Exploring the path to Self-Connection

Exploring the Path to Self-Connection

Podcast Summary

Welcome to another episode of our podcast series, “Explore the Path to Self-Connection.” In this episode, we explore the intricacies of connecting with oneself, the tools and practices that can enhance this connection, and the vital role of community and nature in this journey. The discussion serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding the foundational aspects of self-connection and personal growth.

The episode begins by exploring the distinction between the physical heart and the ‘great heart’ or soul, emphasizing how self-worth, self-esteem, and self-love are pivotal in fostering a meaningful connection with oneself. We further explore various spiritual practices, the influence of upbringing and environment, and the emotional impact of physical touch. Additionally, they address the effects of loneliness, living alone, and the journey towards authentic self-connection by dealing with negative emotions. 

Connection to Oneself and Personal Growth

The journey towards self-connection begins with understanding the distinction between the physical heart and the ‘great heart’ or soul. This episode emphasizes that self-worth, self-esteem, and self-love are the cornerstones of connecting with oneself. Personal experiences, such as a transformative moment of self-connection through drug use, illustrate how perspectives on self-respect and self-worth can evolve over time. These anecdotes highlight the importance of recognizing one’s inherent value and fostering self-love as a foundation for personal growth.

Achieving a meaningful connection with oneself requires continuous self-reflection and growth. Understanding and nurturing the inner self is crucial for personal development. This process involves recognizing and embracing one’s true worth, which in turn leads to a stronger, more authentic connection with oneself. The discussion underscores that personal growth is an ongoing journey, one that necessitates a deep understanding and appreciation of the self.

Tools and Practices for Enhancing Self-Connection

The podcast provides a detailed exploration of various tools and practices that can aid in enhancing self-connection. Spiritual practices such as yoga and meditation are highlighted for their ability to help individuals tune into their inner selves and achieve mindfulness. These practices are presented as effective methods for fostering a deeper connection with oneself, allowing individuals to experience a state of heightened awareness and presence.

We have also touched on the influence of upbringing and environmental factors on one’s ability to connect with themselves. They explore how different backgrounds and environments can impact a person’s self-connection journey. Additionally, the importance of being present with the senses as a means of connecting with oneself is examined. We also debate whether it is possible to be fully present with all five senses simultaneously, ultimately emphasizing that presence through the senses is a powerful tool for self-connection. Physical touch, particularly hugging, is highlighted for its emotional impact and significance in fostering a sense of connection. Physical contact with animals can also enhance self-connection. These tools and practices are presented as practical and accessible methods for cultivating a deeper, more authentic connection with oneself.

Community, Loneliness, and Dealing with Negative Emotions

The episode also explores the effects of loneliness and living alone on a person’s sense of connection. We emphasize the importance of community and connection to nature in mitigating feelings of isolation. We explore how different living situations can impact one’s sense of connection, highlighting the value of having a supportive community. The conversation addresses the challenges of dealing with negative emotions and personal struggles, and how these factors can affect one’s ability to connect with others and themselves. We reflect on people-pleasing behaviors and the journey towards authentic self-connection, stressing the importance of self-reflection and therapy in overcoming these challenges. The discussion underscores the significance of addressing negative emotions and building a supportive network to enhance self-connection and personal well-being. We advocate for proactive steps, such as seeking therapy and engaging in self-reflection, to navigate through personal challenges and foster a stronger sense of connection with oneself and others.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the episode ‘Explore the Path to Self-Connection’ offers a comprehensive guide to understanding and fostering a deeper connection with oneself. We emphasize the importance of self-worth, self-esteem, and self-love as foundational elements of self-connection and personal growth. We provide valuable insights into various tools and practices, such as yoga, meditation, and physical touch, that can enhance self-connection. We also highlight the significance of community and nature in mitigating feelings of loneliness and fostering a sense of connection. By addressing negative emotions and engaging in continuous self-reflection, individuals can embark on a journey towards authentic self-connection and personal well-being. This episode serves as a valuable resource for anyone seeking to understand and improve their connection with themselves and others.

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Abdi Assadi is unlike any other healer or spiritual teacher ever encountered. He is an expert in martial arts, and a dynamic healer practicing a diverse array of Chinese and Eastern Medicine, indigenous shamanic rituals, and meditation techniques. With a clinical practice in New York City for almost 4 decades, Abdi has accumulated a vast knowledge of real life experience working with several thousands of individuals, guiding them through the most difficult times, and teaching them how to understand themselves. One of the greatest things about him is he merges the human psyche with the spiritual psyche.

Steeped in deep wisdom and insight that is rare to find on this planet in these modern times, Abdi has an extraordinary ability in perceiving and comprehending human souls and their individual psyche. Guided by the divine, Abdi guides you to open up and see beyond your limited Self, into your own soul. His impeccable discernment enables him to unleash personal remarks that pierce through your veil, statements that you will never forget and in an instant alter your perception of yourself and your reality.

– Quotes from Shadows on the Path by Abdi Assadi:


All spiritual masters teach us that love is an activity before it is a condition – and that love is all-encompassing.
Page 18


It felt like I was coming off a race track and driving in a school zone. He knew, years before I did, that my speed was my way of suppressing my early childhood anxiety, and that only slowing down could heal it.

Why do you need to use all these words like God and spirituality? It is right here Abdi, all around you, all the time
Page 40


one does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.
Page 51


Ultimately it keeps grace out of our lives because we are using our will power to manipulate every event and person around us.
Page 74


His lesson, which I had begun to learn for myself, is that outside circumstances do not define our internal experience if we can surrender into them. Painful or undesirable situations will always arise; true suffering comes from our ego’s desire to resist life as it is.
Page 77


Note from Pernilla:
I met Abdi in the fall of 2014 and when I arrived in his office the first thing he said was, “It’s time that you stop carrying other people’s anxiety.” In the year that followed, my entrenched codependency patterns reared their ugly heads and I was confronted with a part of myself that I had never even known was there.

A few years later, Abdi said, “When are you going to start writing your book?”I looked at him in surprise. I was not a writer. My expertise was centered around creating crazy good Excel spreadsheets. However, I started writing and collecting notes about life issues and life experiences … and here we are a few years later.

Sally Kempton is a preeminent meditation teacher of our time.

She is an expert scholar in Hinduism and all Hindu texts especially in Kashmir Shaivisim. Formerly Swami Durgananda, she left monastic life in the 1980’s to teach publicly. She has written several books and is one of the most known and loved spiritual teachers in our time.

Note from Pernilla:

I met Sally at one of her workshops at City Yoga in LA in 2003. She had the most gentle and loving disposition, and I just wanted to always be around her. I was fortunate to have been part of her two year-long “Transformative journey” courses in 2006 and 2007 and many retreats ever since. She is the true representation of unconditional love and transmits intense shakti from her Guru Swami Muktananda.

Sally is the primary building block and foundation in my spiritual journey. Without her, I would have never found and stuck with meditation – the most transformative experience of my life. Without her, I would have been lost without a clue where to go next. Her wealth of knowledge of yogic philosophy and incredible understanding of the human condition is what makes her a force to be reckoned with.  She understands your depth and makes you feel seen, heard, validated, and deeply loved.