Living with Intention Through Sadhana Practice

photograph - mountains pine trees and a small body of blue-green water with purple flowers in the foreground

Sadhana.

A powerful word that brings up so much for me.

A disciplined spiritual practice: surrendering to softness, training the mind, opening the heart – so that the soul may speak.

Sadhana.
A reminder of my heritage, of roots that run deep and true to my bones. The whisper of wisdom from my ancestors. Teachings embedded in my DNA.

Sadhana.
Intentional living. Authentic relating. Finding strength in vulnerability. Allowing what is, while honoring and honing my deepest desires. Stepping stones on the path to self-actualization and liberation.

These are the core tenets I seek to live by.
They are my north stars – my mission, my dharma, my practice.

Being a human is amazing! And arduous! And beautiful! And challenging!

Being human is being all of it.

Healing Through Triggers

Lately, life has felt bountiful. My heart has been completely full of love and hope.
And, I’ve been experiencing a great deal of anxiety in my body. Adapting to holding more. Learning to tone my nervous system. Seeking spaciousness in moments of trigger and turmoil.

I saw a quote recently from ART International (an authentic relating and resolution practice that has taught me so much): “Feeling triggered doesn’t mean something is wrong. It means something matters.”

Lightbulb moment for me. When I’m triggered, I tend to make myself wrong for it. Cue the inner directive dialogue:

“I shouldn’t be so activated by this.”

“I shouldn't be making this about me.”

“I shouldn’t be so sensitive.”

“I need to heal this part of me.”

“I need to get over it.”

“This is silly.”

“I’m not good enough.”

A gentle reframe I’d like to invite in, for myself and for all of us, is this:

When we are triggered, it’s because whatever happened is touching something deep within us that really really matters. What matters to me? What matters to you?

Healing. Growth. Integrity. Truth. Authenticity. Meaningful connection. Nature. Beauty. Love. Peace. Spaciousness. Rhythmic, holistic, and embodied living. Deep listening. Reciprocity... to name a few.

So when those moments of activation arise, I want to remember:
I feel this way not just because something needs to be healed within me (which may also be true), but because my body is alerting me that something I care deeply about feels at risk.

From that place, I can access more curiosity, more compassion, and a deeper validation for my experience. And from that place, I can begin to more clearly cultivate the spaces where what matters to me is at the forefront.

This is my sadhana for the week.

What’s yours?

Questions:

Description text goes here A sadhana practice is a personal spiritual discipline that helps anchor you in intentional living, emotional awareness, and connection to your inner truth.
Sadhana helps you pause, reflect, and explore the deeper meanings behind your emotional responses—creating space for curiosity, compassion, and integration.
Examples include meditation, breathwork, journaling, movement, prayer, or any act of intentional reflection and spiritual connection.
While rooted in yogic and Vedic traditions, sadhana can be adapted to any spiritual or reflective path. It’s about devotion to what matters most.