November Mantra: Om. Shanti, shanti, shanti.

Om. Shanti, shanti, shanti. 

Lately, all I want is peace. Simple meals, gentle conversations, relationships that feel light and happy. I’ve been leaning into easy—the path of least resistance. These days, I don’t feel the urge to engage in political debates or keep up with every breaking headline. Some might call that avoidance or ignorance. Maybe it is. But for me, right now, it’s about protecting my inner peace. I just want peace. 

I’ve realized that I no longer have the capacity for drama or gossip or emotional turbulence that leaves me unsettled. I don’t want to gossip, I don’t want to meddle. I don’t feel the urge to “spill the tea”. I don’t want to be judged or criticized, and I certainly don’t want to put that burden on anyone else. I just want peace.

A few years ago, I had to say goodbye to a friendship that had spanned my entire adult life. It was a difficult and dramatic ending, full of grief, and something I had to work through with a counsellor. That relationship held many good memories, but it was also heavy with conflict, stonewalling, and criticism. When it ended, it left a hole—but over time, that gap also made space.

Now, looking back, I see that letting go was a necessary step towards a more peaceful existence. Since then, I’ve noticed a quiet shift in all my other relationships. Things feel lighter. I no longer find myself drawn into conflict or criticism. It’s simply not who I am anymore. Removing that one dramatic relationship from my life lightened my soul, and improved all my other relationships too.

And the more peace I’ve found, the more I’ve come to value it. Maybe even guard it a little fiercely. These days, I’m more intentional about who I share my energy with. If it’s not kind, nourishing, or joyful, I’m learning to walk away. Not with bitterness—but with a quiet knowing of what I need in this season of life.

Right now, as I pour so much of myself into my marriage, my babies, my work, my community—I’ve realized that what little time I have left is sacred. And I want it to be filled with ease, with harmony, with love, and with belly laughs. I just don’t have space for the difficult conversations right now. 

So yes, my social circle has gotten smaller. But it’s also become softer, calmer, and more true to who I am becoming. 

And this, in part, is why I no longer follow the news closely. I’m not suggesting that’s the right choice for everyone. But for me—right now—it’s a way of staying grounded. Of not becoming overwhelmed by things I cannot fix, while I focus on the things I can care for: the hearts in my home, the community around me, and my own emotional wellbeing.

Om shanti, shanti shanti. I’m sure you’ve chanted those words within the walls of our studio before. It’s a Sanskrit prayer that translates to “Om, peace, peace, peace”. It’s cultivating not just the absence of conflict, but a deep, inner stillness and calm. One that is found through meditation and yoga yes, but also through setting healthy boundaries with yourself and within your relationships. 

If you’ve been feeling stretched thin—by the world, by relationships, by the noise—you’re not alone. Maybe this is your gentle nudge to pause. To let go. To lighten your mental load. To lean into easy. To cultivate peace.

Because you deserve that too.

Om shanti om. We are all one. Om.