Discovering inner peace. The power within you

In our relentless pursuit of various life’s goals be it the perfect partner, seeking answers to life's profound questions, achieving physical fitness, climbing the corporate ladder, or attaining inner peace – we often forget that what we truly need might already reside within ourselves. It's a realization I recently stumbled upon during a profoundly transformative retreat.

The unexpected phone detox

Nestled in a serene forest, this retreat challenged my reliance on technology. Usually, I'm quick to snap photos and update my social media during such experiences. However, this time, I chose to shelve my phone, even switching it off in my room. During the retreat, we were asked to abstain from phone use for a day, and I was surprised by how liberating it felt. Limiting device use can open up precious time and mental space. Back home, I've started leaving my phone downstairs at night, using my Echo Dot for my morning alarm. This simple change has brought noticeable improvements.

The transformative breathwork

A remarkable session during the retreat involved "Conscious Connected Breathing." Conscious Connected Breathing is a technique in which the breather intentionally connects the inhale with the exhale without any pauses. It is much more forceful and powerful than calm meditative like breathing. I found that it allowed for a deep awareness of self and others and helped to clear out any negativity or congestion held inside the body.Tears flowed, but the reasons remained elusive. It reaffirmed my belief that our breath is an untapped superpower, capable of altering our emotional and physical states in profound ways.

Bridging the Mind-Body Gap

Often, our minds and bodies operate independently of one another. This retreat emphasized the importance of bridging this divide through movement and yoga. We were encouraged to heed our inner needs, whether that meant shifting our bodies or seeking assistance. This integration helped us connect with our true selves.

The Transformative Power of Music

Music has always had the ability to evoke powerful emotions. I have been known to blub at certain songs (Sigur Ros’ song “Hoppipola” always gets me.) The retreat's carefully curated music, designed by neuroscientists from John Hopkins University, demonstrated how music can support emotional experiences. Certain tracks, like "Immanuel" by Tony Anderson, were unbelievably beautiful that they reduced me to tears. I felt that I was inside the music rather than just listening to it.

Setting and Releasing Intentions

Setting intentions has been a yearly ritual for me and a dear friend. We have done this for many years now and I find that by listing out intentions they are more likely to happen in reality. However, at the retreat, we were urged to set intentions and then release them. This act of letting go allowed us to be open to whatever the journey had in store. The liberation that came with releasing intentions was surprisingly fulfilling.

Embracing Challenges

Our brains often choose the path of least resistance. During difficult moments, resistance only exacerbates the situation. So many times when out running my head is screaming for me to stop, I have to ignore it and allow my body to power through. The retreat taught us to be observers of our emotions, thoughts, and feelings, letting them pass rather than engaging in combat.

Taking Time to Process

The retreat was wonderful but we were warned by our guides not to allow old habits, demands, routines or life in general to seep back in subconsciously. By taking time each day to pause, create space and slow down it allow the journey of self discovery to continue. One of the guides explained “Those who are constantly jumping into new experiences seldom integrate their process. Similarly those who are endlessly processing their triggers seldom grow. Because sustainable transformation requires something more than intensity and process - it requires regeneration, integration and celebration.” I am trying to create small moments of awareness throughout the day to be able to pay attention to my body and my thoughts.

The most profound revelation I had was that everything we need resides within us already. We don't have to wait for the perfect moment or ideal circumstances. We possess the skills to calm our nervous systems and attain true inner peace. All we need is to believe in ourselves, recognizing that we are enough, and that we can achieve it.

Remember, I believe in you!