety of ways, including physical symptoms (such as headaches, stomachaches, or muscle tension), behavioral changes (such as withdrawal, aggression, or substance abuse), and cognitive distortions (such as negative thinking or catastrophizing), to name a few.

When we feel dense emotions surfacing, it is an invitation to pay attention. To sit with our fear, anger, or sadness, and see what they are trying to tell us. What are we resisting? What are we afraid of? What do we need to release? Where do we need to show ourselves more compassion? What areas need love instead of shame? Understanding instead of Judgement?

The darkness is not something to be feared. It is simply a part of life. Whatever the darkness or dense emotions are, is where we are meant to be. It is where we can grow and learn and continue to operate from a place of unconditional love and sovereignty. In this act alone we experience wholeness - the dark and light as one.

Experiencing Trust

When we understand that our darkness and dense emotions are to be observed and honored as teachers, we can then experience trust. Trust is the foundation for light to enter our lives. Without trust, we cannot open ourselves up to the possibility of change or growth. Trust cultivates a sense of safety within ourselves. One that isn’t easily swayed by the external world. When we trust ourselves, we are able to sit with our darkness without fear or Judgement. We can allow ourselves to feel our emotions fully, without trying to suppress or deny them. In doing so, we can begin to understand the messages that our darkness is trying to convey.

Alchemy

Darkness is often seen as something to be feared, but it is actually a necessary part of the journey to wholeness. It is through darkness that we are able to learn and grow. It is through darkness that we are able to find the light. This is a deeply transformative process; alchemy in its purest form.

Alchemy is the process of transforming something into something else. In the context of our emotions, alchemy is the process of transforming darkness into light. When we alchemize our darkness, we are able to use it as a source of power and expansiveness.

This process of alchemization allows us to connect with ourselves intimately. When we can connect with ourselves intimately, we can connect with others. When we can connect with others, we can show up authentically with mutual honor and respect. When we can cultivate authentic connections with others, we can transform our communities and the world around us.

When we trust ourselves and alchemize our darkness, we open ourselves up to the possibility of something greater. We become whole. We become light.

Darkness is a powerful teacher.

When we sit with it, we can begin to see it for what it is: a part of us, not something to be feared or rejected. We start to understand that darkness and light are not opposites, but two parts of the whole. They can work together in harmony. We can learn from darkness, grow from it, and ultimately use it to create a more beautiful world. It is the key to our transformation.