It’s All In Your Head

by Kyla Tustin,  Soul Coaching® Advanced Trainer

In the bustling tapestry of existence, it is so easy to overlook the simple act of breathing. Unbeknownst to us, a majestic symphony unfolds within our bodies, orchestrating each moment in a harmony we often fail to acknowledge.

In my youth, I was a seeker of external validation, forever chasing the illusory ideals of perfection and happiness, hoping to secure love and acceptance. Yet, simultaneously, a rebellious streak coursed through my veins, leading me down a path of escapism through alcohol and drugs—an attempt to silence the pain and vulnerability simmering within.

As I stepped into the fast-paced world of investment banking, I found myself increasingly disconnected from my physical being. Oblivious to the rhythm of my breath, I failed to grasp the transformative power held within a pause or a liberating “ahhhh” sigh. Many in our generation were not taught the connection between our stress, e-motions, thoughts, body, and breath and how to listen. When our body messaged us with stress signs and symptoms, we were encouraged to suck it up, take a pill and move on.

Thus, trapped in an unending cycle of rushing from one obligation to another, my soul slowly withered, and my symptoms worsened. For decades, I battled with stomach issues, seeking solace from countless doctors who dismissed my suffering with the disheartening refrain, “It’s all in your head. There’s nothing physically wrong with you.”

With all my test results in hand, I remember the day I arrived at one of Australia’s most renown Doctors, ever hopeful. Excited by the potential of finally finding a solution to the years of pain and discomfort. As we discussed what had been going on, she took the test results in her hand, opened her clinic door, and looked me in the eyes as she tore up the results, and threw them in the bin.  Looking me straight in the eye, clearly with no bedside manner she stated “you’ve got IBS, you’re going to have it for the rest of your life. You’ll need to eat more Weetabix for fibre and get used to it and get over it.” Clearly, now having been a practitioner myself now for over 13 years I still can’t quite believe another human would talk to a young woman in pain and crying out for help in this way. Suffice to say given I have quite a rebellious spirit, after bursting into tears with the initial shock and disappointment, my “watch me show you!” kicked in and was determined to uncover the root cause of my bodies dis-ease.

Now let me assure you, my story is not one of instant miracles and overnight transformations. It demanded an arduous journey of introspection, a profound reconnection with the spirit of air.

Now as determined and hopeful as I was, my story isn’t one of those overnight instantaneous healing stories. It took A LOT of deep inner work to RECONNECT with the spirit of AIR, to turn an inner world of self-hatred and criticism, into an existence of authentic love. And to acknowledge that the radio station of my mind was tuned into incessant thoughts causing me huge additional pain. My hyper-vigilant nervous system had been ensnared in the web of fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses, leaving me no choice but to embark on a deep journey within.

10 years later in the middle of a peaceful walk on the beach, I walked by this so-called expert and contemplated telling her what I thought. Instead, I took a DEEP BREATH, acknowledging how sad and exhausted she looked, and reminded myself that my “peace of mind,” thriving life and healthy body were enough rewards. Plus by that stage I’d wasted too many years, breath and energy trying to prove myself and the healing powers of releasing issues from our tissues through breath, meditation, emotional release, and deep soul work and had finally accepted my way was not everyone’s and that is OK.

As we welcome our journey into AIR this month and synchronistically a group of Soul Coaching® Practitioner students are starting our powerfully transformative 28 Day program remind me of the power and blessings of DEEP BREATH in my life as well as my pathway to living a free, wild, and liberated life.

The body knows what it needs, yet in this modern technological society we are encouraged to stop listening to it, constantly bombarded with information and advice from others, and to seek answers, validation, and band aid solutions from outside ourselves.

My invitation for you this month is to schedule time daily to BREATHE deeply, go within and LISTEN to the divine wisdom of your body and soul. Welcome the power of your breath to relax and release tension, and increase calm, in the knowing also of the long-term power this has to reduce dis-ease. One of my favourite mantra’s as I do this is “I love you and I am listening!”

And if you’re not sure where or how to start here are a couple of tips ..

1. enJOY this Spirit of AIR meditation for my Empowered Potential program

2. Schedule 3 minutes to welcome breath and presence with this mindfulness activity below.

TURN YOUR PALMS UP. INVITE CALM. OBSERVE YOUR HANDS. TRACE YOUR PALM LINES. KEEP YOUR FOCUS. BREATHE.

When you are grounded, you feel like you are here, in the physical, in the present. To be grounded gives your energy a point of steadiness and you will feel clear, centred, strong, and focused. The more we breathe and GROUND into our body, the less excess energy we hold in our minds. Schedule 3 minutes daily to focus completely on your hands, tracing the left palm with your right index finger for 60sec, then swap the and trace your right palm with your left index finger for 60secs, and then close your eyes and feel into your hands for 60sec. If and as your mind wanders simply bring your ATTENTION back to your hands and your breath.

Wishing you a wonderfully “breathing easy” month connecting with the spirit of Air.

Big love, K

Kyla is an International Soul Coaching® Trainer, Master Practitioner, Energy Healer, and expert on ‘Pressing Play on Manifesting Your Greatest Business, Culture and Life.’ Her deep intuitive wisdom supports you to get out of the way, as you discover how to rise in love with yourself, wake up happy and energised, uncover your unique creative spark purpose, and transform all of this into actionable and successful long lasting results.

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