Unlocking Wellness & Spirituality: My Journey and How It Can Transform Yours

My Personal Story: From Struggles to Spiritual Growth

Growing up, I was shaped by my experiences ---the good, the bad, and everything in between! Each challenge, each lesson, made me who I am today. But with those experiences came anxiety, depression, self doubt and a lack of confidence. Growing up with ADHD wasn’t easy. I realized something was different about me as soon as I started kindergarten. No matter how hard I tried, I never seemed to be "good enough" in the eyes of my parents and teachers. The cookie-cutter school system overwhelmed me. I wasn’t a troublemaker, but some subjects just didn’t click the way others expected them to.
Beside my grade I was often being bullied at school so making friends was incredibly challenging throughout my school years. Looking back now, I understand why my parents had such high expectations of me, I grew up in one of the poorest neighborhoods and a highly competitive environment.  To my parents, having good grades were seen as the only path to a better future. But little did they know that pressure weighed heavily on me. I lived under the constant burden of others expectations but without much support and encouragement, which chipped away my self worth and confidence until there's nothing left.  To this very day, I still vividly remember a moment in kindergarten when I was overwhelmed with sadness, questioning why I was even born. I now realize I had been struggling with depression from a very young age, which explains the frown in all of my school pictures. But deep down, something kept whispering in me that I was meant for more!  That my worth wasn’t defined by grades or others opinions. I just had to find it.

A Shift in Perspective: Finding Strength Through Spirituality

My desire to understand myself and others have driven me to seek deeper meaning of my live. I wanted to know, "What am I here on earth for?" I knew that to find the answer, I had to be strong. I began shifting my mindset and perspective to ease my struggles, even when the challenges seemed impossible at times. The curiosity of finding my self eventually led me to spirituality, and it changed everything! It saved me from self sabotage, it helped me regain confidence, healed my anxiety and depression, answered my deepest questions, and provided the clarity I had been searching for years.
My journey of spiritual growth has really been life changing!  Now I’m here to share what I’ve learned. I know many others other there can also relate to these feelings and if you’ve ever felt lost in negative emotions, I want you to know that you’re not alone. I hope my story and insights can help guide you through those emotions, turn pain into wisdom and help you step into your own spiritual glow up!

The Misconceptions: Spirituality vs Religion

For the longest time, I thought spirituality and religion were the same thing!  I grew up hearing negative stories about religion from my parents and the media, which made me really skeptical.  I believed that spirituality was just another belief system that could lead people down a strange path and bad things can happen to them. I even thought of it as a “cult” that could make people lose themselves.
But I was so wrong! Spirituality and religion are completely two different things!!  Unlike religion, which is often based on 3rd party teachings and rules, spirituality is a deeply personal journey. It’s about self discovery, growth, and inner wisdom, not about following any restrictions or believes. You have full control over your spiritual journey and the freedom to explore any paths you choose. Once I embraced this, I realized spirituality wasn’t something to fear, it was the key to my own transformation.

Why Spirituality Matters for Your Well Being?

Spirituality isn’t just about deep thoughts and meditation, it’s actually directly linked to your very own happiness and how you experience your life. Once you start practicing spirituality, everything shifts for the better! I promise! It’s like unlocking a superpower of the ability to understand others, seeing the bigger picture and navigate life’s challenges with a brand new perspective! 
Imagine you’re driving home after a long day and someone suddenly cuts you off, flipping you their middle finger in the process.  Instead of reacting with anger, stepping on the gas chasing them down for revenge, spirituality teaches us to pause, take a deep breath and apply some compassion, maybe, just maybe they are having a very terrible day, under tremendous stress struggling with something beyond our knowledge?  With this shift in perspective, you will instantly let go of your frustration without carrying any of other's negativity back home and instead you move forward with compassion and kindness. Instead of allowing this moment to ruin your day, you choose peace over conflict, making a conscious effort to break the cycle of negativity.
The true is difficulties and conflicts won’t disappear, life will always have ups and downs but spirituality changes how you handle them!  Instead of feeling overwhelmed, you’ll start to see challenges as lessons, not punishments. You’ll realize that setbacks aren’t roadblocks but stepping stones. Imagine turning every sour moment into something sweet like we always said --- turning lemons into lemonade? 
I’ve faced hardships that once felt impossible, tears me in pieces, breaking me from the  inside out.  But with a new mindset, I learned how to move through them with ease and resilience and even appreciate all of the hardships that ever happened to me because I know these lessons have shaped me in to a wonderful individual of who I am today!  And you can too!

Here Is How To Tap Into Spirituality & Enhance Your Well Being
So, Let's talk about how do you begin your own spiritual journey!  Here are some simple yet powerful ways to get you started:

Practice Mindfulness – Be present in the moment and observe your thoughts without judgment. Start with just 5 minutes a day. For example, really tune in to how the air feels on your skin. When you eat, savor the flavors and textures of your food. When you have a conversation with someone, be fully engaged, notice the little details, the expressions on their face and the energy in the conversation exchange. Over times, as mindfulness becomes a natural part of your routine, you can gradually increase the time you spend on practicing it.  If you are like me that I often need a little reminder to stay present, our Panda Collection represents balance and harmony, wear it as a gentle nudge to slow down, breathe, and embrace the now!

Embrace Gratitude – Who would have known how even just a little gratitude can create such a big impact! Shift your mindset by focusing on what you have rather than what you lack! How many of us are guilty of waiting for the "BIG things" to happen before we allow ourselves to be happy?  Like getting that promotion you have always wanted, finding the perfect partner to be in love with? Or buying your dream car?  But when those big milestones don’t happen right away, we often feel down and often feel quite empty inside. The truth is, happiness is already within our reach! Think about it, we take so many "basic" things for granted like being able to walk, taste, and see, to name a few, those abilities are already incredible blessings! Even something as simple as enjoying a fresh piece of fruit or acknowledging the people who work diligently to keep us safe and healthy can really shift our entire perspective! Try listing at least three things you're grateful for everyday, it’s a simple habit that rewires your brain for positivity and I promise you’ll feel much happier every single day!
    
  Connect with Nature – Did you know that working with crystals is another way to connect with nature? Crystals have been used for centuries to promote healing, balance, and energy alignment. I personally love working with crystals and wear them daily! I truly believe the magic of crystals when combined with meditation because crystal energy has helped me heal from anxiety and depression while bringing back my confidence! Each morning I pick different crystals to wear and mediate with as different crystals hold different properties!  Like amethyst can help calm the mind, while rose quartz promotes love and emotional healing. By carrying, wearing, or meditating with crystals, you can harness their energy to support your spiritual journey! By the way, we have a beautiful selection of crystals bracelets, check them out! 

And of course, spending time outdoors when you can is very powerful! Whether it’s taking a short walk in the park, watching the sunset on your porch, or simply feeling the earth beneath your feet in your own yard, nature holds a deep, spiritual energy that can ground and heal you! If you haven’t already, give it a try!  Nature is truly magical!
    
Meditation & Breathwork – If you have never done so yet, you have probably heard about it enough!  But does it really work?  Yes it does!  And let’s talk about breathwork!  Do you know most of us have been breathing incorrectly all our lives?  Our body and mind are very connected! The fact is short, shallow chest breathing can trigger anxiety! Think about it, when you’re nervous or stressed, your breaths become quick and shallow and it often the breath only goes as far as to our chest.  But when you breathe slowly and deeply into your belly, it sends signals of calmness to your whole body.  It's like using your body to tell your mind, slow down, we've got time, everything is OK.  Try placing one of your hand on your belly.  When you breathe in, your belly should rise, not your chest. Then complete empty all the air out from your belly when you breathe out and your belly will sink. Do this for a couple of minutes and notice how you feel!  Try practicing deep breathing first thing in the morning, I often find that the sense of calmness stays with me throughout the entire day! Even just a few deep breaths can help reset your energy and bring you back to the present moment. Calm your mind and create space for clarity and peace! 

Some people say they don’t have time for meditation or that they can’t sit still. But the truth is, it all comes down to priorities! Our mental, emotional, and physical well being are our most valuable assets!  If we don’t prioritize them, who will? Even just 5 minutes of meditation a day can be incredibly beneficial!

And if you think you can’t sit still, let’s be honest! Most of us already spend hours sitting in a day. You absolutely can spare a couple of mindful minutes for your well being. Trust me, it’s so worth it!
    
Wear Your Energy – Did you know that everything has vibrations? Our thoughts, the words we speak, objects, colors, materials, even our very existence!  It all boil down to energy and frequency! Fascinating right?  That’s why it’s so important to surround ourselves with things that carry positive and inspiring messages! The energy we expose ourselves to can impact our physical and emotional well being, as well as the things we manifest in our lives!

With that in mind, the clothing and jewelry we wear are more than just accessories! They hold energy and frequency! Not only do they carry positive vibes, but they can also serve as daily reminders of the energy you wish to embody! All of The Ticklish Brush's activewear designs are infused with the symbolism of spirit animals and the wisdom of nature!  Like the expansion of the Giraffe or the freedom of the Swallow. Check out our collections! Play with colors and let these pieces be your little reminders to align with your highest self throughout the day!    

    
Wellness & Spirituality: A Lifelong Journey
Wellness and spirituality aren’t quick fixes, they’re a way of life!  Just like you wouldn’t expect instant results from a one week workout, right?  Personal growth takes consistent practice and patience. There’s always something new to learn, new ways to improve and deeper wisdom to uncover!
That’s why having a supportive community makes all the difference! Let’s walk this path together! Comment below, share your experiences and support each other. Follow us on Instagram and YouTube for more wellness tips, inspiration and tools to elevate your journey! 
I’d love to hear your thoughts! What’s one spiritual lesson that has helped you the most? Share in the comments and let’s grow together! 💜✨ #SpiritualGlowUp #MindfulLiving #WellnessJourney