Stories of Astonishing Light with KJ Nasrul

BIRTHDAY BONUS EPISODE! Listen into a poignant and uplifting conversation with a soul sister. Shante Hyche is a counseling student, a mom and adoptee advocate with inspiring global goals. We talk about our experiences as biracial adoptees, being empathic and creative...all elements that inform our most prominent role - HEALER. Shanta is the Founder of Trauma Transformation Global Ministries, INC a nonprofit founded to globally teach orphaned, adopted, and fostered children they are loved, valued, and enough. She is the hostess of Trauma Transformation Adoptee Podcast and is eager to introduce her newest initiative: Spiritual healing for adult women separated at birth from their moms.

Episode Takeaways

1. Early Acts of Empathy 

• Honor the sensitivities and special gifts procured as a child 
• Knowing the feeling of being “other” and “different” are indicators of your empathy...and potential life’s work as a healer 

2.  Artistic Expression Liberates 

• Answers may reveal themselves when invited through other channels such as:
• Journaling, poetry, crafting, doing/styling hair,  movement (sports, dance)
• All of these are modes of communication that may be your path to freedom 

3. Healers Need Healing As Well 

• Rather than be reactive, be proactive and create a plan for moments of disquiet 
• Employ a Breath Technique like 4 -7- 8 
• Build in time to Meditate and connect to nature.

Please Rate and Review This Podcast ... if our stories have astonished you too.

 Links To Topics Mentioned In This Episode

• Shanta  on Instagram 
• Shanta’s Podcast  Trauma Transformation Adoptee Podcast  
• Trauma Transformation Adoptee on Facebook 
• Trauma Transformation Website 
• Music for Ep 13 Outro:  Original Sound Mandala by  KJ Nasrul 
• Music for Intro & Outro: Canada Lo Res by Pictures Of The Floating World 

Connect With KJ and Bliss Begins Within 

• IG @MusingsOnOther and @BlissBeginsWithin 
• Email List http://bit.ly/BlissBeginsEmailList
• Website  https://BlissBeginsWithin.com 
• Become a Founding Member of Healing Our Healers Coaching Program 
• Work with KJ  https://blissbeginswithin.as.me/
• Facebook and Twitter 
• *Affiliate* Want to create and send beautiful emails? Try Flodesk for free your first 30 days! Use this link to get started today! 

Support the show

Follow KJ in her worldly adventures, and receive notifications for when her next events (Creative Recovery Workshops, Bali Wellness Retreats, and Storyteller Evenings) take place.
- Join The Story Squad and receive Love Notes Here
- Visit her website here: Bliss Begins Within.com  

KJ shares a story about growing up #other, #different, #weird, #biracial, #adopted, which ultimately bestowed lessons on becoming comfortable in her skin, and embracing  her majesty.

Episode Takeaways 

 1. Spotlight Listener Review 

• Miss El Yu, thank you for your kind and articulate review of the show on Apple Podcasts! 
• The more you review, the more you spread the word about the topics most important to you. Thank you for spotlighting my little show, thank you for downloading, just passing 1000 downloads! Keep going and you have all my gratitude. 
• Please consider leaving a review for this podcast at https://ratethispodcast.com/astonishingstories 

 2. Your Otherness is Your Majesty 

• All the traits and characteristics that you are shy about, that set you apart as different, that make you unconventional … They are your strengths, they are your genius 
• When we embrace our Other we reveal our resilience. 

Please Rate and Review This Podcast ... if our Stories have astonished you too.

Links To Topics Mentioned In This Episode:

• Meet Shanta Hyche of the Trauma Transformation Adoptee Podcast  
• Ep 12 Outro Music: Seashell- A Sound Mandala by KJ Nasrul 
• Music for Intro & Outro: Canada Lo Res by Pictures Of The Floating World 

Connect With KJ and Bliss Begins Within 

• IG @MusingsOnOther  @BlissBeginsWithin @AdopteeSociety 
• Interested in the  Heal Our Healers Coaching Program? Link for More Info 
• Email List http://bit.ly/BlissBeginsEmailList
• Website  https://BlissBeginsWithin.com 
• Work with KJ  https://blissbeginswithin.as.me
• Facebook and Twitter
• *Affiliation* Want to create and send beautiful emails? Try Flodesk for free your first 30 days! Use this link here to get started 

Support the show

Follow KJ in her worldly adventures, and receive notifications for when her next events (Creative Recovery Workshops, Bali Wellness Retreats, and Storyteller Evenings) take place.
- Join The Story Squad and receive Love Notes Here
- Visit her website here: Bliss Begins Within.com  

Breanna Blair was working as a preschool teacher until she discovered alignment in becoming a certified sound healer and doula. Today she holds many titles including certified 500 hour Trainer with the Awakened Warrior Yoga Teacher Training as well as Quantum Healing Hypnosis Practitioner. Today we discuss knowing when it’s time to leave your job and the shedding of perfectionism. After our catch up session, we invite you to immerse yourself in a healing sound bath session as performed (and gifted) by Breanna. Melt away, loves...

Episode Takeaways
 
1. Done is better than perfect. 

• Hesitation to put yourself out there may mean that someone who seeks your particular message, method or skill today misses out on working with you and benefitting  from your knowledge. 

2. Action tends to lead to clarity/Check In with yourself 

• You might ask these questions: Is this something I want to get up for every day in the morning? Does it excite me, light me up? 
• Ready, Fire, Aim - Start moving first, fine tune while moving along the course. 

3. Self Care means honoring your personal rituals 

• There is power in consistency
• Here’s a chance to reacquaint and empower yourself in your wellness

Please Rate and Review This Podcast ... if our stories have astonished you too.

 Links To Topics Mentioned In This Episode

• Breanna on Instagram 
• Website Awakened Warrior Yoga  
• More Info on KJ’s  Upcoming Creativity Workshop , featuring Breanna Blair’s Sound Healing Journey
• Music for Ep 11 Outro:  Seashell,  A Sound Mandala by KJ Nasrul 
• Music for Intro & Outro: Canada Lo Res by Pictures Of The Floating World 

Connect With KJ and Bliss Begins Within 

• IG @MusingsOnOther and @BlissBeginsWithin 
• Email List http://bit.ly/BlissBeginsEmailList
• Website  https://BlissBeginsWithin.com 
• Work with KJ  https://blissbeginswithin.as.me/
• Facebook and Twitter 

Support the show

Follow KJ in her worldly adventures, and receive notifications for when her next events (Creative Recovery Workshops, Bali Wellness Retreats, and Storyteller Evenings) take place.
- Join The Story Squad and receive Love Notes Here
- Visit her website here: Bliss Begins Within.com  

We are gifted artists already, we just sometimes forget this, especially in these frenetic days. Margaret Soraya is a retreat leader and a professional photographer living in Scotland, specializing in landscapes and seascapes. She encourages us to explore the vast possibilities of our passions within the safe surroundings of personal introspection. We do that by welcoming the quiet, returning to artful listening. 

Takeaways 

1. You can move through unnameable difficulties

• Your resilient experience grants you a genuine , deeper understanding 
• Through doing, we find our way 
• The way you model moving through challenges can impact ONE person
• Impacting ONE PERSON  is powerful enough  

2.    Retreating is Essential Self Care  

• Retreat means to pull back, withdraw from the noise of expectations + social media
• Doing so uncovers the beauty already within you 
• Self Care promotes healthier relationships and healthier people in your life
• Reacquaint yourself with what you love, what you drifted away from 

Please Rate and Review This Podcast ... if our Stories have astonished you too.

Links To Topics Mentioned In This Episode:

• Margaret on Instagram 
• Margaret’s Website Quiet Landscapes 
• Creative Haven Membership 
• Music for Ep 10 Outro:  Seashell, A Sound Mandala by KJ Nasrul 
• Music for Intro & Outro: Canada Lo Res by Pictures Of The Floating World 

Connect With KJ and Bliss Begins Within 

• IG @MusingsOnOther and @BlissBeginsWithin 
• Email List http://bit.ly/BlissBeginsEmailList
• More Info on KJ’s Upcoming Creativity Workshop 
• Website  https://BlissBeginsWithin.com 
• Work with KJ  https://blissbeginswithin.as.me/
• Facebook and Twitter 

Support the show

Follow KJ in her worldly adventures, and receive notifications for when her next events (Creative Recovery Workshops, Bali Wellness Retreats, and Storyteller Evenings) take place.
- Join The Story Squad and receive Love Notes Here
- Visit her website here: Bliss Begins Within.com  

We are Misfits, Other and Dark Girls. My friend Fawn and I discuss the lost art of making friends through compassionate conversations. Fawn Anderson is a documentary photographer and founder- along with her husband Matt- of Be Friendly World, a social movement for compassion, dialogue, and friendship. Listen in as we recall the first fears-turned-freedom of being “other” and “dark-skinned girls”. We chat about childhood crushes who inspired our ultimate career paths, and ways to uncover deeper connections, for less loneliness. 

Episode Takeaways: 

1. Your Outsider, Other status is freedom 

• Feeling outsider-y propels you to make bold decisions 
• Promotes creativity and unique perspective 

2.  Glimpses of your ultimate creative path your whole life 

• Honor the experiences which have set you apart while growing up 
• Guideposts on using your imagination and visionary skills to be everything you dream 

3. Compassionate Conversations are the root of everything 

• Invite neighbors, family, colleagues into discussions by using open-ended questions
• Initiate conversations, though uncomfortable, to invite connection; dispel loneliness, anxiety, depression 

Links To Topics Mentioned In The Show:

Rate and leave a review here for the Stories of Astonishing Light Podcast! 

• Podcast Our Friendly World with Fawn & Matt  http://bit.ly/OurFriendlyWorld
• Website Be Friendly World  www.befriendlyworld.com
• Five Book Recommendations by Fawn:

1. Heart Intelligence by Doc Childre, Howard Martin, Deborah Rozman Ph.D. and Rollin McCraty Ph.D
2. Molecules of Emotion by Candace B Pert, PhD 
3. Mind-Body Code by Dr Mario Martinez 
4. Music and Mantras: The Yoga of Mindful Singing for Health, Happiness, Peace & Prosperity  by Girish 
5. Becoming Supernatural: How Common People Are Doing the Uncommon by Dr. Joe Dispenza

• Ep 9 Outro music:  Butterfly, A Sound Mandala by KJ Nasrul 
• Intro & Outro music: Canada Lo Res by Pictures Of The Floating World 

More About KJ and Bliss Begins Within:  

• IG @MusingsOnOther and @BlissBeginsWithin 
• Email List http://bit.ly/BlissBeginsEmailList
• Website  https://BlissBeginsWithin.com 
• Work with KJ  https://blissbeginswithin.as.me/
• Info on Creativity & Compassion Workshops HERE 
• Facebook and Twitter

Support the show

Follow KJ in her worldly adventures, and receive notifications for when her next events (Creative Recovery Workshops, Bali Wellness Retreats, and Storyteller Evenings) take place.
- Join The Story Squad and receive Love Notes Here
- Visit her website here: Bliss Begins Within.com  

KJ shares the sweet lessons on joy and creativity learned from 2nd grade super heroes and an18-month-old bubble enthusiast. Stay ‘til the end, to hear a new original piano Sound Mandala sample...?

1. An Incredible Beginning and a Spotlighted Listener Review 

• Seven episodes and a trailer done! Such overwhelmingly kind responses, new connections open, new friends and adventures created. 
• Skonita, thank you for your kind show review on Apple Podcasts! 
• The more you review, the more you spread the word about the topics that are important to you. Please consider leaving a review for this podcast at https://ratethispodcast.com/astonishingstories 

2. Hey, Girl, Hey- How Do You Manage It All? 

• Mandalas, Mantras and Meditation create routine and centering.
• Planning out the day intentionally, by including self care activities and breaks provides structure and accountability 
• Celebrate the joy in moment to moment awareness 

3. Noticing joy and wonder in the moment to moment 

• Little Sophia found utter contentment in chasing bubbles on Sunday. I found this to be the reminder I needed most 
• Music makes us feel colors and emotions. Listen to them, name them, draw them, revel in them. 
• Markers are Sensitive and Baby Girl T Rexes also deserve to look their best in purple bows and tutus -according to the BRILLIANT Room 17 2nd grade scholars at 74th Street Elementary School, Los Angeles Unified School District 

Please Rate and Review This Podcast ... if our Stories have astonished you too.

Links To Topics Mentioned In This Episode:

• Register for KJ’s Creativity & Compassion Workshops HERE https://blissbeginswithin.as.me/WorkshopRegistration
• Morning Mandala Drawing Practice on IG Our Mandala Universes IG  
• Artist, NYT Bestselling Author, one of KJ’s mentors - Elle Luna  @elleluna 
• Ep 8 Outro Music: Seashell A Sound Mandala by KJ Nasrul 
• Music for Intro & Outro: Canada Lo Res by Pictures Of The Floating World 

Connect With KJ and Bliss Begins Within 

• IG @MusingsOnOther and @BlissBeginsWithin 
• Email List http://bit.ly/BlissBeginsEmailList
• Website  https://BlissBeginsWithin.com 
• Work with KJ  https://blissbeginswithin.as.me/
• Register for KJ’s Creativity & Compassion Workshops HERE 
• Facebook
• Twitter

Support the show

Follow KJ in her worldly adventures, and receive notifications for when her next events (Creative Recovery Workshops, Bali Wellness Retreats, and Storyteller Evenings) take place.
- Join The Story Squad and receive Love Notes Here
- Visit her website here: Bliss Begins Within.com  

Samantha Jo Harvey is a professional dancer, life coach, and entrepreneur. Having personally experienced divorce, worthiness struggles and disordered eating, she empowers women to rediscover their passion, rewrite their stories, and step into their power. Now she is modeling the beauty and wonder in the rediscovery of her own strength. She always knew she was a dancer, but only recently gave permission to refer to herself as a creative being. Today she is reveling in her new position of reset and possibility, and it’s beautiful to witness.  Join me in this truly joyful conversation with my friend Sam. 

1. Find joy and fun in everyday occurrences 

• Dance Party Remixes while in the midst of not favorite tasks like packing, moving and shedding skin 
• Have a good laugh over the fact that your sexy convertible still doesn’t have room for your boxes

2. Processing emotions through physical expression 

• Literally, physically move through your grief, anger, uncertainty, depression 
• Channel this energy into a workout, running, dance… throw yourself out of a plane 

3. Rediscovering your innate creativity is resilience 

• Circle back to what you’ve known always, including viewing the world through a childlike lens of wonder and confidence 
• You’ve already built a wealth of strength, sometimes revisiting childhood triumphs is the reminder you need 

Please Rate and Review This Podcast ... if our Stories have astonished you too.

Links To Topics Mentioned In This Episode:

• Sam on Instagram @SamanthaJoHarvey  
• Sam’s Website: www.SamanthaJoHarvey.com 
• Sam’s Self-Love Challenge 
• Full Out With Samantha Jo Harvey Podcast 
• Sam’s Book Mentions:   5AM Club, One Word 
• Music for Intro & Outro: Canada Lo Res by Pictures Of The Floating World 

Connect With KJ and Bliss Begins Within 

• IG @MusingsOnOther and @BlissBeginsWithin 
• Email List http://bit.ly/BlissBeginsEmailList
• Website  https://BlissBeginsWithin.com 
• Work with KJ  https://blissbeginswithin.as.me/
• Facebook
• Twitter

Support the show

Follow KJ in her worldly adventures, and receive notifications for when her next events (Creative Recovery Workshops, Bali Wellness Retreats, and Storyteller Evenings) take place.
- Join The Story Squad and receive Love Notes Here
- Visit her website here: Bliss Begins Within.com  

Here is Part Two of our conversation with Michelle Yearick, RN, a neonatal lactation consultant and Frontline Essential Healthcare Worker. Michelle is in the trenches working with women in their most powerful and vulnerable states of being- during pregnancy and in the moments after giving birth. She is my very first and dearest friend in the world- and her style is no-filter, blunt, straight talking honesty combined with unparalleled compassion and empathy. 

Episode (Part 2) Takeaways: 

1. Look to your children and your own childhood mischiefs for creative clues on what soothes you during these unsettling times. 

• Early signs of curiosity might be the key to your optimum health. 
• Honor your discoveries and explorations as a child 
• Remember the places holding joy and comfort for you 

2. Connect with others Human to Human 

• Ask open-ended questions 
• Invite deeper conversations
• Intentionally hear the responses 

3.  Listen. 

• Listen to the answers given once you ask the question. 
• Hold the space in silence so that people can speak about their experiences - you will be amazed at the tragedy...and triumphs in people’s lives 
• We have much to learn about ourselves and those with whom we interact every day 

Please Rate and Review This Podcast ... if our Stories have astonished you too.

Links To Topics Mentioned In The Show:

• Michelle’s Instagram
• Michelle’s Email [email protected] 
• Intro & Outro Music: Canada Lo Res by Pictures Of The Floating World 

All The Places To Find KJ and Bliss Begins Within:  

• IG @MusingsOnOther and  @Bliss Begins Within
• Bliss Begins Within Website 
• Let's Be Pen Pals- Email List
• Let's Work Together! https://blissbeginswithin.as.me/
• Facebook
• Twitter

Support the show

Follow KJ in her worldly adventures, and receive notifications for when her next events (Creative Recovery Workshops, Bali Wellness Retreats, and Storyteller Evenings) take place.
- Join The Story Squad and receive Love Notes Here
- Visit her website here: Bliss Begins Within.com  

As a neonatal lactation consultant, Michelle Yearick is in the trenches working with women in their most powerful and vulnerable states of being- during pregnancy and in the moments after giving birth. 

She is my very first and dearest friend in the world- and her style is no-filter, blunt, straight-talking honesty combined with unparalleled compassion and empathy. She serves as guide for our return to the very basic human necessities: kind conversations about essential life topics- love, loss, bonding, grieving, and the celebration of women’s resilience. 

Episode (Part 1) Takeaways: 

1. Look to your children and your own childhood mischiefs for creative clues on what soothes you during these unsettling times. 

• Early signs of curiosity might be the key to your optimum health. 
• Honor your discoveries and explorations as a child 
• Remember the places holding joy and comfort for you

2. To connect with others on a human level,  first go with your feelings 

• Ask open-ended questions 
• Invite deeper conversations
• Listen to the responses 

Please Review This Podcast ... if our Stories have astonished you too.

Links To Topics Mentioned In The Show:

Michelle’s Instagram
Michelle’s Email [email protected]
Intro & Outro Music: Canada Lo Res by Pictures Of The Floating World 

All The Places To Find KJ and Bliss Begins Within: 

IG @MusingsOnOther 
IG @Bliss Begins Within
Bliss Begins Within Website
Let's Be Pen Pals- Email List
Let's Work Together! https://blissbeginswithin.as.me/
Facebook
Twitter

Support the show

Follow KJ in her worldly adventures, and receive notifications for when her next events (Creative Recovery Workshops, Bali Wellness Retreats, and Storyteller Evenings) take place.
- Join The Story Squad and receive Love Notes Here
- Visit her website here: Bliss Begins Within.com  

When Sachiko was 18 years old, she left her hometown of Chiba in search of adventure and inspiration. From Japan to Switzerland, the US and back, she realized that adventure and inspiration sought her.  Listen in on this rich conversation with Sachiko Cohen: psychotherapist, coach, mama, and impassioned defender of the shy and the bullied. Prepare for enchantment.

Takeaways: 

1. You have a lasting impact on one person and many people, by being YOU. 

• Show up - even if it’s messy, because your presence is real and relatable. 
• Your genuineness may light the fire of creativity and advocacy in one other person, which is enough to start a movement. 

2. Our beliefs have power over us; let's challenge and disrupt them.

• We can deconstruct a label, and break the power it has over us. 
• We can re-wire and change a lifetime of default thinking. You're not "shy" after all. 

3.  Our instincts may be our superpower.

• Listen to your natural responses. They are the blueprint of your unhindered, unlabeled self.
• You were born gifted. The world needs people who embrace their strengths and abilities (challenges too) to serve as our leaders.  

4.  Nourishing our basic needs may be the highest form of self care. 

• Reconnect with our base human needs (Maslow's Hierarchy) such as sleep, air, food, water and shelter.
• We best serve our loved ones, clients and communities when we ensure we have provided for our wellness first. 

**NOTE**:  Technical glitches lent to the loss of most of Sachiko's two-part reply to the question: "What led you to pursuing this particular career?"

Sachiko's Answer:  We can disrupt the old therapy model of charging hourly to correlate with what we think we are worth. The value and services that therapist-coaches provide far transcends a price tag, especially when we shift our paradigm from one to one to an expansive one-to-many model. Serving more people creates deeper impact.

Please Leave A Review if you enjoy the show and our guests to help us spread the word about the intersection of creativity, mental health & resilience.
https://ratethispodcast.com/astonishingstories 

Episode Mentions 

• Therapist To Coach Facebook Page 
• Therapist To Coach Podcast 
• SachikoCohen.com  
• Self Coaching 101 by Brooke Castillo 
• Self Care Coaching with Kay Bela 
• Music for Intro & Outro: Canada Lo Res by Pictures Of The Floating World 

Connect With KJ and Bliss Begins Within 

• IG @MusingsOnOther  @BlissBeginsWithin
• Email List http://bit.ly/BlissBeginsEmailList
• Website  https://BlissBeginsWithin.com 
• Facebook
• Twitter

Support the show

Follow KJ in her worldly adventures, and receive notifications for when her next events (Creative Recovery Workshops, Bali Wellness Retreats, and Storyteller Evenings) take place.
- Join The Story Squad and receive Love Notes Here
- Visit her website here: Bliss Begins Within.com