Have you ever been so immersed in an activity—whether it's a passion project, a fun hobby, or simply sharing moments with someone you love—that time seemed to stand still?

When every word and action flows effortlessly, you're experiencing what we call a flow state. In those moments, you’re not just doing; you’re connected to Source energy and aligned with your higher purpose.

This information might upset you, but I don't subscribe to good or bad—no right or wrong nonsense, either.

I'm aware many of you will disagree. My neighbor, whom I respect and deeply admire, is a theologian who says, "But, Ashley, what about morally wrong, criminally bad?"

Morality, conviction, insubordination, happiness, sadness, indifference—it's all remarkably subjective.

Growing up in the shadow of my mother's mental illness, I learned to fear life itself. Her constant threats of suicide taught me that living was something to dread, and loving was a risk too great to take, modeling a fear to live and a fear to die. For years, I made choices trying to prove her wrong, but I was running on a treadmill of fear, never truly escaping the darkness.

In the past, I struggled to face my emotions, often resisting discomfort and vulnerability. This avoidance was a clear sign of my wounded feminine energy, as was my main coping mechanism—becoming a workaholic. Most would observe that this served me well in some regards, but it came at much too high a cost in other areas of my life.

Have you ever noticed how some days everything just seems to fall into place effortlessly? You're in the zone, ideas flow freely, and opportunities seem to appear out of nowhere. On the flip side, there are days when you're working harder than ever, yet progress feels like wading through molasses. What's the difference? It's all about flow versus efforting.

Let me share a personal story that illustrates this perfectly.

Have you ever found yourself holding back emotionally in a relationship—whether it’s with a friend, a colleague, or a romantic partner—out of fear? Maybe you worry about being vulnerable or getting hurt. It’s a common struggle, and I want to share why this tendency can lead us to create the very situations we dread.

The Wizard of Oz is not just a tale of a girl and her dog trying to find their way home; it's a powerful metaphor for our journey of self-discovery and transformation. It reminds us that the challenges we face along our "Yellow Brick Roads" can only be overcome by the resources we carry within us—our thoughts, emotions, and actions.

Growing up in a small, rural town, my vision for my life was shaped by my surroundings, where the horizon seemed limited and the dreams confined to the familiar. I didn’t even know what it meant to really “dream big.” The rhythms of small-town life defined my world, and the idea of a "best life" formed back then feels like a distant concept to all the opportunities I’ve opened myself to over the years.

In a world obsessed with happiness, it’s easy to fall into what I like to call “the happy trap.” Everywhere you look, messages are urging you to “be happy,” “choose happiness,” or “find your bliss.” It sounds simple enough, but this relentless focus on happiness can be counterproductive, leading us away from the more profound, more sustainable experience of peace.

Letting go of control in our relationships and lives can feel like stepping into the unknown. Yet, it's in this surrender that we often find our greatest strength. Believing in life's inherent goodness isn't just a comforting thought—it's a transformative practice that can reshape our entire world view.

We've all faced painful experiences that test our faith in life's goodness. These moments can make trusting ourselves and others feel like an impossible leap. But what if these very challenges are invitations to grow?

Someone recently asked me to delve deeper into the concept of detachment in partnerships. It's a fascinating and paradoxical topic. Romantic relationships, in particular, are arenas where we often find ourselves most attached to specific outcomes and, paradoxically, most detached from our true selves. This makes them the perfect context for exploring how to cultivate healthy detachment.

In our fast-paced, distraction-filled world, the ability to focus and concentrate is a superpower. Focus is not just about honing in on a single task; it’s the art of truly being present, engaging fully with the moment, and channeling our mental energy with precision.

Consider the archer. Before releasing an arrow, the archer takes a moment to breathe deeply, to steady their hand, and to align their vision with the target. This process of preparation, of tuning out everything but the target, is what transforms a simple shot into a precise and powerful action. Similarly, our minds need to be trained to find that stillness and clarity amidst the chaos.

Strength and resilience are virtues often celebrated in both personal development and spiritual traditions. Bamboo's remarkable flexibility and robustness are an enduring symbol of these qualities. Despite its delicate appearance, bamboo possesses an extraordinary tensile strength, which allows it to withstand harsh weather conditions and grow even in adverse environments. This duality of strength and flexibility in bamboo reflects a powerful lesson: true resilience does not come from rigidity but the ability to adapt and bend without breaking. In our lives, this can translate to maintaining our core values and inner strength while being open to change and capable of adjusting to life’s inevitable challenges.

When my son was four years old, I was a single mom working a full-time job as a technology executive. I was his primary caregiver and provider. And I was so proud—maybe too much so—of the power and sheer force of will I could muster to do it all myself. I even had the Chinese symbol for strength tattooed in a place I could see every day to remind myself, “Hey, you got this!”

And then something awful happened. He was injured and had to undergo an amputation of his lower left leg. My sweet son, the light of my life, the reason I told myself I was “doing it all for”, was forced into a life-altering situation, and there was NOTHING I could do. No amount of strength or internal fortitude, no force of will, nothing I could do, was changing it for him...

Clearing mental clutter is an essential practice that can transform your life. In our fast-paced world, we’re often bombarded by an endless stream of information, distractions, and responsibilities that can overwhelm our minds. This accumulation of thoughts and worries creates noise that can hinder our ability to think clearly and tap into our gifts of intellect, imagination, and intuition and to focus on what truly matters. By consciously taking steps to declutter our minds, we not only find peace but also create space for creativity and clarity to flourish.