I froze.

It was one of those moments that doesn’t just stop your body — it stops your thoughts, too. Everything narrowed down to that one sensation: pain. But once the initial shock settled, I knew this wasn’t just about my back. This was something deeper.

We all have moments like this. A sudden symptom. A wave of anxiety. A tightening in the chest. Something that doesn’t make sense on the surface — or maybe it does, but still feels like more than just a physical reaction.

What I’ve learned — both through personal experience and in my work — is that these moments are not interruptions. They’re invitations.

They ask us to pause. To check in. To listen not just with our minds, but with all the layers of who we are.

We are multi-layered beings

When something unexpected happens — especially in our bodies — our first instinct is often to explain it away. We look for a cause, a solution, a way to fix it. But healing doesn’t always begin with fixing. Sometimes, it begins with listening.

Over the years, I’ve come to understand that we are not just one voice or one way of knowing. We are multi-layered beings, and each layer has something to say.

There’s the part of us that thinks logically, the part that doubts and questions, the part that takes action and gets things done. There’s the body — which speaks through sensation and memory. And there’s the soul — the wise inner guide that helps us make meaning of it all.

And beyond that, there’s a deeper presence available to all of us: a divine perspective that reminds us we are not alone, and that life is unfolding with greater care and wisdom than we can often see.

When we slow down and create space for each of these layers to speak, we get the clarity we need to figure out the next step — not from outside, but from within.

Listening to the layers within

In Becoming Soulful, I introduce the Map of Spirituality — a way to understand ourselves as layered beings, made up of the Human Self, the Soul, and the Divine Self. These three aspects form the foundation of soulful living.

Each of these parts brings its own voice, wisdom, and way of knowing. And when something feels off — emotionally, physically, or energetically — it’s often a sign that one or more of these layers is asking to be heard.

Let’s briefly look at each one:

• The Human Self is the part of you that functions in the everyday world. It thinks, feels, decides, takes action, and helps you navigate life practically and responsibly. Within the Human Self, you might recognize a few inner voices:
  • The Logical Mind – the part that analyzes, organizes, and plans. It wants things to make sense and often leads with reason.
  • The Second Guesser – the voice of doubt and caution. It questions, worries, and tries to prevent mistakes or discomfort.
  • The Body – speaking through sensation. It holds memory, stress, and wisdom — and often knows what’s happening before your mind does.
  • The Proactive Doer – the part that says, “Okay, now what?” It takes purposeful action, solves problems, and responds to your needs.
• The Soul is your inner guide — the bridge between your Human Self and your Divine Self. It offers grounded insight, perspective, and truth that often arrives with calm clarity.
• The Divine Self is not just another voice. It’s a state of expanded awareness — a higher perspective rooted in trust, possibility, and connection to something greater than you.

When you slow down and give space for each of these parts to speak — not all at once, but gently and intentionally — you begin to understand what’s really going on.

Not just at the surface level, but at the root.

A personal story: When I let each part speak

Earlier, I shared how a sharp pain in my back stopped me mid-movement as I reached for a jar in the kitchen. In that moment, it was just pain — intense and sudden. But later, as I stood in the quiet of my home, I knew this wasn’t only about my body. Something deeper was being stirred.

We were in the midst of planning a move. Moving was nothing new for me. I had done it many times before, across cities, states, and even countries. But this time, something in me didn’t feel fully grounded.

We were still working out the financial details. There were unknowns and responsibilities I was holding. And in that moment of physical pain, I knew: my body was speaking. So I turned inward.

I began by sitting down with my journal. I gave the logical mind space to speak. I wrote:

This move makes sense. You have a financial plan. It’s aligned with your bigger vision. You’ve done this before, and it always works out. This is the right next step.

Then I invited in the second guesser — the part of me that doubts and worries. She had a lot to say:

How can you leave a home you love so much? This apartment became more than a place to live — it was sacred, creative, safe. What if the new house doesn’t feel like home? What if it’s too much? What if it’s the wrong choice?

Next, I closed my eyes and tuned in to my body. I listened — not to my thoughts, but to the sensations and memories stored in my muscles and bones.

What I heard was:

I’m scared. This is too much stress. Do you remember the last move and how overwhelming it was? Do you remember the exhaustion, the emotional toll? I don’t want to go through that again.

I offered my body compassion. I didn’t rush past it. I just said, I hear you. It’s okay.

Then I connected with my soul. I placed my hand on my heart and asked, What is the deeper truth here? I didn’t write right away. I simply listened.

And then the words came:

Breathe deeply. All is well.
You are guided. You are loved.
You are wrapped in kindness and care.
You are not alone. No one is forcing you.
You have choice. You have wisdom.
You are supported — by your partner, your community, and by something greater.
Source is with you. It always has been. It always will be.

As I opened my eyes, something had shifted. I felt more spacious. More grounded. That’s when the Doer in me quietly rose. She didn’t push. She just knew: It’s time to take the next step.

I picked up the phone and called my chiropractor.

They had exactly one appointment left for the day — and it was mine.

When I arrived, he told me I had pulled a rib. He adjusted it and gave me physical relief. But he also said something I already knew:

You need to do the emotional work around the stress. Listen to your body.

And I did.

I still am.

What this process teaches us

That moment of back pain could have been just a physical issue. And yes, it needed physical care — I’m grateful for my chiropractor and the immediate relief he gave me. But it was also a doorway.

Instead of rushing to “solve” the pain, I paused. I gave space to the parts of me that had something to say — not just my mind, but also my body and soul.

And in doing that, something shifted. I moved from feeling tense and scattered to feeling clear and calm. The stress didn’t disappear, but I was no longer tangled in it.

Each part I checked in with had its own truth. The logical mind brought reasoning. The second guesser brought fears and attachments. The body brought memory and vulnerability. The soul brought wisdom. And through the soul, I touched the quiet strength of the Divine Self — that deeper perspective that reminded me I was safe, supported, and not alone.

And only then — after listening, not before — I felt the quiet rise of another voice:
The part of me that could take the next step.

The Doer.

Not out of pressure, but from a place of grounded knowing.

That’s the power of checking in with the whole of who you are.

Clarity doesn’t always come from thinking harder.

Sometimes it comes from listening deeper.

Try it for yourself: A soulful check-in practice

You don’t have to wait for pain or overwhelm to use this practice. Anytime something feels off — a decision, a moment of tension, a sense of confusion or stuckness — you can pause and check in with the layers within you.

Here’s a simple way to begin:

1. Start with your logical mind
   Ask: What do I know? What makes sense here? What are the facts or the story I’m telling myself?
   Write down whatever comes — without filtering or editing.
2. Invite your second guesser to speak
   Ask: What am I doubting or afraid of? What’s making me hesitate or question myself?
   Let this voice speak honestly. It often holds past experiences or tender places that want care.
3. Tune into your body
   Close your eyes. Take a few slow breaths. Notice what you’re feeling physically.
   Ask: What is my body telling me? What feels tight, heavy, warm, or calm?
   You might hear emotions, memories, or physical needs arise.
4. Connect with your soul
   Place your hand on your heart or belly.
   Ask: What’s the deeper truth here? What feels aligned with who I really am?
   Wait. Listen. You may not get words right away — sometimes the soul speaks in stillness, images, or a quiet sense of knowing.
5. Open to the Divine Self (expanded perspective)
   Ask: If I zoom out, what becomes clear? What would trust or love want me to see right now?
   This isn’t about solving the issue — it’s about remembering that you are supported, connected, and not alone.

You might want to write it all out, or just sit with it quietly. Either way, trust what arises. There’s no right or wrong way to do this — only your way.

A final note

Life doesn’t always wait until we’re ready. Sometimes it interrupts us with pain, doubt, or uncertainty. But inside each of those moments is an invitation — not to push through, but to pause and listen.

You don’t have to figure it all out from the outside.

You hold wisdom within you.

Your mind, your body, your soul — even your doubts — all have something to say.

Your Human and Divine Selves hold more wisdom than your thinking mind alone. If you’re curious to explore your inner world more deeply, read about how to embrace both.

When you listen to each part, you begin to move from confusion to clarity, from fear to grounded next steps.

You don’t have to do it perfectly. Just start with presence.

And here’s a question for you:

Is there a pain you’re experiencing — physical, emotional, or energetic — that might be an opportunity to listen more deeply and get to the core of what’s really going on?

You don’t have to navigate it alone.

Give yourself permission to receive support.

Let me help you get to the root of your imbalance.

👉 Book a reading with me — and let’s listen, together.