Have you ever walked away from a conversation feeling like you left a part of yourself behind? Maybe you agreed to something you didn’t really want to do. Maybe you stayed quiet because speaking up felt uncomfortable. Or perhaps you spent so much time making sure everyone else was okay that, by the end of the day, you couldn’t honestly answer one simple question:
“How am I doing?”

I don’t think these moments mean we’ve become weak or lost our confidence. I think they simply remind us how easy it is to become disconnected from ourselves. We get busy looking after our families, our work, our friends and our responsibilities. Gradually, without even noticing, we stop checking in with the one person we’re with every single day—ourselves. I’ve had many conversations with people who tell me they feel like they’ve “lost themselves.” I don’t usually think that’s true. I think the real issue is that they’ve become so busy responding to life that they’ve stopped listening to themselves. Their intuition is still there. Their values are still there. Their authentic self is still there. It’s simply become quieter than everything else competing for their attention.

We Don’t Lose Ourselves Overnight
When people talk about “taking your power back,” they often imagine making one bold decision that changes everything. Real life rarely works that way. More often, we slowly give our power away in ordinary moments. We ignore our intuition because we don’t want to upset someone. We explain our decisions over and over, hoping everyone else will approve. We keep adjusting ourselves until everyone around us is comfortable, while quietly becoming less comfortable within ourselves. None of these moments seem significant on their own. But together, they slowly move us further away from who we really are.
One of the things I’ve learned through meditation is that our inner wisdom never disappears. It simply becomes more difficult to hear when our minds are constantly focused on everything happening outside of us. The moment we become still, even for a few minutes, something begins to shift. We stop reacting quite so quickly, and we start listening a little more deeply.

Coming Home Doesn’t Require a New Life
One of the biggest misconceptions about personal growth is that we have to become someone different. I don’t believe that’s true. I think growth is often about removing the layers we’ve collected over the years—the expectations, the fear of disappointing people, the constant need for approval—until we can hear our own voice again.
“Every time you make a choice that feels aligned with your values, you strengthen that connection.
Every time you honour your own energy instead of ignoring it, you strengthen that connection.
Every time you choose authenticity over approval, you strengthen that connection”.

Here are some of my favourite spiritual practices that you can try…

• Ask your higher self one question each day. Sit quietly for a few minutes and ask, “What do I most need to remember today?” Don’t rush to find an answer. Simply notice what gently arises.
• Pay attention to your energy rather than your schedule. Which people, conversations, or activities leave you feeling lighter? Which ones leave you feeling drained? Your energy often tells the truth before your mind does.
• Create one small sacred pause. Light a candle before meditation. Sit outside for five minutes. Watch the sunrise. Listen to the rain. Give yourself one moment each day that isn’t about achieving anything.
• Offer yourself the same compassion you so easily offer others. At the end of the day, place your hand over your heart and acknowledge one thing you handled well instead of focusing only on what you could have done better.
• Spend time in nature with no agenda. Leave your phone in your pocket. Notice the trees, the wind, the sky or the sound of birds. Sometimes the soul feels most at home when nothing is asking anything of us.

One of the reasons I love meditation is that it gently reminds us of something we often forget. Beneath the roles we play…Beneath the expectations…Beneath the busyness of everyday life…Every time we slow down enough to reconnect with that part of ourselves, we remember that our worth has never depended on how much we achieve, how much we give or how many people approve of us.

Let’s bring your journals out…write down the first thing your intuition guides you!

• When do I feel most like myself?
• Where in my life have I been choosing approval instead of authenticity?
• What helps me reconnect with my inner wisdom?
• What is one small way I can honour myself this week?

Perhaps taking your power back isn’t about becoming stronger. Perhaps it’s about becoming quieter. And maybe this week isn’t about finding yourself. Maybe it’s simply about coming home.

Love and light,
Manali
P.S. You are welcome to attend our weekly live Zoom Meditation healing circle classes to connect with your quiet, safe space. Join for free for 2 weeks. Reserve your spot here!