Hello friends, I know that I've been quiet these past few months on Begin Again, and that's because I've been out of words to write here and the last thing I wanted to do was to write just for the sake of writing. One thing I'm adamant about Begin Again is that it should not be just noise, and unless I have something meaningful to say, it will be just that - NOISE!
So here's an update on what has been so occupying my bandwidth that I haven't written in a few months as well as what to expect in the near future from my content!
And please remember that you are free to unsubscribe from this newsletter at any time.
YouTube Channel & Podcast
It's hard to believe that I've now been podcasting for almost 4 years! Sometime last year, I decided to record my podcast in video as well and put that on my YouTube channel "Ann Chats".
What started out as live videos being recorded for both YouTube and podcast has evolved into pre-recorded talks that include visual talking points (see image above) so that my videos could more easily be used as a free resource for personal reflection and group sharing.
I am often torn between the desire to create content of higher quality for your enjoyment and the need to put boundaries on the time, energy and costs that are needed to do it. This is afterall still an independent, personal apostolate of mine with no paid professional help. The costs of web hosting and software subscriptions have also been rising which is another issue I need to consider.
Keeping up the pace of weekly videos and podcast episodes this year has become more challenging , so I've been taking time out to discern how to keep things sustainable for me in the future, especially as I will soon be losing the assistance of a friend who has been helping me with my podcast transcript editing and social media trailers!
It is time for me to "prune" my process once again as it has been growing too large and unwieldy, but I look forward to greater fruitfulness that comes from this pruning. (More on this below!)
Clarity Interior Journey 2024
(This is my signature coaching program. If you're unfamiliar with what it is, you can find out more here.)
Since April 2024 I have been guiding an eight-month long interior journey coaching journey for six interior pilgrims from the US, UK and Singapore. This year marks the first time I've been able to work with a small group of clients who are able to enter into self-awareness and discovery in a trauma-aware as well as faith-based context in depth. It has been very rewarding but also incredibly intense in terms of the intellectual, emotional and spiritual energy I've needed to put into this journey.
Between putting out new content and preparing teaching material and coaching for Clarity, I often feel that I have exhausted my creative energies - hence the long silence on the newsletter front!
Healing & Deepening of Personal Vocation
The source of anything valuable I can put out into the world about the interior integration journey is my own interior life, and that is why making room to tend to the ebb and flow and needs of my interior life will always be my first priority.
2023-2024 has brought me into new depths in the healing of complex trauma in my growing up years which has had ripple effects on all my significant relationships, especially those with close family members, with God, and with "Holy Mother Church" which - as a Catholic, has been one of the most important relationships in my life.
making room to tend to the ebb and flow and needs of my interior life will always be my first priority
If you're a complex trauma survivor yourself and have begun your healing journey, you will know just how much the healing journey demands of us physically, psychologically, spiritually and emotionally. It is the reason why so few people embark and commit to this journey!
I am more convinced than ever now that my personal vocation lies in creating awareness, providing encouragement, and helping to illuminate the intricate and challenging landscape of integrating emotional and psychological healing with deepening knowledge, love and trust in the Trinitarian God. Only such an integration journey can lead us to true spiritual fruitfulness as lovers and followers of Christ.
Upcoming Changes for Subscribers of My Content
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Click to watch on YouTube.
1. New Format for this Newsletter
Starting with this post, each issue of my newsletter will be publicly accessible on my website, making it easier for you to share specific issues with friends. There is also a new "comment" feature that allows you to share your responses. I encourage you to share your genuine responses so that others will also know that they are not alone on this journey! (Commenting is available only to subscribers of Begin Again and not the general public so as to prevent spam and encourage more meaningful engagement.)
Instead of a monthly or bi-monthly schedule, new issues will be shared as and when there are meaningful reflections, updates or resources.
2. Consolidation of My Social Media
In the coming week/months I will be consolidating my Instagram and Facebook accounts. I will no longer have separate accounts for the Becoming Me podcast. If you currently only follow me on my podcast social media accounts, do follow me instead on https://www.instagram.com/animann/ or https://www.facebook.com/integroformation.
3. Deeper Sharing
Across all my platforms, the perspective from which I share is PRAXIS. What I share cuts across disciplines and subjects such as spirituality, psychology, theology etc because the LIVED EXPERIENCE of someone becoming more whole and fully alive in Christ cannot be contained by any single discipline.
As I make my own journey and continue to learn and experience resources that deepen my integration and living out of my relationship with God, I will share what I discern will be helpful with you.
While my content cuts across various disciplines, I will be focusing my sharing towards interior pilgrims who are ready to explore deeper questions, and who have begun to enter or have entered "spiritual mid-life". I will share more about what I mean by this in my next Begin Again post.
Take care now!
Journeying with you,
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