The First Step to Feeling Less Stressed and More at Peace - Starting Today
Earlier this week, I attended a beautiful session.
It was led by spiritual advisors from Ekam, the World Center for Enlightenment in India - people who’ve guided and deeply influenced the spiritual journeys of many successful leaders around the world, including Tony Robbins. The session was part of the energy coaching program I’m currently taking and truly enjoying.
I found the session so inspiring that I wanted to pass on a few key ideas they shared with us - along with a bit of my own reflection. Because even though some of these ideas weren’t new to me, hearing them again opened something deeper.
We live in one of two states
This was one of the main messages: At any given time, you’re living in either a state of suffering or a beautiful state.
Suffering doesn’t mean anything extreme or torturous. It’s more subtle. It shows up as low-vibration, negative emotions - anxiety, stress, pressure, fear, self-doubt, guilt, anger, jealousy, self-judgment, restlessness, boredom, sadness, a quiet sense of unhappiness, and the constant negative chatter in the back of your mind. It feels like something is missing. You’re not fully content.
Most of us move through these feelings without even noticing. They’ve become part of how we operate.
A beautiful, joyful state feels very different. It’s when you’re connected to your heart, grounded in love, peaceful, confident, open, content, accepting, connected, and present. You feel calm and deeply satisfied. Your heart feels alive.
You’re experiencing the world through love - not through the filter of your head and rational thinking. Even the smallest things around you can fill you with happiness, gratitude, and joy - not because everything is perfect, but because something inside you feels right.
You have this quiet inner strength that helps you stay steady, no matter what’s going on outside.
If your life seems great and you’d describe yourself as generally happy - but it still feels like something is missing… or if you wake up with that background anxiety, fear, or even boredom - it means your internal state may still be shaped by suffering.
And if that’s the case, then your life can be better - you just need to start noticing the state you’re in as you move through your day and start shifting it.
The story of the woman who thought she was happy
They shared a story during the session about a woman from Japan who had attended their programs. She described herself as a happy person - she smiled a lot, laughed a lot, she brought joy to others, and people loved being around her. She was often the light in the room, and everything in her life seemed fine.
But once she started doing the work and gaining more self-awareness, she realized how much suffering was within her. Underneath the smiles, she was carrying constant self-judgment, fear, worry, and doubt.
These are the kinds of feelings that come with a draining state. And because they can be so subtle or automatic, we often don’t realize how much space they take up - or how much energy they quietly drain from us.
These feelings carry a strong, destructive energy. They can slowly pull us away from our passions, disconnect us from the people we love, keep us stuck in inaction because of fear, and make us give up on things that matter - often without even realizing why.
I could really relate to this. I’ve experienced it myself in the past. And I’ve seen it in others too - people who seem fine or even thriving on the outside, but carry so much pressure, fear, or self-criticism inside. People who settle for a life that feels just “fine,” going through the motions day after day, with occasional highlights like a nice vacation or a special occasion - but not much more.
For some, it’s their constant state - but we don’t even stop to question it.
So how do we shift into a beautiful state - and stay there?
That was one of the big questions people asked during the session.
The path toward a beautiful state is through meditation. Duh - you’d say! :)
But not the kind of meditation many people imagine.
It’s not just about sitting quietly to relax, release stress, or breathe for a few minutes so you can return to your tasks in a calmer way (that too but but it’s not the whole point!).
It’s the kind of meditation that helps you turn inward. It’s about becoming aware of your thoughts, emotions, and patterns - your current state.
It’s about noticing what’s driving your behaviour, what you’re reacting to and why, and how you’re feeling - not just what you’re doing.
This is what helps you break out of autopilot and start being more in control of your inner state - whether you're in a low, draining state or a more joyful, grounded one.
That kind of awareness is what leads to self-realization. And without it, it’s hard to shift anything long-term.
You can’t create a different life from the same state. To create something new, something better, you have to shift your state and your energy first.
And that shift doesn’t come from wishful thinking. It comes from consistent effort, self-discovery, and small daily practices that help you access deeper levels of awareness over time.
And when you start becoming more aware of your state, something else becomes clear too - the energy behind why you do what you do really matters.
You can start a new job because you're excited about the work and love what you’ll be doing. Or you might start a new job because you want to earn more - rooted in the fear of not having enough to support your family.
You can begin exercising because you enjoy that form of movement and it makes your body feel good. Or you can do it out of fear of getting sick or having a heart attack.
Noticed the difference? The action is the same - but the energy behind it is completely different.
That’s the difference between intentions and goals.
Intentions are heart-led. They come from a place of love, inspiration, curiosity.
Goals, when they’re driven by pressure or fear, often feel heavy, forced, or disconnected.
When you start living from a beautiful state, your decisions and actions feel aligned.
You are not reacting, you are choosing.
Staying in a beautiful state is not about being happy all the time
Life happens. We go through difficult situations. There’s physical pain, loss, disappointment. We can’t be joyful and blissful every moment of the day, it's wouldn't be good or healthy.
But we can develop the ability to catch ourselves sooner. We can notice when we’re slipping into fear, doubt, or worry, accept it - and pull ourselves out faster.
And we can find meaning, strength, or peace even in hard moments.
That’s the real power. That’s the real transformation. That’s the real magic.
But it’s not overnight magic. It is the result of consistent efforts.
I’ve seen it in my own life. Practices and ideas I first came across ten years ago - back when I didn’t fully understand them - feel completely different now that my self-awareness has expanded. They’ve taken on new meaning, new depth.
And I’ve also seen how much my life has changed. Many of the things I worked on slowly materialized - quietly, naturally, in ways I could have never planned.
And yet, I also see how much more work there is to do. That’s the beauty of it. It’s never finished. But when you stop focusing only on the destination and start enjoying the process, it becomes something you actually want to keep showing up for.
A small reminder for your next meditation
If you already meditate, or even if you just take a few minutes to sit quietly during the day - try this:
When the meditation ends, don’t rush to the next thing.
Pause for a moment.
Notice how you’re feeling. Notice what’s going on inside - not outside. Let yourself stay in that state for a bit longer, before jumping back into work, errands, responsibilities, or your to-do list.
That quiet space matters. It’s where clarity comes from and where a different kind of energy starts to build. It allows you to connect to your heart, your passions, and your intuition - and helps you act and create from that beautiful place.
If you want to start exploring your energy levels and get some food for self-reflection, I created a simple self-assessment tool to help you reflect on where your energy is going - or maybe where you need to focus more.
It’s just one tool, one of so many resources. But you’re here for a reason - so grab it and start somewhere. It’s fun to learn about yourself. You answer a bunch of questions, and it gives you instant insights. And maybe it’ll be a small step toward discovering where you’re at.
You can download it here for free: MK Coaching
Have an amazing day filled with love and joy, and please reach out any time if you want to chat more. ❤️
🔋Hi, I am Marina Korotkikh - your go-to Energy and Time Management Coach for High Performers. I will help you get from point A (Always too busy and tired) to Point B (Clear, Energized, and In Control) in 70 days. Book a commitment-free call to learn more and follow for easy productivity, energy management, and mindfulness tips.
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