My Inner Shakti

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Sonal Singh’s Inspiring Journey – From Chemicals to Biscuits

written by Parita Leave a Comment

I’m so excited to share today’s post. As you know, I love inspirational stories, especially from mamas who work hard to make their dreams come true (whatever that looks like). Today’s mama, Sonal, did just that, and I find her journey so awesome. But more than that, I love that she never gave up and went with the twists and turns life threw her way.

I’m lucky to call Sonal a friend, and when I asked if she was interested in sharing her story on MIS, she quickly agreed.

So grab your favorite snack and be prepared to be inspired. Oh and follow Sonal on IG at @deargirlslovemom. Her feed is filled with beautiful food, stories about motherhood, and her general thoughts and ideas. I love the mix and the authenticity with which Sonal shares.

Ok, enough from me. Over to Sonal…

A few weeks ago, after I launched my biscuit buisness, Parita reached out to me to share that she felt inspired by what I am doing. Truth be told, I don’t think she really understands how following her blog has been regular doses of motivation for me. I guess that goes to show that when you really are true to yourself and who you are, others find pockets of your story to inspire with them.

I digress by saying, I did not, and even in this moment, DO NOT have my shit together. Even with an equal partner in parenting, a mother-in-law to help, and a father-in-law that jumps in when he sees I’m about to lose my mind when raising my girls, I still don’t get a shower in every day, there are many peanut butter or avocado toast lunches, the TV still is on duty to help baby sit, and I still have a post baby body to love more than I would like to admit most days. Some of this may change as the girls get older, but I have my arms open to all the other unforeseen challenges to come. It’s my life, and my lane. I can’t and won’t change my past for someone else’s no matter what has happened because there are too many lessons I’ve learned to get me to where I am and where I want to go. That is gold right there.

While try I to write my story so that my daughters grow up knowing they have a strong, motivated, daring, hard-working mother, they and the rest of the world should also know I am full of mistakes that I learn from, failures so that I can grow, and scars to remind me that I am human. 

There aren’t many things that have not gone exactly as planned in my life. Most of my 5 year plans get thrown off but I think taking chances and living in the moment has helped me accept curve balls. The first big one being meeting my husband. I was on the “screw boys” parade when I met him and never looked back after our first date. We went ring shopping six months into dating on my first trip to Vancouver (where I also fell in love with Granville Island and the small culinary school there) and were engaged by eight months. Since that trip to Vancouver, Darren, my now husband, always asked me why I don’t just go to culinary school. He knew my love for cooking and was always my biggest cheerleader when I would tell him about my dreams of having a successful cooking blog. It was comforting to know he had my back but I never acted on it because I was blissfully content.

Finally in fall 2014, after having our dog for less than a year, I decided it was time to give up my career as a chemist. I loved my job and how dynamic it was, but as we started to think about wanting a family one day I knew the things worried I was already bringing home around our dog would give me more anxiety once we had kids. Some of the chemicals I have worked with in the past were toxic enough to make a man go sterile to give perspective of the types of hazardous materials I would use. Darren was also at a point in his career where he could either choose to venture into having his own private practice in Canada or keep working in the States. So after a years of Darren’s encouragement to go to culinary school, I applied to The Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts in Granville Island, and was accepted to start in January 2015. We packed up our house in Tallahassee, Florida and drove to Vancouver, Canada with a car full of our things and our dog in December 2014. A curve ball in my 5 year plan that I never thought would happen even after I knew I was marrying a Canadian.

Highly recommend a cross-country road trip! One of the best trips I’ve done and can’t wait to do it again with my girls. 

Once in Canada, it really hit me hard. I had lived away from home since I was 18 but being 3 time zones away from my friends and family and in another country really took a toll on me. I LOVED being in school and all the fun exciting opportunities I was getting. My imagination was going wild with the creative dishes I could make with every ingredient imaginable. But when I would leave at the end of the night, I felt isolated and alone. Darren was working opposite schedules than my school schedule, and I spent more time talking to our dog than I would any of my family or friends because of the time zone difference. Pastry school was a bit easier since I was in morning classes but days felt long because right after school, I would go to my our clinic to help Darren with administrative work. I heavily depended on him for a social network and continued to struggle to find my own community here. There were many days where I questioned what I had done. The worst part is the questioning would continue for years to come.

I graduated in December 2016 and skipped my graduation to help at the clinic. It’s where I knew I was needed for the future of my family. Sometimes people ask if I regret never going into the industry after getting my culinary and pastry degree and the answer is still “no!” I know what the industry requires. The biggest thing chefs sacrifice is time for themselves and family. I was well aware of this before I even went to school so the fact is not a surprise to me. My diploma is valuable to me because it is proof that I took a chance on myself. It fulfilled a part of me that I suppressed to fit into this idea of what I was expected to be. Ultimately this chapter of my life will serve as an example for me to talk to my girls about following their dreams and happiness.

Fast forward to September 2016 when I find out I am pregnant. It happened a lot faster than we anticipated and it was only a matter of days after when I really started feeling the intensity of the hyperemesis gravidarum- basically non stop severe nausea and vomiting that landed me in the hospital almost weekly for my entire pregnancy.  My pregnancy journey for both of my girls left me with A LOT of post partum anxiety. Something I didn’t even know was a thing until my second was about 9 months old. I got pregnant with my second while my first was only 10 months old so I was NOT ready to do this again. So much of the trauma from my first pregnancy manifested itself the second time around especially since I had hyperemesis gravidarum again, but this time while raising a strong willed toddler.

My life between September 2016 to January 2020 was filled with lots of emotional and mental ups and down. I felt like since birth I was groomed to go to school and have a career and that motherhood would just naturally come to me. That there were some magical hormones that would tell my brain and body what to do so that I would be a happy mom. Obviously not the case as any mother will tell you. We are all struggling and thriving! We are all sacrificing and growing! This is why I felt compelled to share at the beginning that I am just another mother taking it day by day. I knew the day my first daughter was born that getting myself to feel like I have a grip on this was going to take time. I had been to hell and back with my pregnancy and I was NOT going to let myself or anyone make me move on from how terrible it was until I was ready. Letting go of a timeline to get back mentally allowed me to pay attention to my day and how to be better or simply just survive the next day. There were days I felt like I was wasting valuable time because all I could do give my girls all my energy leaving nothing for myself. I felt like there was no end to these difficult baby/toddler days and that my life would never have purpose beyond being a mom. But simple reminders of where I was and how far I’ve come would allow me to refocus on how this is MY story and the two people that will likely want to know it needs to see how I grew.  

Which is why, after many unsuccessful cooking blogs, I have now found the perfect one. My blog, Dear Girls, Love Mom is filled with love letters to my girls. It is the passion project I want to leave them with so they look back and read about their childhood through my eyes and my motherhood journey with them. An extension of it is a small, one man business I started this year in the middle of Covid-19 called Yo Momma’s Biscuits- a place to get southern style biscuits in Vancouver.  Even though I never worked in the industry, there are binders and binders of valuable knowledge I have on food businesses and recipes that I want to share with my girls and anyone that follows my blog. I have many dreams about where Yo Momma’s Biscuits will take me, but, like I learned from my recent years of becoming a mom, I’m taking it one step at a time. Biting off more than I can chew is a recipe for disaster so I am okay with keeping it simple and orders at a minimum. 

I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned in the last 5 years is give yourself the grace you give others, and also ask from others. It wouldn’t be a lesson if it was easy to do. As you can see I am not some well-to-do, big shot, boss babe (although I call myself that in the mirror to boost myself esteem). I am a Mom just trying to be the best example I can be to my girls by living the lessons I want to teach them. If someone can find inspiration in that, then I hope to connect with them so that we can champion motherhood together. 

Written on July 1, 2020 Related:guest post, Life, motherhood

Why My Inner Shakti Revisited

written by Parita 2 Comments

I’m switching gears today from Coronavirus talk to something else.  Thought I would share a bit more about the name of my blog and why I decided to go with My Inner Shakti.

Back when I started my blog (2011), I shared a post about ‘Why My Inner Shakti?’  Why that name for my blog and what it means to me.  At that time, my blog was very ‘Parita’ centric.  MY life, MY healthy living journey, MY trials and tribulations, etc. 

To be honest, my blog is still very much about me (ha!), but I’ve taken a different approach over the past few years.  Instead of sharing my day to day life, I’m focusing on sharing things that may be helpful to people.  Things that are a bit more topic focused.  I also switched from writing about healthy living to motherhood.  Kaiden is the most important person in my life right now, and everything really revolves around him, so why not write about that.

With that being said, the name of my blog still fits.  If nothing, the past few years have taught me to work that much harder to find my inner shakti on a daily basis! 

Here’s what I said about My Inner Shakti back in 2011…

My Inner Shakti (my inner strength) represents something very powerful to me.  It signifies the importance of having a strong, loving relationship with yourself.  This is not an easy feat…trust me!  Up until now, I defined myself not by my own character and strengths, but by how I perceived myself to be as a daughter, sister, girlfriend, friend, employee, etc.  I thought that if I could always be the best [insert relationship], I would be happy.  However, the more I tried to be the best Parita for everyone else, the less fulfilled I felt on the inside, in my gut.  Slowly, I started to realize that the relationship I really needed to work on was the one I have with myself.  Don’t get me wrong, I still strive to be a good daughter, sister, girlfriend, etc.  I love my family and friends!  BUT, lately my efforts have revolved around figuring out what things give me My Inner Shakti and pursuing those. 

My Inner Shakti can mean different things to different people.  We are all unique individuals with unique views, passions, and ideas.  The one thing that we should all remember is to not stop ourselves from being happy and doing the things that enable us to build strong relationships with ourselves…life is too short.  My hope is that this blog will inspire people to find the little things that make them happy and give them their inner shakti and always remember that…

For years, My Inner Shakti was about self-love.  And while that’s still a part of the equation and always will be, it’s so much broader now.  It’s about finding that strength within and sharing it with others.  It’s about authenticity and letting your light shine bright.  It’s about lifting others up and helping them shine too.  It’s about not taking things so seriously and finding small joys every day.  At the end of the day, it’s about going within and knowing you are enough and that you can make a difference.  It’s about believing in yourself and enabling others to do the same.

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matter compared to what lies within us.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

Like I did in 2011, I welcome you to join me on this inner shakti journey. 

Written on March 20, 2020 Related:Blogging, Uncategorized

Nine Lessons from Nine Years of Blogging

written by Parita Leave a Comment

Happy 9th birthday to My Inner Shakti!

I can’t believe I started blogging nine years ago! I remember it like it was yesterday.

My very first blog design!

Even though blogging has changed completely since 2011, I still love it just the same. I foresee myself keeping up with my little corner of the internet for another 9+ years at least. Mainly because y’all would miss me! 😉

I thought I would share the nine biggest lessons I’ve learned from blogging to help celebrate this momentous occasion! And of course, lots of chocolate will be consumed today as well!

In no particular order…

  1. Don’t focus on other people – what they think, what they might say, etc. When it comes to things like this, it’s more about them anyways!
  2. If you feel a strong pull to share your creativity (whatever that looks like) with the world, do it…NOW! When it comes to blogging, there’s honestly no time like the present. And trust me when I say, once you get started, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do so much earlier.
  3. Don’t focus on the numbers too much. They should never be your driving force. Those who are meant to find you will do so when they are meant to find you.
  4. You passion/creative outlet doesn’t have to turn into a side hustle or your full-time job. Sometimes it’s better to let a hobby stay a hobby.
  5. Your blog will grow and change as your life grows and changes. That’s ok. I started out mainly writing about my healthy living journey. I now mostly write about motherhood. Not because I don’t love healthy living type stuff, but because being a mom is front and center right now. That’s also where a lot of my creativity and ideas are. So that’s what I write about. It’s a lot simpler than we make it, people!
  6. IRL > online life. Every now and then, forget about your blog, your IG page, and social media in general and live your life. Don’t write/share about it either. Let IRL stay IRL!
  7. Don’t ever compare your journey to anyone else’s. Creativity is unique to each of us. There’s no use in comparing, so just keep doing your thing!
  8. Use whatever your thing is to connect with like minded people. It’s WAY more fun that way!
  9. If something truly brings you joy, find a way to keep it in your life. I connected with so many bloggers early on who I LOVED. Sadly, most of them no longer blog. I know time become scarcer as we get older, but I truly believe that the things we love always deserve a place in our lives. Find a way to keep going!

And that’s all she wrote, folks!

I know I say this a lot, but THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for making time to visit this little space of mine. Every single interaction means the world to me! MIS would be nothing without youuuuuuu!

Lots of love!

Written on January 21, 2020 Related:Blogging

Sharing a Little ‘ING’

written by Parita 3 Comments

Something I want to get back to (and I’ve shared this before) is old school blogging.  Blogging about life, current happenings, random stuff.  I still LOVE the blogs that keep it informal and real.  More of that in 2020 for sure!

With that being said, the ‘ing’ type posts were super popular when I first started blogging, so I thought I’d bring it back today. 

Without further adu – here’s what I’m feeling, travelling, sweating, seeing…and on and on!

FEELING – To be honest, I’m feeling a little bit of everything right.  Thankful, calm, and overwhelmed at times.  Part of this, I know, has to do with DST.  I hate that it gets so dark so early, and I know that it impacts my mood for sure.  As I’ve alluded to in the past, I’m trying my best to implement strategies to keep the negative emotions at bay – scheduling me time, fun activities for K, date nights, etc.; making sure I have one thing to look forward to every week; picking good books that I don’t want to stop reading; going to the office 1-2x a week; not skipping workouts.  Just a few things I’m doing to combat the ‘winter blahs!’

TRAVELLING – We/I have three trips from now until the end of December – Bahamas (all of us…for a good friend’s wedding), London (just me…for work), and Atlanta (all of us!).  I think all this travel all around the same time is adding to my overwhelm, but I’m trying to focus on the fun aspects versus the stressful ones.  Even though it doesn’t feel like it all the time, we’re giving Kaiden a gift by taking these trips and creating memories.

SWEATING – I was on such a good workout streak, and then all of the aforementioned travel started.  I’m still trying to get in 3-5 really solid workouts in every week, including classes at my gym, treadmill runs/walks, Barre3 online, YouTube workout videos.  I can use all the endorphins I can get!

SEEING – Kaiden grow up in front of our eyes!  It’s crazy but I feel like he’s a different kid every day.  He has recently started talking to Alexa…more like bossing her around…but it’s the cutest!  He’s also asking at ton of questions like, “Mama, what are you doing?  Where did dada go? Why?”  And then when I answer he either says, “otay” or asks the question again!

WATCHING – We’re still watching The Americans (even though it’s been a minute).  And I’m still watching This is Us and A Million Little Pieces.  I like that I don’t have a ton of shows on my lineup but that I love each one that I do.  It’s a good feeling!

LISTENING TO – You guys know me…I’m all about that podcast life.  Currently, I’m really loving The Happiness Lab, Mommy Group, The Time-In Talks Podcast.  Highly recommend checking them out!

READING – I’m currently reading The Tattooist of Auschwitz.  I’m only on chapter 6, but it’s a heartbreakingly beautiful book so far.  I’m a little obsessed with World War II books.  I can’t imagine living through that, so I want to immerse myself in the lives of the people who did.  Anyways, will post a review to my IG page once I’m done.

WRITING – I’m writing a lot for my IG page and less for the blog itself.  Something I want to change going forward.  I have lots of ideas and plans for 2020, and I’m hoping I can use my December ‘break’ to figure that stuff out!

LOVING – It’s hard to pick one thing.  As cheesy as it sounds, I’m really loving my husband right now.  I mean, I love him always and forever, but over the past few weeks, I’ve taken the time to really appreciate him and our relationship.  He’s my #1 supporter, the best dad, and just someone who genuinely wants to see me happy.  LOVE MY, BOO!

EATING – More salads, that’s for sure!  On this week’s meal plan I have, Cookie and Kate’s Chilaquiles, Pinch of Yums Kale, Butternut Squash, and Lentil Soup, and Piping Pot Curry’s Lemon Parmesan Orzo.  Can’t wait!

WEARING – You guys, it’s officially winter here in Chicago.  Whoomp, whoomp!  And this means I’m wearing my legit North Face winter jacket, Uggs earmuffs, and North Face Gloves…plus a scarf, boots, etc.  Basically, the whole nine yards.  It’s going to a long few months!

PLANNING – I’m planning to start planning at the end of December!  I got a new 2020 planner and it’s very different from what I’ve used in the past.  Don’t worry, I’m going to be sharing more about this very soon!  I’m so freaking excited…it’s a little stupid!

Ok, so that’s what’s been going on in my life!  I hope you have an awesome weekend!

Tell me – what do you think of old school blogging?  So, more about the blogger’s life versus what the blogger thinks about specific topics.  Of course, you can incorporate the latter into the former and vice versa, but the back in the day blogging had a different feel. Would love to hear your thoughts!

No portion of this post is sponsored.  However, affiliate links are included. There is no extra cost to you, but I do receive a small commission on anything you buy through my links.  Thank you for reading and supporting My Inner Shakti!

Written on November 8, 2019 Related:Bloggin, Life, random, Uncategorized

How I Integrate Life, Work, and Blogging

written by Parita Leave a Comment

A while back, I asked my Instagram followers about the things they want me to share more about.  A couple of people asked about how I balance blogging/IG with work and life.  Great question, and I finally have an answer.

Before I give you a taste of my secret sauce, let me share a bit of background information for anyone who’s new around here…

I’m a full-time working mom to a two-year-old little boy who’s the light of my life.  I’m married to the love of my life, and the three of us live in Chicago.  I work for a global professional services firm on the Global People and Culture team as a senior project manager (in a nutshell).  I’ve been with my current organization for over seven years and have worked in Miami, St. Petersburg (100% from home), and now Chicago.

In terms of this blog, I started it in January 2011 kind of on a whim.  I had been reading healthy living blogs for a year leading up to this point and finally decided to start my own when my best friend posed the question, “Why not you?” 

MIS started as a healthy living blogpodge (lol!).  It’s definitely evolved over the years as my life has changed.  I’d now characterize it as a motherhood lifestyle blog that covers all my passions and interests.  Vague?  Sure, but that’s part of my secret sauce!

Some of you may also follow me on Instagram where I share stories, ideas, etc. as well.  That’s another platform that I love sharing, connecting, and engaging on.  I’ve had an account since 2012 but started using it a little differently about two years ago when I became a mom.

Ok, so that’s that!  Now for my secret sauce.

  1. First and foremost, writing, connecting, engaging, and building a community is something I’m VERY passionate about.  It’s the sole reason why I’ve been able to keep going for so long.  If you’re not deeply passionate about what you’re sharing, if you don’t believe in what you’re saying/sharing, if you’re not authentic about it, you won’t be able to stick to it long term.  Period.  With that being said, sometimes this means that you write and share about a variety of topics (MIS is truly a blogpodge!).  I know they say that to succeed with blogging, you have to have a niche, but I know myself, and if I only focused on one area of my life, MIS would’ve died a slow death years ago.  Do YOU!
  2. If you’re not motivated or are lacking passion, don’t write.  People can tell when you’re half-assing it.  Also, giving yourself the gift of time and living your life usually helps increase creativity. 
  3. I used to have a detailed content calendar.  Then I became a mom.  I know this works really well for some people, but not for me (at least not right now).  Now, I try to plan my content out a week at a time…if that.  Sometimes it’s just an idea that comes up and I write about it.  Sometimes it’s something I’ve deliberately plugged in for the week.
  4. Capture your ideas as they come to you.  I have random blog ideas in my blogging notebook, my notes app, and my email.  This helps make time for the actual content creation/writing. 
  5. I use a lot of my ‘free’ time to draft posts.  Early morning, lunchtime, nap time, nights, etc.  Thankfully, after nine years, the ideas and words come to me fairly quickly/easily.  I formulate all of my posts in my head, capture as much as I can when I can, and then edit and share.
  6. 80% good is good enough for me.  For example, some people focus on pictures.  For me, I focus on my words and the depth of my content.  Some people do both well, but that’s not me.  I know this and don’t beat myself up for it and then procrastinate because my pictures aren’t great.  This ultimately gives me more time to focus on what’s important to me…writing and engaging.
  7. And finally, have boundaries.  Family/life will always come first for me.  Then work and then blogging.  This can be all consuming, especially when you love the blogging/IG world, but I constantly remind myself that this blog is a very special hobby.  Absolutely nothing will not fall apart if I don’t share or keep up with this space!

I hope this answers the question that was posed.  There’s no perfect formula or way to balance the things that you love and are passionate about.  At the end of the day, you just have to do and be you.  😊

Your turn – how do you integrate life and your passions (doesn’t have to be blogging)?

Written on October 2, 2019 Related:Blogging

A Blog for Everyone

written by Parita 1 Comment

Sorry to interrupt our usual High Five Friday, but today I’m sharing about some of my favorite old fashioned blogs. Not Instagram blogs but websites you click on and read.

A little backstory. I started My Inner Shakti (the blog!) in January 2011. At the time, most of us who blogged did so in a ‘dear diary’ type of way. Some even blogged multiple times a day. Obviously things have evolved since then, but I still love my old fashioned blogs. They’re almost like reality shows but in the best way possible. You really get invested (but not in a creepy way).

The following list of blogs are ones that I personally read and love. They span a number of different genres and categories, so I hope you’ll find at least one that you love!

RAPTITUDE – This blog is for those who think very deeply about topics like happiness, joy, mindfulness, etc. I love how David articulates his thoughts and gets his readers to approach human topics from different perspectives.

TANVII.COM – I’ve been reading Tanvi’s blog for years. She covers everything from lifestyle topics to fashion and books. She’s honest and unapologetically herself.

JUST GOOD SHIT – Rachel’s blog is a relatively new one for me. I used to read her previous blog and was excited to see her pursue a different kind of space online. She not only shares her perspectives on every day topics, but she also shares recipes, hacks, etc. Personally, I love her aggregated list of Just Good Shit reads.

LIFE AS LAUREN – Lauren’s blog is one that I’ve been reading for years as well. I honestly love the ‘dear diary’ feel of her writing. You can just tell she loves her life. I always leave her blog feeling positive.

A CUP OF JO – If you follow me on Instagram, you already know I adore this blog. It’s covers everything from parenting, to love, to recipes, to life, to you name it. ADORE!

HONEY WHAT’S COOKING – This food blog is way more than what meets the eye. Through her delicious recipes, Nisha shares details about her life and the things she’s passionate about. I actually had the opportunity to meet Nisha when we lived in Miami, and I can personally attest to how fun and kind she is!

SWEET TOOTH SWEET LIFE – Again, this is another blog I’ve been reading for a very long time. I love Courtney’s down-to-earth personality and approach to motherhood, her marriage, food, fitness, etc. This is one of those blogs where you definitely get invested and are cheering on this adorable family from the blogging sidelines!

THE SHU BOX – Last but not least, The Shu Box. I love love love Sarah’s blog because she shares her life as honestly and simply as possible. She’s a physician married to a physician, and she has three adorable kiddos. Her blog has inspired my own writing and parenting in so many way. I truly look forward to her posts.

Fun fact – Sarah is the co-host of the Best of Both Worlds podcast. The one I was a guest on last April. If you’re looking for a good motherhood podcast, this is a great one!

And of course, My Inner Shakti…duh! I hear it’s a MUST READ! 🙂

Written on September 6, 2019 Related:Blogging, Uncategorized

Present FULL Mama Talks About Being a Social Media Inbetweener

written by Parita Leave a Comment

Hello!  I’m cross-posting with the beautiful Present FULL Mama today. We’re talking about being inbetweeners in the social media world. Wondering what that is? Well, read on and also give Archana a follow on Instagram!

Also, if you’re interested in reading my thoughts about the topic, check out Archana’s blog.

Ok, take it away, A…

I chose to be an inbetweener because there’s no pressure to be anyone but me. I trust the process of growing my following organically and feel blessed that I have the option, as influencing is not a source of income for me.

I got started in social media when I chose to be a stay at home mom for 8 months, when my second child was about ` years old. I know not the typical time one decides to stop working, but I really wanted to be present in a different way for my children. Simultaneously, I really craved a way to connect with the world in a supportive nature. Let’s be real- as much as I wanted to support others, I needed that support through finding connection with others. Plus, I thought it could be fun to share my process of becoming a licensed therapist as a woman of color and a mother because there ain’t nothing like real life to put theories to a test, am I right? . 

My main message through the social media world is around authenticity. Of course, there are textbooks and countless amounts of material to share how you can live a more authentic life, but I wanted to honor that process and show how it’s not a linear one. Each one of us has a unique story and each one of us deserve to have our own process, and for me that includes the love for the arts, spirituality, embracing the badass woman power and all that it entails – so yes that means my feed will contain the raw messy photos along with the creative staged ones because both versions are sides of me. And through sharing this, maybe others will try on to be present, real, and authentic while living a conscious life. Start where you are, come as you are as I always say.

More often than not, I love to share about mental wellness through an integrative lens and share the tools that I have been formally and currently trained in that I truly value. That is, you can guarantee I apply such interventions in the therapy room and personally. Oh but another thing about me- I am no expert on your life. Nope, you’ve got the answers within you for you- trust that.

In terms of making time for all this, I feel blessed to be able to work part-time and stay fulfilled that way.  It’s a juggling act and a skill I’m trying to hone, because my ego will play games with me, inviting me to the motherhood battlefield of guilt. Some weeks, I’m better at posting, some weeks not so much. But I share what feels right and I always ask myself, “Does this bring me joy or satisfy my creative juices?” And when it does, I post.

If you end up following me, you should know that I’m an open book.  I thrive on vulnerability and authenticity because I’m addicted to internal growth, and just perhaps I inspire someone in the process. 

What else is there to know about me? Well, I’m having another baby? =)

Okay but if you want to be an inbetweener too, just be you and put yourself out there. If you believe in your message, it will shine, and others will see it. Be real. Try not to attach your self-worth to how many followers or likes you have. Ask yourself, “When I reach a certain number of followers, what will that achieve for me?”  Another suggestion, blog for you, not for anyone else, even if that means no one reads it or likes it or comments. Do it for you and chances are you will feel deeply satisfied.

Thank you, Archana, for this fun collaboration. I loved reading your perspective and am so thankful to have you as a fellow inbetweener with me on this crazy social media journey!

Written on August 26, 2019 Related:Blogging

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