EP079 | From Burnout to Body Wisdom: Sonali’s Autoimmune Healing Breakthrough

In today’s deeply moving conversation, I’m joined by Sonali Patranabish, a former client whose journey captures the heart of what Effortless Healing™ truly means.

If you’ve ever felt burnt out, overwhelmed, or stuck in a loop of symptoms that don’t make sense… this episode is going to speak directly to you.

Sonali opens up about the years she spent feeling broken and burnt out, living on “fumes,” losing joy, losing herself, and trying so hard to keep life together while her body was shutting down.

 Her story is one of courage, self-awareness, and the quiet rebuilding that happens when a woman finally listens to her body’s wisdom.

Together, we explore:

• What life looked like at her lowest point
 • Why the pain of staying the same pushed her to choose healing
 • How emotional weight and guilt were fuelling physical symptoms
 • The surprising role of joy, rest, and slowing down
 • How she learned to decode her body’s signals instead of fearing them
 • The inner shift that made motherhood, resilience, and vitality possible again
 • What it means to simplify wellness—and reclaim your life

Sonali’s honesty is powerful, and her transformation is a reminder that healing doesn’t begin with doing more.
 It begins with coming home to yourself.

If you’ve been craving hope, clarity, or a reminder that your body hasn’t given up on you—this episode is for you.

What You’ll Learn

• How chronic burnout shows up emotionally and physically
 • Why traditional wellness often overcomplicates healing
 • The power of embodiment over protocols
 • How small, simple shifts create big emotional and physical relief
 • What self-compassion looks like in real life (not theory)
 • How to rebuild trust with your body—even after years of symptoms

Links Mentioned

Download the Body’s Whisper Starter Kit (Free)

👉 https://aninditarungta.myflodesk.com/bodyswhisper

If Sonali’s story made you realise it’s time to understand your own symptoms more clearly, you can book a free 20-minute Clarity Call with me.

 This isn’t a coaching session — it’s a gentle space to explore what’s going on, what your body is trying to tell you, and whether personalised support is the right next step.

👉 Book your Clarity Call
https://aninditarungta.com/claritycall

Chapters

• 2:03 “Broken and Burnt Out”: Life Before Healing
• 5:21 Losing Joy & Everyday Functioning
• 7:47 The Shift: Choosing to Start the Healing Journey
• 9:21 How Burnout Affected Her Family & Identity
• 10:07 “The Teacher Appears When the Student Is Ready”
• 17:33 Learning to Listen: What Her Body Was Actually Saying
• 22:37 The Food Web & Understanding Symptoms Differently
• 31:45 A Message to Her Past Self: Be Softer, Be Kinder
• 34:29 Final Reflections: Hope, Responsibility & The First Step
• 47:04 Closing Words & Gratitude

Transcript

Welcome. I'm so excited to have you on, uh, my show. And, uh, you know, Sonali, uh, is someone who has worked with me in the past. She's one of my past clients. But more than that, over time, uh, you know, we worked on a few projects together. She's been, uh, helping me and supporting me in some of my other projects on the marketing side, so much beyond, uh, you know, uh, typical client. I am so excited to have Sonali in my life, uh, you know, and there's, uh, so much she has to offer, and, uh, yeah, I'm honored that you are here today to share your story. Thank you. Thank you so much for this opportunity, uh, to share my story with all the viewers, uh, and to give me this chance to share my story of transformation, uh, over the last two, two, two and a half years that I've known. 

we started working in July 2020, 23, 23. So yeah, more than two and a half years. And we've been in touch since then, of course. So actually let's go back at the beginning and this is what I like to ask, uh, all my clients is that when you think back to your life before the transformation, you know, when you actually started and I call healing a journey, it is a journey. And it's it's not a destination that you reach. It's a journey that you are on for the for your life. 

How would you describe that season in just a sentence. A sentence would not suffice. But I'll try to, um. Yes, it was painful. I mean, if I have to think about what my life was before the transformation and I think I was broken, it is two words broken and burnt out, I think, um. It actually pains me to even think. How was I even surviving? I was just this living, breathing being back then, um. And everything was just falling apart for me to keep my life together. Not just for myself, but for the relationships around me, was just getting so difficult. Um, I was sacked, stuck. And, I'm running short of all the negative adjectives, but it was as bad as that. And, um, I don't think there was any fuel left in my body. I was just pushing my body through, um, showing up every day for everyone and, uh, showing up too much of myself for everyone every day. And, um, I was just in fumes, actually. I mean, I don't think there was any fuel left in my body by the time I come to you. By the time and I remember you mentioned, uh, uh, at at some point, uh, either in our sessions or in conversations that we've had that you once described feeling like an empty cup. Uh, and there's a that's actually a lot of women can relate to that. You're not the only one, of course, because we give so much of ourselves to others. We give and we give and we give. And, um, you know, we conditioned to do that. So what did. 

So if we can flip that around, what did filling your cup again seem, you know, look like for you actually look like when you started filling your cup. Life. Even when with this roller coaster ride with all my symptoms and my health issues started, um, uh, I don't think I had any joy left in my life. Because obviously when your body is sapped of energy, you're not making plans. A 35 year old woman would not, um, you know, be irritable, complaining, um, repetitive about her health issues. And no one didn't want to even listen to me because I was so repetitive and there was just no joy in my life. Um, which meant that, uh, it affected all my relationships apart from my own relationship with my body. 

I started adding, um, to my life, number one was joy. And secondly, a lot of fuel that would add, you know, um, keep me through the day, give me steady and stable energy through the day, because that was what was lacking completely. Um, this takes me back, um, I think the year I started working with a month was a year I had shifted to Bombay. Yes, I think a year later, I think a year later, I shifted to Bombay. And I remember I couldn't even go through like the first quarter of the day. I would make, um, you know, or my daughter's a two course meal for her lunchbox, and that would be the energy. It almost felt like I'd waged a war. And I'm back. And, uh, I would look at other women. Uh, they're all hustling, uh, packing their lunch boxes, going to work and coming back. Jimmy yoga. And here I'm not. I'm at home, and I'm not able to do even one fourth, one fourth of the day. And, uh, yeah, this was just how it was. 

However, once, uh, I had been through this whole transformation journey, I was able to do so much more. Um, there was much more joy. I was able to forget about myself. I was able to add joy to other people's lives. People around me, my daughter, my family. That's, uh. That's such a beautiful thing that you shared that it, uh. You know, when we start healing ourselves, it goes so much beyond ourselves. We are beyond us. And actually, what you hit was, uh, the reason I work with women. I mean, I always work with women with primarily autoimmune conditions, but other existing conditions. And this is the reason why because the women and I was writing about it actually recently in an article or maybe a poem, because I've been writing some poems now that the women carry the emotional, you know, burden for the entire family. 

So I think some of the things that you mentioned was just not the physical food, but also other nourishment that, uh, you know, like we women need to keep going. You know, it's not just the lack of, uh. Uh, so, like how I say it's not just the lack of B12 and vitamin B, D, D and all. It's also the joy. You mentioned joy a few times. I think we completely missed that, uh, vitamin J, right? Joy. Vitamin L love pleasure. So these things we miss out on, we focus on the diet, we focus on the supplements. And I keep coming back to it in all my podcasts, because I think it's such a big part of a woman's emotional, mental and physical health that we do such a big disservice if we, you know, completely ignore that. So I think that's something that you share so beautifully how it can shift when you pay attention to all of it. It's soul food and, you know, like proper food, etcetera. Um, so I, uh, of course I remember this, but still wanted to check with you. 

What gave you the confidence to say yes to starting this journey? Because, as you said, you were burnt out. You were overwhelmed. It was like that. So what sort of, you know, sort of made you say yes, because obviously when somebody starts on something like this, they don't know what's going to happen, right? So what made you say yes? I mean, what gave you the confidence that this time might be different, do you think? I think the pain of staying where I was exceeded the pain of thinking that I have to change because a lot of people are when it when they hop on to the. I mean, if you ask them to hop on to the wellness bandwagon, the first thought that comes to their mind will be I will not. I cannot eat my burgers, I can't have my parathas and I can't have ice cream, I can't have desserts, and the list goes on. But I was not that person. Thankfully I was. I was sure that I'm ready to eliminate foods that were causing a ruckus. You know, to my body. I was sure that I wanted everlasting change and I wanted to feel better. How? I mean, how can I keep functioning like this when, um, let me give you an example to my moon cycle, I would feel, uh, good, moderately good. Like ten days of the month in the rest of the 20 days was just terrible. So it was like this, you know, um, like the crest and the trough of that graph. I was exactly like that. And, um, a 30 year old woman shouldn't ideally be feeling like that. I mean, you should be feeling vibrant, motivated, full of energy. 

So, um, I think, um, I think that that pain of staying where I was, I couldn't withstand any more of that. And I wanted to make that shift in that change, and I had to, at least not. I mean, I wasn't living a life, uh, a complete life. I mean, what sort of a life was that? You know, I mean, not motivated on some days. Um, I mean, that's not the way I, you know, a lady, a woman functions, and I wasn't able to show up for my daughter. Um, so sometimes I had left my job. I'd left my career, everything just for my daughter. And while I was physically present for her, I wasn't even mentally, emotionally present for her at all. And, uh, let me tell you that that had repercussions on her, on her own mental health, on our relationship as a mother and daughter. My relationship with my spouse, everything got affected a whole lot of relationship because there was just no clarity of mind, no clarity of thinking. So I things had to shift, things had to change. And I was looking for answers and I was always ready. But it's just that of course they say the teacher appears when the student is ready. I was always ready, but I think I was looking at the wrong places and I wasn't looking at the right place. And, uh, I think God guided me to you. And it was, uh, providence. His wish to. I think, uh, meet someone like you who transform my life. 

 So it really warms my heart to hear this. I think there's a few things that you mentioned here so. Well, uh, that, you know, when we the pain of staying the same is, uh, more than the pain of change and we. Absolutely. Right. We, uh, and I don't blame anyone because, you know, it's just easy to look at the things we have to give up. Like, you have to give up this and have to give up that. 

I think the shift happens when you realize how much you are getting and not how much you are giving up, right? It's actually not about giving up at all. I mean, you don't miss those things because you feel so much better that you stop missing those things. And they they were a part of your past life and now you've moved on, right? So that's the beauty. That's the beauty of, uh, this kind of an internal shift. You're not the same person you were before, so you don't miss those things to that extent. I mean, yes, they might come back from time to time, but honestly. And, uh, I and I've found with my own personal experience that if you don't make space for something new that they usually don't show up. So the other way to look at it is that you're making space, you know, for better things to show up. I mean, that's true actually, uh, whether it's energetically or, uh, physically and, uh, yeah. In relationships. Absolutely. You know, we don't. 

We underestimate the importance of our mental and emotional health. Uh, you know, which has an impact on, uh, not just because we focus so much on physical health. We forget about our relationships and not just relationship with others, but relationship with ourselves. And if we are just surviving. You're absolutely right. That's no way to live. That's not what you were here for. Or you or I am here for. We have so much to offer. And yet here we are, living each day, you know? And honestly, uh, there will be obviously times in your life and in mine and everyone else's who's watching this or listening that they will be crisis. And then you're actually in survival mode, right? And then you're actually living from day to day. But the rest of the time you are not. So when you're in survival mode, that's a different thing. But at least for the rest of your life, you need to figure out how to thrive. And that's what I think you've done so beautifully put in the. Because without your commitment, without your effort, obviously, I mean, I can only guide you, but unless you put in the effort and the commitment, it doesn't really work. So that's, uh, something that you saw the benefit of. And it will work for everyone. I mean, if we start supporting ourselves. So, um, you know, if we look back and we, uh, I mean, in my, uh, what I've realized is that we talk so much about our symptoms, we talks about our disease, and. But that's not what I want our conversations to go. And that's why I'm not focusing so much on what disease and, you know, diagnosis. ET cetera. That, you know, there's enough about that. But, uh, I know that, you know, we've discussed, uh, where our body is trying to teach us something or, you know, send a message to us through our symptoms or some other feeling. And if you only know how to listen, which most of us don't. So I think when you started to listen. So what surprised you most? Do you think about what your body was trying to teach you or tell you through your symptoms, or about your symptoms, or about your health issue? 

Okay, so, um, when I joined the body wise, um, healing, uh, you know, framework, I think, I, I think I was handheld for this first six months, so actually, I'm, I probably would have become a little wise, but I think post that I, I've just been growing wiser and wiser by the day because then I don't have someone to handhold me. But my mentor, my teacher, she's given me all the tools and my toolkit and a blueprint. I have it ready with me. So whenever. Um. There's a symptom that, oh, there's a flare or there's some sort of a random symptom. I go back to all that she's taught me. She has asked me to check in with yourself. Uh, so let's say, to give you an example. Bloating. So what have I eaten? I will check in for that. That's the most common thing. Secondly, have I been under stress? Um. Have I moved enough? Have I breathe? So these are not. Have I gone and gone in the sunlight? These are not things that are often told. The first thing you know, you're bloated. I'm sure you've had some dal or you've had some some, you know, very difficult to digest legumes, but that's not all. You've had a lot of salads. No. So I always do this check in. I still remember you had shown me this very complex looking, food web looking flowchart which, which is which is actually not complex. And you help me to understand that if one is feeling a certain way, let's say thyroid or let's say bloating, let's say constipation, then it could be so many other things apart from just food. It could be lack of stepping out of home, not adding joy or pleasure, not slowing down. That's something no one tells you. I mean, when you, um, I mean, you you go to healthcare practitioner for thyroid, he's going to tell you have or let's say an erotic practitioner have gyrus of a joint company or have and Brazil nuts are very other healthcare. 

You know another next level healthcare practitioner won't tell you are Brazil nuts, but no one tells you to slow down. No one tells you to pause. No one tells you to, um, catch a little sunlight, to move a little more. No one asks you to be soft with yourself. So, um. I think I just got wiser. So while I was on the six month framework, I think I was handled way too much to even listen to myself. So I would just come back and tell, uh, this is what I'm feeling. And I'm again flared up and, you know, I've had this again, bout of IBS or constipation or whatever. And, um, she would always I remember doing the second session with her, the second follow up with her, and she would oh, that's when she brought to light that it could be something else going on in your life. There's there's something that you're disappointed about. I read this very nice thing, uh, the body manifest. What the mind cannot digest. Oh, that was exactly what had happened to me when I came for your second follow up. It took me a while to understand. So again, when I went for my second follow up, um, she helped me and she helped me deal with the rest of the healing journey with a lot of supportive supplements and also helping me understand what's going wrong. 

Now, your your health coach doesn't know what's happening the rest of your life, so she kept asking if there's something that's shifted, something has something changed drastically? I had changed homes. I was probably not very happy with where I was, um, my job. I wasn't very happy with that profile. So we sort of bundle up all of that. We think it's there in our mind. And while I was journaling, it's still there. I'm not. It's still mulching and I'm still ruminating and all of that, uh, garbage. It's just not coming out in some way. It has to get digested from it all gets, goes and gets stuck in your gut. So I have understood this whole framework and that that complex food web looking flowchart. I still have it with me. It's so valuable because when you understand your health, coach will not be able to pinpoint what's exactly going on, but she can at least support you with these tools. I think all this is missing from your life. And yes, it was missing. And then and today when I, uh, go through some of these bouts of bloating or IBS, I have those tools ready with me and I go for I have this checklist. So. Okay. Have I moved in now? Have I, uh have I been hydrated? Is there been a lot of stress? Have I has my response to stress not been ideal like it should have been? So I go through that checklist or have I added more probiotics. So all of them if it's all crossed, then I'll have to start working on it. So it's not that, you know, I mean it's like what you said health is never linear curve. There are always bumps. So sometimes I go back to ground zero and again I have to start. You know sometimes we tend to forget. We take things for granted, you know. Oh. I'm stable. Everything's. You know. Um. Everything's fine. 

And then you suddenly start, you know, without even realizing. Because there is there's a lot of background stress happening. There's environmental stress, toxins, and of course, the things of daily life that, you know, pile on. And we don't realize that we don't let it go. And, uh, the body just holds on the body keeps a score of it. And I can tell you that. I can just tell you, I think I'm a classic example of that. And, um, you know, what you said is so true. And what you ended with, the body keeps score. And most of us are not even aware of it. I think that's I think what you said first six months obviously was about learning and about figuring this out. But I think that after that you've embodied that that wisdom that you kept talking about. And I as you were talking and I was thinking, oh my God, you know, the framework that I had put out over years of working with women now, I mean, I, I knew of course it was working because I've been doing it for a while, but as you were speaking, I would I could see that the pieces have actually fallen into place. It's. So amazing when you were talking that, you know, it's something that I that I have put my heart and soul into. And of course, you know, I learned so much from my clients and that's how it's, you know, it's all come into place. And of course, my, my, my own personal experiences as well. But as you were talking, I was like, okay, it's it's, you know, it works and it works so beautifully. So I'm safe does work. It does work it. So I mean, again, you know, as human beings, we tend to sometimes get, uh, you know, bogged down in the details. So I know, of course it works. And that's how it's, you know, we are here today. We are talking about it. But as you were saying, I was like, yes, exactly. This is how it works. It's about embodied wisdom. It's about being in your body. And women especially. We need to be aware of what's going on in our body. And actually, even for men, it's not only for women, of course, because we're living neck up. We don't really live in our bodies. And that mind body that we talk so much about, people talk about mind body, they have no clue what it means. Yeah, right. So you know how much it is affecting our gut health. And I think our radar has talked about it for thousands of years. So has traditional Chinese medicine. But you know, it it has to percolate down to our day to day life. Right? I mean, talking about it theoretically is very nice to hear, but what you have shared is how we apply it in our lives. Like, how do we and it's, you know, and and again, one, I think very important thing that you pointed out a lot of our issues, uh, you know, can be sorted out so simply. Right. It's not easy. I'm not saying everything is easy. It's never easy. But it can be quite simple, right? That check in with yours that's slowing down. That maybe an extra hour of sleep, a bit of pausing, you know, a bit of self-care. And self-care is not about going to the spa, etc. this is self-care, what you just mentioned, right? So some of these things chewing mindfully, like basic things that we, you know, again, overlook. And by just doing this, I mean we we can see so much of difference. I mean, I we just had a three month program where, you know, I had a client and I was trying out a different kind of program. Uh, it was not nothing to do with diet and nothing to do with supplements, pure coaching, but with autoimmune conditions. So this client had, uh, had has psoriasis and, and mother of a newborn child and with a younger, you know, another young child. So already there's so much of stress. And just by what you just shared, just by doing some of these things, no diet and no supplement in the sense diet was there, the support was there in terms of, say, adding more vegetables, but not very, very what should I say? Very because the program was such that it was not meant to be 100% personalized. But yes, focusing on the phytonutrients, focusing on organic and processed foods. So all those guidance was there. And just by doing this basic things in three months, she saw such a huge improvement. I mean, every time I work with somebody, I still get amazed by how resilient our body is. If only we supported the proper way. Right. So that is amazing. So anything else that you want to add? Just just to add to that the wellness industry is fixated on only food. Unfortunately, this holistic well-being um, is goes way beyond just food and supplements and exercise. Oh, yes. Exercise. The industry is again doing a little too much on exercise. Um, but it's, it's it's a it's more than that. And, um, I think our lives today are just just so much of hustle. Um, everybody is so stressed. I think that element needs to be, um, focused on also. Everyone's just doing so much more. What else can I add? Okay, um, this seed is good for my hair. I learned that also to my smoothie. This is moringa morning also. I like lemongrass. Oh, yes. Okay. That reminds. Yeah, actually. So the black sesame is good. Okay. Why should you just stick to the white sesame seeds and this and that? Just go on. It's not about adding so much more to your plate rather than just. Deleting and eliminating and subtracting things from your, uh, you know, things that you're adding can be very simple. Means it can be colorful. Um, but at the same time, uh, bring joy to, uh, to your soul, nourish your soul as well. So as well. And when you say colorful, you need not be. It need not be eating like a bucket full of, uh, you know, red and yellow peppers just because you know it's going to it should even nourish your soul as well. Yes. Um, I think you know what you're. What you're saying is something that good that we'll be talking about is that we have complicated wellness so much. That's the reason I came up with the tagline, I mean, recently, Simplify Wellness, Amplify Life. I mean, seriously, we need to complicate wellness. It's become like a second job. It's almost like you have another job that you have to take care of where you are doing spin cycling, whether you're where you're doing weightlifting, where you're doing this, also where you're doing that also and as you said, foods and then you're taking 30 supplements. It's not about this, right. It's about figuring out actually what your body needs. And it can be very, very simple as again, simple doesn't always mean easy. I'm not even ever saying that. You know, it's always easy to do these things. Otherwise everybody would be doing it. Uh, it was very interesting example somebody had given. I think he's one of the people that I, you know, listen, um, his name is, uh. I'm just digressing a bit, but I think it's relevant. Jim. Ron, he's a he's an American capitalist and spiritual. Not spiritual, but guru, uh, productivity and business. But I love his, uh, you know, his mindset. And he's passed away now, but, uh, you know, he's very well known and he has his amazing talks. Okay. So I listen to it when I need a pep talk from time to time and no, you know, like, no crap, uh, kind of a pep talk where, you know, like, if you need it sometimes, right? Even I need it as a coach. So he's like my coach kind of a thing or a mentor or whatever. So I listen to him and I remember what he said. He's, uh, that, you know, like he was not doing very well in his 20s. And he was like broke. And he had a family and he was struggling. And then he did certain things. I'm not going to get into it. And he does so many things and became very successful. And he he found a mentor who helped him. Right. And then he became quite successful. And then somebody asked him much later, then how come, you know, like what did you do? And he said, oh, I did these simple things and like very simple things, you know, like I change my mindset. And I looked at the positive things and whatever gratitude and stop complaining about, uh, you know, other things. So very simple things. And then that guy. So then, so then why don't other people do it? Because he said that it's also, uh, he said there are very easy things I did, simple things I did, but it's also easy not to do it. It's as easy to do it or as easy or simple. If it is. It may not always be easy, but it's also simple not to do these things. I mean, you it's it's very easy not to take that five minute break. It's easy not to move your body. And moving your body doesn't mean going to the gym for an hour. It's easy not to, you know, chew mindfully so it's easy not to do these things. So, you know, so it's it's both I still remember that. So I need it. So that's what I thought I'll share. It's it's cuts both ways. And you're right. It's about editing actually a lot of it. It's about removing the things that are not serving us. Right. Because what was serving us five years back or even one year back may not be serving us today, but we have no idea because we are trying everything right. So rather than trying everything, I think knowing what to focus on is also very important. And it's going to take some time. And I think that's what you found out after our six months together. Also because six months you were learning also. I mean, and it's, you know, we all learn and I, we and I think we have to keep on learning throughout our lifetime what's going to work because our body is shifting. So and I think there's something else you had shared, not today, but I, I wanted to sort of, uh, a couple of things. I wanted to, uh, check with you, uh, before we end, um, this you had said some time back that most women value themselves only in guilt. You had said this some time back. Not now. Uh, it's a it was a quite a powerful insight. So it stayed with me. So what does it look like now? I mean, if if you think this still applies, uh, or, you know, any, any thoughts that you want to share because I think guilt is such a big part of, you know, so many women. Right. I want you to actually just touch upon this as well. So, um, yeah, post body wise, I mean, I'm, I'm stressing on that because I am a completely different person post that I think stronger woman. Um, because I've molted and I've shed these layers where I'm, I fear that I'll be judged because I, I'm not able to provide x, y, z for my family. I am done with living in that guilt. Um, today, uh, for me, um, my, um, my my physical energy, my mental energy is more sacred than anything else. And, um, making putting that extra dish on the table, even if someone likes it in my family today, I'm not able to do that. I'm not able to show up, and I'm not going to live in that guilt, because there are there is there's another there are two little children who need my energy, who need my time. That is much more sacred than me doing that extra thing or making that going that extra mile for the family. I'm always there. I can always do that in some other day. So, um, I've I've just it's taken me a long, long time. It was never easy. I still do operate at times. Out of that, there are days that I do that out of guilt. I push myself to do that extra thing. And let me tell you, by the end of the day, I'm sad. And it's not just that day. Two days after that, I will still be, uh, sapped of energy because I hadn't given my body risk. This happened very recently around Diwali. I wasn't up to it. I wasn't up to making those sweet like a regular regularly make for every Diwali. I was just. And I pushed my body to do that. And when my body gave up in the next 2 to 3 days, I wasn't and gave up everything I happened in my gut. My gut gave up. I couldn't digest anything, I was bloated and I was irritable. I was inflamed in short. In short, I was inflamed. I was angry and irritable. It's because I didn't listen to my body. I was operating out of guilt. How can I not make everything? Everyone's making something. How can I not be making. So, uh, like I said, I do that on some days. I have that willpower that. No, I'm. I need my energy is sacred to me, and I'm not going to cross that line. But some days, yes, I do, given we are women. That's how we operate. We operate on a lot of how productive I was today. You know, that's how it is. So, uh, and, uh, so again, you know, the that's why I ask this question because, you know, it's most women who deal with this, uh, especially, I mean, you may be a mother or not, somebody maybe may not be a mother, but still, we operate from this. And, uh, it's such a beautiful example of that. Uh, and we tend to do it. I mean, we are human beings, even after knowing that I tend to do it. So we will have those things, but we get better at stopping ourselves, and we get better with practice. It's true for anything that we do, really, uh, and, uh, you know, it's setting boundaries. I mean, slowly, I mean, I didn't even know there was something called setting boundaries. Still some time back, right? So this is not something. And it's all kinds of boundaries. So this was a superb example of one of those boundaries. And I, um, and I know that you have to, you know, small children in your life now. And that's a that's an amazing story if you want to share anything about that. And also if your past self could see you to I mean, it could see you today. What would you like to tell her? So like if you could see yourself. When you when you are asking me that question with the lump in my throat, as I even know. I would just tell her that just you should have been softer with yourself, and be more compassionate to yourself and not listen to everyone around you. Um, yeah. I don't think that was compassionate and soft with myself. And, uh, it all just showed up over the years, and I still, I mean, um, just to tell you what you had once told me, and it almost felt like I was a lion or a tiger was chasing me every day. And I lived that way for donkey's years. I can even talk about a few months ago. That's just how it's been with me. And it's become. It's just become my DNA and blueprint. Unfortunately, that, uh, always being, always feeling like, you know, uh, living on the edge. And that can be very, very difficult for your body and. I just lost all. You know, the the juiciness of, you know, my younger years. They were all just snatched away. And the responsibilities, guilt, um, the remorse of, uh, not showing up and and everyone, everyone around you is ready to make you feel that way. That's another story. Otherwise, um, so I would just tell her that. Just be kind and compassionate to yourself. Yes, sir. And, um, that's such a powerful message tonally. And I think you're setting such a great example for both your daughters, because I know you have two daughters, two little girls. One is very small, but for the especially for the older one, and even as a second one, you know, both the girls start growing up. I think as women we need to set that example. I mean, no matter how much we may say whatever we may say, our children pick up from what how we are living our lives like. I have been very clear with my daughter and I've tried my best. Of course, we can only try our best. We are not perfect parents and I never tried to be. But I think you know the way you have sort of shaped and, you know, changed and transformed, as you call it, and such an amazing journey. And I'm so honored to have been part of that journey. And I know that I can see that, you know, in your voice and when you are speaking that you are setting that example for your children. So those girls will grow up and, you know, have their own family. So this is how we create a beautiful ripple effect in the world, like a positive, uh, effect in the world. So I think that was a very powerful message. So self-compassion, I think, you know, more or more more of us need to teach our children. I mean, and for boys as well, I'm not singling out girls, but girls have this more than guilt. And, you know, things we take up more than boys. And, um, the last question would be for someone listening who feels stuck and uncertain, like who's just getting started or, you know, sort of stuck, uh, you know, in some place or has just got a diagnosis or maybe just looking for a diagnosis or, you know, it can be any kind of anything, for that matter, what would you tell them about finding hope and taking their first step? There is hope always. I mean, every, every, um, every symptom, every diagnosis has a solution, at least in modern science. But it depends where you're looking. Like, I was looking in the wrong places and hence I didn't find another time type. But there are health care practitioners. Functional medicine is, um, a time tested, uh, I think, um, offshoot of mainstream medicine. And, uh, there are a whole lot of practitioners like Nandita in India, and she's of course, one of the first, uh, um, functional medicine, uh, practitioners. I've had the privilege to work with one of the first. Um, so, uh, this is a foolproof method, uh, to, uh, get your diagnosis at least, um, put your life back together. Um, when I say put your life back together, get your symptoms down. Um, get a diagnosis, um, alleviate your symptoms, whatever you're struggling with. So there is hope. So, I mean, it depends on where, again, where you're looking for functional medicine is where you should be looking ideally. Um, and, um, the program is very holistic. Again, it's just not only about food, it's just not about the body. It's even about the mind and soul. And, uh. Yeah. So again, it's for, um. One must be ready to bring about that change. Also, you know, um, to accept that, uh, it will need consistency and discipline. So whatever you start off on will need consistency in discipline. So even if you say, oh, I'm a functional medicine healthcare practitioner, and the rest of the time you're bingeing on ice creams and donuts will not help. Um, or, uh, you're very stressed. Will not help. Um, so change must, uh, I mean, to have sustainable change, then one must have consistency and discipline. Uh, that's how it's worked for me. Yeah, absolutely. So consistency, consistency, discipline. But and also where it started is you took responsibility for your health. And I think that's something that we often outsource to experts because we are so used to doing them. Um, so it's, you know, that's how the system works and what you said about functional medicine, it's again, not about whether you should be taking medications or whether we should be going for treatments or meeting doctors. A lot of people get that idea that it should be. You know, I can only do it with an actual party or this or I can do this. A lot of times it's actually a combination that works best. Um, because a lot of times we do need medication. We do need to obviously we need to go to an expert and get a diagnosis or some treatment. But what you're saying is the what what gets left behind are some of these foundational practices, uh, the mind body aspect of it. We are finally, you know, beings. We are not organs. Uh, you know, we are not made up of discrete body parts or organs. We have a whole person. So that's what we look at in functional medicine. Thank you for sharing that. Your perspective. It was, uh, you know, really nice to hear from you. What? I mean, I'm a practitioner and coach, so I keep talking about it, but it's really amazing to hear your take on functional medicine. It's you're right. It's about addressing and finding and addressing the root cause of disease. But the mind body aspect, the personalization aspect, uh, participatory aspect, you know, taking responsibilities about participation. You can't be a passive recipient. It doesn't work because you, as you said, you have to be consistent. You you have to be disciplined, which means that you have to do the work. You know, I can I mean, I can only guide you like I how I could have only guided you. Finally, you were doing the work in your kitchen, in your house. So as we wrap up this amazing and beautiful conversation, soulful conversation, is there anything else that I haven't asked you that you would like to share? Maybe the next phase of your healing journey with your beautiful girls. Anything that you would like to share before we wrap up? Um. So I have joined with a completely different motive, and I still remember this dated back sometime in June or July of 23, when I had, uh, said I had a few infertility issues and I had approached her. I was recommended, uh, um, to Nandita by another healthcare, uh, functional medicine practitioner, and that she would be the best fit for my problem. And, uh, she was very empathetic. Um, that's something that I'm missing. That on my journey, I had come across a lot of other health care givers and practitioners who are not empathetic, who hardly even listen to me. And, um. She shared with me a few resources that that helped me understand how because I had no idea about functional medicine, how would functional medicine support me? And, um, I still remember who I was referred to. He told me that, um, you can, um, you can change your biological age. Chronological age will will stay the same. And I can tell you, I have, uh, I mean, in today's terms, it's called biohacking. And that's what's happened with me. I feel, um, I think when I had started off with, I would have been 39. Today, I'm 42, and I've had the, um, while, um, I have not been, I have not been able to solve that very complex issue with which I had approached her. I believe that it served me so many, many other things that, uh, um, it gave me, uh, strength, courage, and, um, of course it fueled my body as well. And I feel younger, more vibrant, obviously transformed. And, um. While some may say what you set out for, you didn't achieve and you didn't solve. Uh, I can openly tell you on a platform like this that could have never, ever happened. I was, uh, running after, I think, um, I mean, having my body having been in fight and flight for so many years, donkey's years. I could not have created, uh, without assistance, and I would have probably needed a lot more assistance. And by the time I realized this, um, I realized that there was a lot of emotional, uh, clearance that needed, uh, which, uh, what? Whatever food you may add, nothing will work out if you're living under stress. So by then, I realized that, um, this was the way my body, you know, learn to. I wasn't stress resilient. That was my problem. So I, I have to still work my way through. And it was getting too late. And, uh, the desire and, uh, to have a second child and the void in our lives was just way too much. Um, but, uh, at that age, one would think that, uh. Having another child would mean that going back to ground zero and starting the whole process once again, it meant another 15 to 16 years of good health being on your toes. Um, but I took that step. And today I have a little girl in my life. Uh, we brought her home when she was seven months. Today she's 11 months. And I can proudly say that the last four months has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. Uh, we often, um, pray to God for strength, and, uh, God just doesn't give you strength from somewhere. The first month, I brought my daughter home. The amount of struggles and obstacles that all came my way. I don't believe I came out of that the first month, and it was the toughest month, and I stood through it without any health problems. I didn't crumble. It's because I had followed all those protocols. The tools, mind you, through all of that. Handling two babies, two children ten years apart. Um, I had, uh, three aging parents at home and the whole family to, you know, take together. Uh, despite. And there was a there was a health crisis at home with one of my parents. Through all of that, I think if I had not invested in all of this, I don't think my body would have would have been able to take me through all of this. Forget about my body. I think even mentally, I would have crumbled. So, uh, I'm proud of where I am today. Four months later? Yes, there have been a few bad days, but those bad days have taught me what I should not be doing. So I've slowed down, um, the bad days, uh, the not so good days. And not. I will not call them bad. It's a not so good day. Teach me that I need to up my self-care. This is something most women, I think on Anita's page, uh, blogs, she, um, talks a lot about self-care. And then when you read it, you like, what is, uh, why should I, uh, you know, um, why should I step out of home? Why should I journal? Why should I do gratitude journaling? Why should I just take a pause with a cup of tea? Pause. Pause a few seconds. How does it matter? It does matter. It's just so, so valuable. And I can tell you that. And I'm. And on days when I don't feel nice, I pause, I slow down, I delete things from my plate that do not serve me any purpose. And then I feel good and I bounce back and I'm much more productive, much more vibrant. What most women do is they keep pushing through. And you know, I need to do this, this, this. It is not that, uh, your your child doesn't want you to be making, uh, cookies, cakes, granola and all of that. She just wants you to be a pleasant mother, to be listening to her, to be emotionally tuned into her. So, uh, that's what that's what all of this. I mean, these are not things that come with, uh, a normal, um, wellness, um, package or an, you know, you have those, uh, they, they claim to be holistic wellness packages where they just show you that, you know, you're healing your gut, but healing your gut is just not to do with your plate. It's just so much more. And today, I think I am that empowered mother. Uh, I don't think I would have been able to take the decision. A lot of people, um, um, have actually scorned that. Our decision, uh, given my age, that you have to given people at my age. Slow down. But I've added something onto my plate and let me tell you, I'm even smiling at two in the morning. I, uh, I mean, I'm not cribbing, uh, because of the lack of sleep. I'm smiling more than I was, smiling than than before. And, uh, I think she's added so much more joy. And I'm so happy for the step that I've taken. And I would not have been able to do, um, if Anahita was not in my life. And the first time we brought baby home, my my spouse kept telling me, my husband kept. You have to thank her. She's the first person you should be in for me. You have to tell her of this, uh, because had it not been for, um, the magic wand that she is, you know, she has used in my life, uh, I don't think I would have. I don't think I would have been able to take this decision because I think it's a very, um, huge decision. A lot of people told me, uh, you'll be stepping into perimenopause. How will you handle the child? But, um, it's just how much I wanted this. And the void was way too much. And when I have the physical energy and the mental energy, why not? Yeah, and what a story that is. All of it is amazing. But I think ending here, it's it's such an inspiring story and it's so much there's so much of courage, uh, in that story that you just shared. And I know the story, of course, because, you know, a lot of part of it. We've done things together, and I've been honored to be arrested. I've been honored to be part of that, uh, story, that journey. But, uh, I think, you know, this this story will, you know, uh, empower comes later. But I think first, people need to have the hope that, you know, that things can get better, you know, because you've been trying so many. So many of us are trying so many different things, and especially those who will listen to this, probably many of them or many of you are trying so many different things and it's not working. Right. And then it's it's, you know, we give up hope, right? I mean, we have tried going through different practitioners or maybe trying different modalities, but the story that you just share that it's not about because the outcomes, as you said, you know, the outcome was may or may not have be exactly how you envisioned, but it's so much, you know, it's it's different, but it's still amazing. That's the thing, right? I mean, it's not any less amazing or any less hopeful or any less happy. And that's, I think, a big takeaway from what you just shared, that things may not exactly happen your way. And that's okay, because it happened in a much, you know. Different but maybe better way actually. Absolutely right. It's and as you said, you get up at 2 a.m. in the morning and you're smiling. I mean, who does that? Unless you're happy with how things have happened and how you have been able to deal with it, cope with it, and ups and downs up out of your of of all our lives, whether we have a young baby or not. I mean, that's going to be part of our part. And parcel is just that. We need to be equipped to deal with it. So that courage that when you are sharing the story, that bravery, that courage has, you know, that resilience is now shining through. So that's what I would like to say. Thank you so much for sharing your story with so much of, you know, um, honesty, authenticity. I think that also shone through it. It's going to help so many, uh, women, especially who are listening to this. So thank you for joining us today. Thank you so much. Thank you so much for having me here and sharing this story. I hope, um, this touches many women, um, who just stay stuck and are just scared to make that change. Um, so like I said before, the the pain of staying where you are, if it exceeds the pain of changing, then you must change. Yes. Yes, absolutely. Thank you. And on those last words, thank you once again, Sonali. Thank you for being with us today.