Energy Shift: Back Into the Rat Race 🐀💚

Oct 10

Written By Niel Flamm

True Story

Higher Self

October 1: Welcome Back to the Rat Race!

⏰ 5:15 AM. The alarm goes off, and Lizzy Jeff's Expansion starts playing.

😌 Yessss! I'm expanding! 🎶 Singing along

Shower? Check! Dressed? Check! Ready to go? CHECK!

Let's do this!

I'm walking into this new chapter with my crystals, copper, bells, and all my spiritual goodness. 😂🤭

As I enter the building, I recognize a few familiar faces from the hiring event. I smile and head upstairs.

"Welcome to ______! Your name is?" asks an attractive woman.

"Aisha Wells," I reply.

We make eye contact, and something feels...off. 🤷🏾‍♀️

Hmm. Okay. Moving right along!

I find my seat and begin scanning the call center. Now, let's be real. How many people do you see walking around wearing crystals, copper, and bells? 👀😂 I already know I'm going to catch a few looks!

Training starts on Teams, and after a while, my mind starts to wander.

Girl, you got this. It's a temporary job. Soak up the knowledge, stay focused, and remember why you're here.

Suddenly, I hear my name.

"Ashia? Asia? Ms. Wells!"

😳 Oh, SNAP!

"It's Aisha," I correct them. "I have two boys, three grandchildren, and I opened Hell's Kitchen here in Las Vegas!"

I quickly scan the screen and catch a few eye rolls.

🥺 Oh, for real?!

Okay, then!

After the first few hours, we finally get a break. I decide to approach a woman who mentioned that she was on a similar spiritual path. I figure, why not chop it up a little?

Before I know it, she's sharing her life story.

And WOW!

Poor baby has BEEN THROUGH IT! 😔💚

I'm listening, connecting, and taking it all in.

But over the next few days, something feels off.

People are staring.

I'm feeling out of place.

The energy feels different.

And I'm sitting there thinking, What the hell is going on?

I don't want to go back! This 💩 feels entirely too weird! 🥺🥺🥺

What happened to my peace? My Zen? My little spiritual bubble?

Oh, we're about to get into that!

October 2: Friday Reflections

As I sit in my truck and reflect on the week, I start to feel overwhelmed.

🥺🥺🥺

Higher Self: Calm down, Aisha.

You've been living in your own Zen space, creating your own rhythm and moving in a way that feels right for you. You've had the freedom to choose how you spend your time, what you consume, and where you direct your energy.

Now you're back at work, surrounded by different personalities, perspectives, expectations, and energies.

You took it all in. That's okay. You just need time to adjust.

Remember your Four Agreements.

Me: But I really don't like the way that supervisor looks at me. It's like she can't stand me! And the other one? Her personality doesn't feel authentic. And that dude? NOT approachable! 😒

Higher Self: And?

Me: 😳 And WHAT?!

Higher Self: Are you allowing their behavior to determine how you feel about yourself?

Are you assuming what they think of you?

Are you taking their expressions and personalities personally?

Remember, Aisha, you don't know what's going on inside somebody else's head.

You can observe someone's behavior without deciding you know their intentions.

And let's bring this back to YOU.

Are you being authentic?

Why are you here?

What's your purpose?

Me: To get this money, gain experience, and move forward! 💰💪🏾

Higher Self: EXACTLY!

Keep your eyes on your goal.

You know your light and confidence may make some people uncomfortable, but you don't need to decide that their behavior is about your light or their insecurities. You don't know their story.

And more importantly, you don't need to make it your story.

You can be aware without becoming consumed.

You can listen without carrying somebody else's burdens.

You can be compassionate without absorbing every emotion in the room.

THAT is part of protecting your peace.

Remember, being spiritual doesn't mean you won't encounter difficult personalities, uncomfortable situations, or challenging environments.

It means learning to navigate those situations without losing yourself.

Welcome back to the Rat Race, baby!

😂😂😂

Me: Deep breath.

I got this! 💪🏾

October 5: Finding My Rhythm Again

By now, I've connected with a beautiful soul who has become my work buddy. 💚

And let me tell you, that connection has made a difference!

I'm starting to find my rhythm. I'm learning to navigate the personalities around me without overanalyzing every look, interaction, or little thing that doesn't feel quite right.

I'm getting back into the groove!

😁😁😁

I GOT THIS!

It's just like riding a bike. I might be a little wobbly at first, but eventually, I remember how to balance.

I'm learning to observe without jumping to conclusions, connect without overextending myself, and recognize when I need to step back and breathe.

And guess what?

I'm cruising!

When the Universe Opens Another Door

This past Wednesday, I received a message from the recruiter for my full-time job.

"Hey, Aisha! We have an early training class. Are you interested?"

My response?

"YES!!" 😁

"Great! Training starts on the 19th."

Now I had to make a decision.

🤔🤔🤔

Do I stay at this temporary job until the full-time training class begins, or do I step away, regroup, and prepare for the next chapter?

Higher Self: Regroup.

Me: Just like that?

Higher Self: Yes, Aisha. Just like that.

You've learned something valuable from this experience. You've recognized how returning to a structured workplace affected you, and now you have an opportunity to pause and reflect.

You don't have to fill every moment with activity.

You don't have to prove that you can push through every uncomfortable situation.

And you don't have to stay somewhere simply because you started.

Sometimes the best next move is to pause, reflect, and prepare.

Use this time to unpack your reactions to returning to the working world. Meditate. Reset. Practice calming your mind and body. Reconnect with your Flow State.

Your next opportunity is coming, and you want to enter it feeling grounded, focused, and ready.

Me: Okay, Higher Self. I hear you! 😌

I told my work buddy about my decision, and she seemed sad.

I reassured her, "We're connected. This is just the beginning."

And I meant that.

Sometimes people come into our lives for a reason, even when the circumstances that bring us together are temporary. I'm grateful for the connection we've made, and I trust that our paths may cross again.

Not every connection has to last forever to mean something. 💚

Regulating My Nervous System and Returning to Flow

As I prepare for my next chapter, I have some work to do.

Not work for a paycheck.

Work on ME.

I'm focusing on managing my stress, practicing mindfulness, and learning how to move through unfamiliar situations without letting every uncomfortable interaction throw me off balance.

Here's what I realized: after spending so much time creating a peaceful life and learning to protect my energy, I'd gotten used to moving at my own pace.

Then I stepped back into the working world, where I had to adjust to other people's schedules, personalities, expectations, and communication styles.

And BABY! 😂

My system said, "What in the entire world is THIS?!"

But that reaction gave me something valuable to reflect on.

How do I respond when I'm uncomfortable?

Do I immediately assume something is wrong?

Do I take someone else's behavior personally?

Do I absorb the emotions of the people around me?

Or can I pause, breathe, and remind myself that I don't have to react to everything I notice?

Self-awareness means recognizing my reactions without allowing them to run my life.

I'm learning that protecting my peace doesn't mean avoiding every uncomfortable environment. It means learning how to navigate those environments while remaining connected to myself.

And sometimes, it means recognizing when I need a break.

My Four Agreements: A Much-Needed Reminder

During this experience, I kept coming back to The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.

These principles have been especially important as I navigate this new chapter.

1. Be Impeccable With Your Word.

I want my words to reflect who I am. That means speaking with integrity, communicating clearly, and being mindful of the things I say to myself and others.

2. Don't Make Assumptions.

This one is BIG for me!

Just because somebody looks at me a certain way doesn't mean I know what they're thinking. I don't know their circumstances, their mood, or what's happening in their personal life.

I can ask questions instead of creating stories in my head.

3. Don't Take Anything Personally.

For me, this and not making assumptions go hand in hand.

Someone else's mood isn't automatically about me. Someone else's opinion doesn't determine my worth.

I can acknowledge an interaction without allowing it to define my day.

4. Always Do Your Best.

My best may look different from day to day.

Some days, I have more energy. Other days, I need to slow down and give myself grace.

Doing my best doesn't mean pushing myself past my limits. It means showing up, being present, and doing what I reasonably can with what I have.

These agreements aren't about being perfect.

They remind me to stay aware of my choices, take responsibility for my actions, and give myself room to grow.

The Lesson: I Can Be Spiritual and Still Be in the Rat Race

Let's get one thing straight.

Being spiritual doesn't mean I have to float through life surrounded by candles, crystals, beautiful music, and people who always understand me. 😂💎

I still have bills.

I still need to work.

I still encounter different personalities.

And I still have moments when my Ego wants to jump into the driver's seat!

The difference is that I'm learning to recognize what's happening inside me before I react.

I'm learning that I can be spiritual AND practical.

I can protect my peace AND earn a living.

I can be compassionate AND maintain boundaries.

I can acknowledge an uncomfortable feeling without immediately deciding that something is wrong.

And I can change direction when I recognize that I need something different.

My spirituality isn't supposed to remove me from life. It's supposed to help me navigate it.

That's the work.

That's the practice.

That's the expansion.

My Mantra Moving Forward 💚

As I prepare for my full-time opportunity, I'm reminding myself:

I am allowed to adjust.

I am allowed to learn.

I am allowed to change direction.

I can listen without absorbing.

I can observe without assuming.

I can protect my peace without judging others.

I can remain authentic without needing everyone to understand me.

And most importantly...

I can return to myself whenever I need to.

So, yes, I'm stepping away from this temporary job to regroup and prepare for what's next.

I'm going to meditate, reset, and continue practicing my Flow State.

Because the goal isn't just to get back into the Rat Race.

The goal is to learn how to move through it without losing myself.