My Items

A holiday ritual

In my last post , I shared a few tricks I use to maintain my inner peace. Today, I want to share a ritual I like to practice during the holidays, as I prepare to transition to the year ahead. You see, the New Year also brings my birthday. So, right after the holidays, I celebrate another year of being alive and I set my sights to the year ahead. In this post I’m going to share this method that helps me prepare for the year ahead. 1 - Take some time to decompress. I take a break from work and people, and find times of solitude, even in little chunks, to allow myself to just be. No expectations, no pressure. No negative self-talk. Take out the words should / should not, need to, must / must not. Instead, I listen to my body. Maybe a nap or some sun and a walk is in order. Read a book. Have that hot chocolate. Once you’ve given yourself enough time to decompress, you will feel it in your body, as you begin to feel like yourself again. If you feel like “ah, I don’t want to start doing stuff just yet” listen to that. It probably means you need a bit more time to allow yourself to decompress. So, don’t rush it. Allow yourself to just be. It’s amazing and this is an incredibly productive process. Trust the process! 2 - Put the past year into perspective. When you have sufficiently decompressed, you will begin to feel like you are ready to do some introspection. Here are some prompts I use to help me with this: A list of things that I’m proud of, make/made me happy, things I feel in love with, moments that brought me joy. Start with the things that make me smile when I think about it.
A list of aspects that I am grateful for in 2022. This helps me tap into the best part of myself.
Now that we have started on a positive note, we can begin to peel off some layers. **note - pay attention to the language of these prompts. Note how I don’t use judgmental language or frame it negatively. I love myself, I value myself and, therefore, I want to treat myself the best way possible. Negative language does not help me with that. I chose to use positive and empowering language, instead.
What are some of the challenges that I faced?
How did I face them?
What are some ways that I can face these challenges better next time?
What are some things I wanted to complete this year but didn’t get to it?
( being very gentle with myself ) Why didn’t I compete these? (Again - please hold back the judgment, because it serves no purpose.)
Did I not complete it because maybe it doesn’t align with my core values that I have been actively practicing? ( Analyze, not judge. Analysis looks at facts, not emotions. Judgment is emotion driven and tends to ignore facts)
3 - Release some aspects in your life that no longer support you being the best version of yourself. Now that you have put the past year into perspective a bit, look at what you need to release that is no longer helping you be the best version of yourself. Sometimes it means letting go of people, projects, and behaviors, and sometimes it means better boundaries for yourself. Understanding what serves you and what doesn’t is fundamentally important for your inner fulfillment. To quote Marie Kondo, the queen of decluttering physical spaces, “The best way to choose what to keep and what to throw away is to take each item in one's hand and ask: “Does this spark joy?” If it does, keep it. If not, dispose of it. This is not only the simplest but also the most accurate yardstick by which to judge.” We are going to take a page from her wisdom and declutter our minds. We are going to ask ourselves “Does this person/ thing/ project/ activity spark joy?” If the answer is no, release it. These three steps have been a time tested method for me in the past decade. It has helped me reconcile the past year, find closure and be at peace, and set off to the new year with the kind of energy that I like. Wishing you and your loved ones a Wonderful 2023! With much gratitude, Manori PS: If you want to start off 2023 with balanced energy & renewed motivation, I invite you to visit the Mind Spa for a session . For a first-time customer, I recommend booking a 60 min Mind Spa Experience ($89) or if you are a returning client, book a 90 min Mind Spa Experience ($139). Book here

Managing stress during holidays

(Originally from our Winter 2022 Newsletter sent to our subscribers on Dec 19, 2022) If you are like me, holidays are a time of excitement and joy, but they are also a bit hectic and stressful. I love the holiday spirit, cooler weather, crisp air, and the holiday cheer. But, I am neither a fan of all the artificial pressure that builds up at the end of the year, nor of the consumer culture, not to mention the stress that comes with traveling. During the holiday season, I’ve found it necessary to build a ritual and intentionally plan some down time to my schedule so I can maintain a sense of integrity of who I am. Otherwise, with all the activities, all the year end deadlines and commitments, it's easy to find myself in a mild state of burnout. Burnout doesn't bring out the best in me, so managing the stress levels is key. Here are some of my quick and easy go-to practices to maintain inner equilibrium: Find 3-5 mins every few hours to take a break from work. I use this time to do one of these things: take some deep breaths drink some water meditate a few minutes water my plants and/or talk to my plants check in on my partner make myself some tea / hot chocolate / coffee / other warm drink of choice One of the bigger aspects that gets effected is my sleep. I am a very light sleeper so it's important I prioritize that. So, I communicate to my partner (and friends if I'm planning to meet them) that I need to be in bed by x time so I can get enough rest.
Schedule wellness sessions like therapy, acupuncture, Mind Spa and other wellness practices ahead of time so when I need it, I'm not scrambling to find appointments
Maintain my regular workout schedule
Go for walks. Being outside and getting some sun, and even some light activity is very helpful to maintain a steady mood.
Play with your pet Mental & physical wellbeing is not only grand gestures or activities that require big commitments. They can be small but consistent set of activities that help you stay committed to your overall wellbeing. Successfully managing stress during the holidays requires recommitting to yourself. In other words, every time you take small actions, you are renewing your commitment to your well-being. Hope you have a wonderful and safe holiday season! With Best Wishes, Manori PS: If you want to manage stress and start off 2023 with balanced energy, I invite you to visit the Mind Spa for a session . For a first-time customer, I recommend booking a 60 min Mind Spa Experience ($89) or if you are a returning client, book a 90 min Mind Spa Experience ($139). Book here

Success and Future Attractors (with core values as a foundation)

(Originally from the Newsletter sent to our subscribers on Aug 11, 2022) In our July newsletter, we explored the topic of Core Values and a few techniques to identify them. Then, a client asked me “knowing my core values helped me with my short-term goals, but then what?” . So, this month, we will explore how core values can be used for success and as future attractors.
It was interesting for me to hear my client’s perspective because I realized that there is a need to further unpack the true potential of identifying our core values. After all, this is work we need to do in more than one session. I’ve always used my core values as a GPS, they help me zoom out to the bigger picture and gain clarity regarding those areas in my life I want to prioritize. So, let’s examine what we can do with core values, together.
First, let’s review some of the benefits of knowing your core values: Self Knowledge: To know your core values is to know yourself. You have to know what brings you joy. Knowing your core values requires the kind of intimacy with yourself that relies on radical honesty, self-compassion, and non-judgment.
Confidence: With deep self-connection and self-knowledge comes a foundation that you can use to build self-confidence. You are most confident when you hold integrity. You are most confident when you align with your values. Paired with healthy boundaries, and continuous practice of implementing these boundaries, you will become more confident.
Goals: Once you know your core values, that can help guide what you should base your goals on. If financial freedom / stability showed up as a core value, you can list goals related to financial stability like starting investing in a retirement plan or setting some savings goals. So, how do you leverage values for success and create powerful future attractors*?
In early August, I created an Instagram reel about Success. (Sidebar - if you are not following us on Instagram , do so for weekly bite-size Neuma Being musings and wisdom) In this post, I shared some insights about abundance and success. There are two questions that I ask myself that help me navigate the topic of success: How do I define success? Does success correlate with money and material possessions and/or is success defined by how much I live by my values? For example, one of my most significant values is having the freedom to be my authentic self; this means being engaged in activities and relationships that bring me joy, meaning, and purpose. If I have this, I am successful.
What is the relationship I have with success? Do I think that I am worthy of these things that I defined as ‘success’? You will be forced to confront your beliefs on worthiness in answering this question. In an upcoming newsletter and blog post, I will write about my own journey of exploring and discussing worthiness. These two questions not only put success into perspective but also helped me recognize the abundance I am already blessed with and surrounded by.

When you know your core values, you will be able to prioritize and set goals both long and short term. It will assist in envisioning the future you want for yourself, reinforced with your ideology of success. If you can visualize your future successful self, you can start building a bridge between your current self and your future self with actionable steps. One final note on this topic - your values will change over time. Some of my values have changed in response to sociopolitical and environmental factors. That fluidity enables me to see my core values as something that evolves, just as I am evolving. If you are curious to learn more about how to tap into your higher self, increase happiness, and attract success, I invite you to visit the Mind Spa for a session . For a first-time customer, I recommend booking a 60 min Mind Spa Experience ($89) or if you are a returning client, book a 90 min Mind Spa Experience ($139). Book here With Warm Regards,
Manori * Note - Future Attractors: If you want to understand more about the topic of future attractor, you can listen to this delightful podcast episode courtesy of the non-profit ICRL.

What do you value the most?

(Originally from the Newsletter sent to our subscribers on July 19, 2022) These past few weeks, the sessions at the Mind Spa have had a collective theme of values. Because of these community conversations, I felt called to design our July newsletter around Core Values; what they are, how to identify your own, and how examining your values can bring clarity to your life. Sara Sutler-Cohen, Ph.D. defines core values as “ the root beliefs that a person or organization operates from. They are the principled perspectives that guide a person or organization’s behavior with others .” Principles are what you believe in; your philosophy in life. However, your choices show what you truly value. Your actions and behaviors reflect those values. When you identify what is important to you, you can use that knowledge as the foundation to build your life, goals, habits, and even thoughts! Connecting with your values highlights how coherent you are with your philosophy in life. This process is the matter of integrity to your core. There are so many ways to identify your core values. Here are two of the techniques I have leaned on while figuring out my own: Technique 1 - Find a bunch of key words that appeal to you. A few examples include: Family, Relationships, Learning, Excellence, Innovation, and Quality . Then, articulate why they appeal to you. How much of that word do you live by / integrate / work towards in your life at present?
Technique 2 - Identify what gives you true meaning in life. What is most important to you? Note: this doesn’t have to be one thing. You are a multi-faceted person and different values can bring fulfillment and meaning to each of those different facets. For example, I have found that creativity, empowering the creativity of others, and authentic relationships are most important to me and therefore a core part of who I am - these are three of my top core values. Your core values are the foundation for your being and can provide clarity whenever you are struggling, lost, or feeling challenged. Leaning on your core values can be leveraged to unlock your potential, reach your goals, and become successful. I invite you to journal using these two techniques and use the questions as prompts to help identify your core values. If you would like some guidance and / or more techniques to delve deeper into identifying your core values, I invite you to schedule a session at The Mind Spa. Together, we can explore how your personal values can help you become your most authentic self

If you are a first time customer , I recommend booking a 60 min Mind Spa Experience ($89). Or if you are a returning client , a 90 min Mind Spa Experience ($139) or a deep dive Creative Mentoring session ($350) with Manori is recommended. Use code 10%OFF at checkout for a discounted session price. Book here With warm regards, Manori

Maybe you are feeling this way too...

(Originally from the Newsletter sent to our subscribers on June 9, 2022) I was struggling to find words to start this newsletter. There have been a lot of emotions surrounding so many things happening around us. I was finding it difficult to anchor my thoughts to write something positive to you. Then, I acknowledged that maybe trying to say something positive was not the point. A friend reminded me that I am not alone in feeling this way right now. No one has to feel OK or positive in light of the horrors of violence and bigotry around us. I was reminded of a quote by Brené Brown : “Staying vulnerable is a risk we have to take if we want to experience connection.” At times, when I struggle to articulate my emotions or feel overwhelmed because of the sheer amount of information coming at me, I turn to a life-giving method that helps me to process the type of collective grief and angst we have been experiencing these past few weeks. For this newsletter, I thought of sharing that process with you.
Step 1 - Permission: I give myself the permission to feel. I also give myself permission to stop when it gets overwhelming. This allows me to be flexible with navigating through the world of “feelings” and “emotions”. Brown says “We cannot selectively numb emotions, when we numb the painful emotions, we also numb the positive emotions.” Emotional well-being is critical for the work that we do at Neuma Being. That is why, when Nelson and I came up with the framework for Neuma Being, we identified 5 aspects of being: Body, Energy, Emotions, Mind, and Environment. For other aspects of our lives to be in balance, emotions also need to be in balance.

Step 2 - Identify: When I allow myself to feel, I can identify the specific emotions. I ask the question: “What is this emotion?” or “What am I feeling?”. Brené Brown’s Atlas of the Heart is one of the books that can help with the classification of emotions. You can read this book or watch the HBOmax Show by the same title.

Step 3 - Articulate: Then, I take the time to articulate. “What am I feeling in my body when I feel this emotion?”, “What are some topics coming up along with that emotion?”, “Why do I feel the way I feel” or “What specifically about this situation triggered this emotion?”

Step 4 - Take the time: I allow myself ALL the time I need to sit with this emotion. Rushing through helps no one. Meditation, reflection, journaling, and Mind Spa journeys help me with this. It is through this reflection that I find which actions need to taken.

Step 5 - Action: Sometimes action is actually sitting with these emotions until I get clarity with my thoughts. Other times, action is taking solid steps to address or rectify the situation - for example, that could be going out and voting for leaders who align with my values, and supporting organizations that fight for the causes that I care about so much. “Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It’s about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen.” - Brené Brown So we invite you to take time this summer to explore all the emotions and feelings that you may be feeling around the chaos of our present society. No one has to deal with the terrible tragedies that struck our communities across the US these past few weeks alone. If you feel like you need support to go through this process, please work with a therapist, psychologist or counselor. Use this link to locate a therapist near you.

The Mind Spa is also here to supplement that process. If you or anyone you know has been struggling or could do with a bit of an uplift, stop by for some tea or book a session at The Mind Spa. I’ve created a discount code for anyone who needs my support. Book a session at The Mind Spa by Neuma Being and use code 10%OFF to get 10% off any of our services. Reserve your journey today! I leave you with one final quote from Brené Brown: “Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.” Continue to be brave. And I am here to support you! With warm regards and blessings, Manori

Are you on track with your goals for this year?

(Originally from the Newsletter sent to our subscribers in March 9, 2022) I want to share a tool with you that I personally found to be very powerful in helping me maintain focus on all things that are important to me.

So what is this incredible tool? I make daily affirmations of commitments to myself based on my goals, priorities and values.

Since the beginning of January, I have been focusing on a few of my commitments and made really good progress within these areas in my life because of this daily practice. There are a few topics I'm focusing on: Prioritizing health Aligning with my higher self & my life mission Investing in relationships These are some of the daily commitments I am making in these areas: I commit to improving my physical health by sleeping better, exercising, eating better, and quality rest I commit to managing a work schedule that empowers my well-being. This means generally working less and having boundaries so I prioritize improved health I commit to improving the quality of my most meaningful relationships I commit to strengthening my energy practice so I can better align with my higher self and empower others better These affirmations are helping reprogram my subconscious and everyday I'm making small tweaks to my life to help get to my goals.

Here's an example of my progress:

I've been working out at least 3 times a week with my trainer - we had some hiccups and our gym was flooded by a faulty fire sprinkler. It's been undergoing repairs for the past 2 weeks . And the old me would have just thrown in the towel. I talked to my trainer and we are training in the courtyard now until the gym is back fully functional.

Another example:

I've started cooking and eating healthy again. Nelson and I also use this time for bonding and quality family time. We sometimes call our family while we cook. So we are working on 2 commitments in one go - working to strengthen the relationships and prioritize our health.

It's never too late to start your daily affirmations. And affirmations are a great way to stay engaged and make progress towards your goals. When you start your transformation journey with us at The Mind Spa , we are empowering you to uncover your potential and achieve your goals. Through this, we hope you use your authentic expression to connect deeply with our world. Together we will uplift our communities and improve our world. With Warm Regards, Manori

Bringing the Mind Spa to you (Virtually)

You are already familiar with our guided Altered State Journeys using the beautiful Neuma Lounge at the Mind Spa. During the last lockdown in LA, I started receiving requests for virtual guided journeys. Here’s the thing. When Nelson and I learned to experience heightened states of consciousness decades ago, we did it applying techniques the old-fashioned way. I must have been around 12 or so when I had my first one. I was meditating for a couple of hours that night, in lotus position, in my childhood bedroom in a small town in Sri Lanka. All of a sudden, I started feeling like I was expanding like a balloon and I soon found myself at the ceiling, looking down at everything. I was seeing colors and felt like floating. Nelson has a similar story. When he was 16, in Florida, he was dabbling with self-hypnosis and lucid dreams when he had his first substance-free "trip." Over the years, we learned many techniques to induce Altered States - all without the use of substances. We continue to use several altered state techniques to this day to help us manage stress, thrive in our lives and our work in engineering and architecture. In fact, we got the idea for Neuma Being when Manori was in an altered state right before falling asleep after a day long hike, in Colorado, back in 2016. These techniques and our experiences inspired us to design and prototype the Neuma Lounge. While the lounge is the fastest way to get to these states (in as little as 20 mins!), we discovered the techniques themselves are powerful enough to reap many benefits. Connect to your creativity to find inspiration Reduce the risk of stress and burnout Experience deeper relaxation Feel Rejuvenated Deeper connection to yourself and your environment Reduce Anxiety and Discomfort Cognitive Shifts Authentic Bliss & Gratitude Enhanced Focus Connect more dots / Creative Problem-Solving ... and the list goes on.
One of our clients Mallorie is seen here doing a Virtual Mind Spa Journey When you book a Virtual Mind Spa Journey, you will get to have a discussion about what you are looking to achieve. Then, based on that we will curate a guided journey for you. With detailed instructions, you never feel like you are left to figure things out on your own. One of our beta testers described these journeys as meditation but x10 and without frustration. The guided instructions are layered with some beautiful soundscapes. Manori designed these journeys with the intention of optimizing the experience with a specific outcome in mind. Learn to dive deep into your subconscious and
tap into the creative, healing and transformative power within. Sign-up for the Virtual Mind Spa today and discover an accessible, affordable way to continue your personal wellness journey. Click Here to Book Your Journey Now Blessings! Manori

Not another New Year Resolution

Happy New Year!!! With 2020 safely behind us, we are all very excited and optimistic about 2021. We all want to take the good and put away the bad and the ugly that came with 2020 and make a better year out of 2021. One of the most common tools used in setting off in the New Year is establishing New Year Resolutions. It often involves making a list of things one wants to achieve or a set of goals. I’ve found it to be more productive to set intentions, instead. What you are doing is setting up a set of commitments and a general theme that is lived everyday, instead of focusing on a specific achievement in the future. Intentions typically revolve around the relationship with yourself and others around you. As Nelson beautifully put it: "intentions are built on your values." So this year, I decided to share a little bit about setting intentions that can help you set the tone for the year ahead. Start with your values - When I was talking to Nelson a few months ago, I asked him to define the biggest difference between principles and values. I always found these two to be intrinsically connected. He defined them this way: "Principles are what you believe in, your philosophy in life. But, your choices show what you truly value. Values are what shows through your action and behavior". For example, these are some of my values - meaningful relationships, community empowerment, pursuit of knowledge. When you know what is important to you, you can use that as the foundation to build your life, you plans and activities. Your values can show how coherent you are to your philosophy in life. It's a matter of integrity to your core.
Commitment - I found it to be the most useful to frame my intentions as a commitment. Commitments are great because they are agreements that you make with yourself. Making a commitment requires you to know what you want and how far you are willing to go for it. For example, one of the intentions I set for myself this year is "I commit to showing up as I am, imperfect and compassionate towards myself." Last year, I confronted my need for control and perfection in a huge way, and I learned so much. So this year, continuing to accept my imperfect self is on the top of the list. It was very rewarding to go through that growth crisis very much. Here are a few tips for coming up with good commitments:
Chose an active verb - a few examples: Align, ignite, develop, grow, awaken, appreciate, own, cherish, change, value, love, manifest, receive, birth. As you can see, I chose "commit" as my action verb in the intention I shared with you.
Ownership - rather than setting up the intention to "let go of unhealthy relationships" frame it as "I commit to setting healthy boundaries."
Progressive tense and make it dynamic - adding "ing". This indicated your ongoing commitment. Example: I commit to showing up ...
What is it that you want to confront? A challenge or a something you wish to overcome, or grow. This is essentially skipping on the steps of what you will do to get there, but keeping an open mind for things to emerge, so you can learn unexpected and new things. Frameworks are great, but sometimes they can be limiting. So not having a framework of how to confront or overcome, but rather focusing on the outcome leaves space for beautiful thing to emerge.
Positive reinforcement - Frame them as positives instead of negatives. You are choosing to put the energy on the positive outcome as opposed to the negative cause. So, take away the energy from what you don't want, and put your energy into what you really want. Example: "I commit to my whole health and healing" (Positive framing) vs. "I commit to stop eating things that I know are bad for my health" (Negative framing).
The Formula - Daniel Knickerbocker came up with a great formula in writing commitments. "I commit to ________ing in/as ________" , instead of I want to, I hope to, etc. Very powerful. Because you are making an agreement with yourself and the tone is compassionate. One of my mentors, Suzy Batiz says in her ALIVE OS course to print out or write down these commitments and have them displayed in many places that you will see as you go about your day. The idea is to continue to engage with these intentions and continue to pour energy to them. Nelson and I wish you and your loved ones a very healthy 2021, filled with abundance! xx Manori PS: If you are looking for a little help to reset your path and get more clarity on how to flourish and thrive in your life, we have a new training program that can be done online now or in-person, when the lockdown is lifted. Book a discovery call to see how we can help you thrive

In honor of this time of gratitude - Challenging a belief: Lack of time

Happy Thanksgiving! 2020, in it's weird signature fashion, presented us with a Thanksgiving Day here in the US that kept many of us from surrounding ourselves with loved ones. It's been a bit hard. But it has also given us an opportunity to reflect upon what we already have and normally take for granted. For me, this Thanksgiving reflection consisted of a marvelous journey I have taken these past two months. I wanted to share that with you. Somewhere in September and October I realized that the one thing I complain about all the time is how I don't have enough time to do all that I have to do. I want to share how interrogated that belief and reframed my mind about it. When I have this "scarcity of time" mindset, it first shows up as stress and anxiety. I carry around this burden that I have so much to do on my mind. I become anxious, irritable and quite easily overwhelmed. Then, it begins to show up on my physical body. My body begins to show signs of stress as shoulder pains, tight back or knots, and tightness at the back of my neck. I begin to get frustrated. That feeds into the anxiety, and then I unleash the self-judgement and begin to compare myself to everyone and everything. It becomes a vicious cycle and I begin to spiral down. If I am not aware and don't take action, this can lead to burnout. I also noticed that my behavior relating to this belief mostly shows up when I am a little unaligned with my authentic self. Something feels a bit off, and it makes me a little uncomfortable. Now, I have learned to look for various cues that show up in myself - mind, body, energy. So, when it happened in September, I knew it was time to confront it and it was prime time to do something about it. I chronicled my journey in confronting that belief and getting to the bottom of it in three IGTV posts . The first step was identifying that I have a belief that I don't have enough time to do all that I have to do. Let's unpack that statement. "I don't have enough time." In fact, I have the same amount of time as everyone else. We all have 24 hours a day, no more, no less. That part of the statement shows some really interesting information. Is there a hint of inflated sense of self-importance? I am more important that everyone else that I deserve more time? Is there a sense of rebellion against the natural order of the space time continuum? No, universe! You shall not tell me how much time I have in a day and how much I chose to do. What exactly is "enough" time? Enough time to do everything or enough time to do everything perfectly? What exactly even is enough? When do I decide it is enough? How much is enough? Let's look at "... enough time to do all that I have to do" What are all these things that have to be DONE? Why do I HAVE to do all these things? WHO says I have to do them? Who says I have to do them ALL? How does "doing-them-all" aligns with my short term goals? How do they align with my long term goals? If they are not, then why am I doing them? How much time - proportionately - am I spending on those? What things can I delegate, outsource or simply not do? And how WELL do they have to be done? So, you see, there are a lot of problems with that statement. I realized I have been looking at it all wrong. So I questioned if this is coming from a mindset of scarcity of time, what would abundance of time look like? I had a real hard time wrapping my head around what would "abundance of time" look like. It was unlike anything else that I've reframed my mindset on before. When I think about abundance of anything else, it is thinking of expansion - of joy, love, health or wealth, etc. But, time is THE ultimate finite resource. We experience it linearly. It is fleeting. What is lost is gone forever. Everyone, very democratically and equally, has 24 hours in a day - unless you are on a different planet with a different rotational period around its own axis and the orbit around the sun. So, I spent a few days just pondering this. It was quite an enjoyable mental exercise actually. It required me to weave between philosophy, science, and emotions. I ended up having a lot of appreciation for the human idea and the experience of time. My mind was pretty blown about the constructs we have created about time. Then, I arrived at how this lack of time is actually to do with time management; to be precise, task management. I couldn't help but to proceeded to really interrogate the concept of “time management” and went on a philosophical exercise. The term "time management" gives this false sense of comfort that we can actually control time. But if you actually think about it, it's how we manage our lives and our tasks within the 24 hours of the day, CHOOSING how much time we decide to allocate to every task. Then, I looked at ways how I already HAVE abundance of time - I have the freedom to whatever I want to do, whenever I want - because of the job I created for myself. That is huge. So, I do already have A LOT of abundance of time. Then, I was confronted with 2 important and deep questions: Am I using the idea of "having to do all of these things" as an excuse to hide from some truths? What are my absolute priorities and what tasks should I get rid of completely based on my priorities? That lead me to a deep dive into where my need to do all these things come from and ended up with: I need to do all these things to feel good enough if I do all these things then I can control the outcome I am overcompensating for my feeling of inadequacy and feeling like an imposter by trying to do many thing, all at the same time - and I wanted to do all of these perfectly I am consciously choosing the need for perfection getting in the way of good enough Wanting to do all of these things is a form of perfection itself I am doing so many things to keep myself busy from deeply engaging with myself I also noticed how by keeping my schedule way too packed, I was not allowing myself any "visionary" time that is critical for this startup I am just starting.

At the root of all those beliefs about control and perfection was a second tier belief that "If I am perfect I will be safe". It came up in a therapy session that I operate with a foundation I set up so long ago in my life, I made a secret deal with the universe that if I was perfect I will be safe. I will speak about that in a separate post. I am still working my way through it.

I made a bunch of radical changes after roughly the 10 days of chewing through this belief. And spent another few weeks implementing some changes. I forced myself to take a mini sabbatical from work. I decided I am going to prioritize how I take on tasks, in a way that I can maintain MY integrity and maintain the integrity of the commitment I made to myself in my self-growth. I decided to reduce the number of clients I see a week and I raised my session prices. These were all required to align with my authentic self, value my worth and honor myself and the company we are building. If I am not honoring myself, as the CEO, I am not able to honor the beautiful things that emerge for this company. There is a lot of value on sitting with an idea and letting it simmer and cook for a while. The tail end of this very productive exercise of interrogating my relationship to the beliefs around time, coincided with me starting Suzy Batiz's Alive Abundance course in End October. There, I started doing Byron Katie's Four Questions method to interrogate all of my beliefs. A lot has emerged from that. I will share those findings with you in a new post soon. Stay safe during this holiday season, connect with your loved ones virtually. And invest some time in your personal growth! Much love, Manori PS: Give a gift of self discovery to yourself and / or yourself + a loved one. We have a fantastic holiday sale we kicked off this week. Click on the links below to buy gift vouchers Neuma Mind Spa Experience: Holiday promo price $100 (Regular $135) Neuma Mind Spa Experience for two: Holiday promo price $180 (Regular $225) Virtual Neuma Mind Spa Experience: Holiday promo price $90 (Regular $110)

Pilot Study results are here!!!

The pandemic disrupted EVERYTHING! It felt like everything came to a complete stop. But of course, it didn't! Because that's the nature of being. Mother nature had a much needed break and had an opportunity to bounce back. Humans slowly but surely adapted to this new reality and find new ways of being. The resilience and grit on display has been very promising. Our plans for Neuma Being were also thrown off track for a little bit and we pivoted and we are persisting through the pandemic. Gladly between the second wave and the third wave of the pandemic (or are we still in the same first wave? 🧐), we were able to start and finish our pilot study we were hoping to do in March-May. We will soon release a white paper outlining the results of a pilot study of 85 users that were surveyed on their Neuma Mind Spa experience, featuring a guided altered states journey and the Neuma Lounge technology. The white paper summarizes our findings and the scientific benefits of mindful altered states and common sensations  associated with them. © 2020, NEUMASCAPE STUDIO, INC. All rights reserved Photography - Emi Kitawaki / Model - Rachel Labovitch The results were overwhelmingly positive! They exceeded our expectations based on the assumptions we made in starting this journey. An astounding 98% reported feeling better than upon arrival after their time at the Mind Spa  — with 89% describing themselves as more “relaxed” and 94% as more "tranquil" as well as “alert, focused, or aware.” A sense of being recharged or re-energized was reported by 83% of users . This stress, fatigue and burnout relief does not immediately dissipate, either. Follow-ups revealed that 80% of users continued to feel more relaxed, tranquil, and recharged over the next one to three days. When asked about their experience, the results were almost unanimously positive with 78% reporting “loving” the experience. In addition: 93% would like to repeat the experience 97% would recommend the experience to a friend 81% would like to have a Neuma Lounge at work and 76% would like to have one at home In their own words, participants described the Neuma Lounge experience as “relaxation without intoxication,” "dry flotation," a “contactless massage,” and even “needle-free acupuncture.” The result was a quick, easy and affordable altered state, often resulting in a “cognitive shift” that users carried within themselves for days. Additionally, 98% said their overall experience was “novel” and unlike anything they had engaged with before . The most common sensations reported by Neuma Lounge users correlate with those associated with altered states like hypnogogia , lucid dreams, and out-of-body experiences. Altered states can provide creative inspirations, insights, breakthroughs, and an improve a sense of overall well-being. These were some of the sensations reported: © 2020, NEUMASCAPE STUDIO, INC. All rights reserved These results have confirmed the effectiveness of the Neuma Being approach and the need for the Neuma App, for a range of Neuma Lounge units, and more Neuma Mind Spas around the world. Contact Neuma Being to receive a copy of the white paper, email <hello@neumascape.com> If you would like to find out more about Neuma Mind Spa Experiences, click here to read and compare what each experience suits you best. *Note - We are taking a very limited number of in-person appointments every week during this pandemic spike. We don't have any walk in appointments until further notice.

Creativity, Authentic Self, and Transformation walked into a bar...

What happens when we peel of layers of learned behavior?
🌟 You can access you most authentic self 🌟 This learned behavior or programming tells us how we should or shouldn’t think, talk, or acting. We are shaped by how our families, cultures, education systems tell us how we should think, talk, or take action. So, we build these layers of personae on top of who we really are, and we start embodying those. Sometimes, we are really even ashamed of who we really are or what we really want to do. However, Creativity has a lot to do with authentic expression. So, every time we numb our true selves and ignore that authentic voice, we go a little farther away from who we really are and from that true expression that’s critical for creativity. There are many things you can do to access and tap into the most authentic self. The most effective and sustainable methods require you to peel off these programmed or learned behavior layers and shed them. Here are some tools that are useful in identifying and peeling off those layers: Mindfulness & heightened states - I regularly supplement my therapy work with Mindfulness and heightened state practices. This allows me the much needed introspection and understand my inner mechanisms. Not only do mindfulness and heightened state practices increase clarity of thought, focus, and help improve relaxation, they can also provide the energy balance that is required to maintain the integrity of one's self. Therapy - It was not until I started therapy that I made progress by leaps and bounds. I have found out that working with licensed professionals is not only great from my mental health but it also supports me tremendously in my personal development. All the aspects that I noticed in myself through mindfulness and heightened state practices were able to be addressed properly through therapy. I went to a therapist first to address some of the trauma and mental well-being. Through working with him, I learned a lot about myself and continue to uncover so many of my patterns of behavior and thinking and use it in my personal growth. Support group - A group of supportive individuals, even strangers, who are committed to uplift each other and hold space for growth to occur can be a powerful tool in this progress. Realizing that I was not alone in going through some of these issues was a big step for me. It gave me the courage to do something about it. These peers also showed me that I can address these challenges in a healthy way, without passing judgement on myself. That judgement can add a layer of unnecessary pressure that makes it even harder to do this transformative work. It feels much easier to do this hard work in a group than trying to do them alone. Mentor or Coach - Having A mentor or a coach can be also be a great source of support through your journey. You can lean on their expertise and experience to give you clues to navigate through this journey. They can often lead you to explore deep within and ask the right questions to look for answers within. My long time mentors Nanci & Wagner offer energy mentoring and training. You can book them here . My new mentor Suzy Batiz has a kick-ass 8 week mentoring program that helped me reconcile a lot of stuff with business and life. I am currently doing the program for the second time. You can join the wait list for the next round here Articulation / Journal - This was an unexpected discovery for me. I only started journaling recently but it has become a very potent tool in self analysis and awareness. The act of writing down requires me to articulate and this is one of the important steps in beginning the healing work. I use a 4 step method in this process as articulated in this diagram: Nelson and I have been working on this for nearly 2 decades now. Both of us independently started our consciousness journeys in our teens without being fully aware this is what we are doing. By our early twenties we had become aware of the raw potential of these mindfulness and heightened state practices but it was not until the last decade that we have fully come to harness the absolute raw power of these practices and the states. So, when we created Neuma Being, we wanted to be absolutely sure that we are hand picking and curating practices that have been the most effective for in being our most authentic selves. And it has been such a rewarding and wholesome journey to create these products and experiences to empower others to tap into their authentic selves. When you start your transformation journey using our ecosystem, we are empowering you to peel of the old programming and uncover the real you. Through this, we hope you use your authentic expression to connect deeply with our world. Together we will uplift our communities and improve our world. If you want to start your transformation journey and don't even know where to begin, well you have come to the right place. Book a FREE 15 minute discovery call with Manori. You can ask questions and find out how we can support you in your transformation in manifesting in your most authentic self. ⭐️ Click here to book your discovery call today! ⭐️ xx Manori

Taking care of plants and animals as a method of self-care

For millennia, humans have turned to gardening as a way of stress relief. Some cultures such as Japan have terms like forest bathing to describe spending much time immersed in nature. But in urban environments, garden spaces are limited and apartments are too small and modern lifestyles make us all too alien to nature.
Nelson and I have always lived in apartments since we married and never had the fortune of having a garden to cultivate and grow. My parents, on the other hand, have a large garden full of tropical plants and trees ranging from fruits to vegetables, flowers to spices. Both my parents are gifted with green thumbs. But I used to be the opposite. Plants would come to reside with me to meet their certain deaths.

In 2007-08, I took one of the most life changing courses I have ever taken. The IAC (International Academy of Consciousness) was offering a 1 year course called "Goal: Intrusionlessness". In this course, we had an opportunity to dive deep into ourselves, and identify aspects that are limiting us or holding us back. At this point in time, I didn't have the healthiest relationship with myself. I was stuck at a point of not exactly liking myself for who I was. We had two instructors for the course Nanci Trivellato and Wagner Alegretti. And Nanci was my personal mentor. During one of the personal energetic mentoring sessions, she shared with me a tip to improve my relationship with myself. She said to take care of a plant and to focus on something other than myself. I can't remember if we explicitly discussed the outcomes, but I now understand that this has allowed me to bond with something deeply, therefore allowing for a greater connection to self.
There are countless studies such as this one that explores the many possible benefits of gardening and green space on mental and physical health. Some benefits of interacting with plants and nature are: Stress reduction and relief Boost creativity Improves physical health - Boost immune system, lower blood pressure, exercise and physical activity involved with gardening or being in nature Improve your connection to earth and nature. Grounding. Improve your connection to yourself Delight - let us not forget how delight is an underrated basic human need.
13 years fast forward to present, I am a mom of over 50 indoor plants of varying sizes, a cat, and I am also nurturing many meaningful relationships with family and friends. Over the past decade, I have established a great rapport with plants. I hardly let plants die at my hands. Now, I take so much pleasure in connecting with them, intuitively navigating how to take care of them, and helping them thrive. I also propagate and distribute plants among my friends now.  Nelson says "not only your plans have plans, your plants have plans"

Connecting with plants has allowed me to try to pay attention to their very subtle yet unique "energy". Their life force or chi is distinctly different from ours. I have learnt to tune into the minutiae of even the tiniest plants that I steward, it has facilitated a sort of a precision with even my own energies. This has allowed me to notice the subtle shifts in my mood or my energy. Also I became aware of how plants began to thrive when I cared for them, gave them love and paid attention to them. And something shifted in me and clicked when I realized "what if I nurture and care for myself?! Will I thrive the way these plants are?" - that was such an aha moment. I just had to care for myself the same way I cared for my plants - with love, kindness, and attention. I wouldn't credit all of the progress I made with improving myself to taking care of a few plants. But I definitely give them credit for giving me a beautiful urban oasis that I love to be in, that welcomes visitors to Neuma Mind Spa and  where I can create, recharge AND live the most aligned version of myself.  Also they have most certainly helped me connect with myself better in some way or form. Try taking care of a plant today and see what shifts happen within and around you.
- Manori

PS: I came across  this wonderful resource that has a lot of information about forest bathing. I recommend you read some of it.