Personal Growth

You didn’t “lose your mind.” Your mind did exactly what it needed to do to survive. It split things off. It numbed what was unbearable. It created patterns to keep you safe. The problem is— those same patterns can keep you stuck later. So now you’re here. Not broken. Not starting from scratch. But learning how to update a system that was built in chaos. That’s deep work. And you don’t have to do it alone. 🔥 The Purple Phoenix Collective

What I did today at work

Root Chakra Activity#1: We are going to establish a non-negotiable daily rhythm with a focus on sleep hygiene, hydration, and regular meals. The Root Chakra demands rhythm, and when the body knows when it will sleep and eat, the anxiety of "survival mode" decreases. This is not a complex to-do list; it is a survival schedule. You are simply reclaiming the body Here is the mandatory parts for your new vitality routine: Set a specific wake-up time. It doesn't matter when you go to sleep yet, but you must wake up at the same time every day to reset the circadian rhythm. Schedule three "fuel stops" per day. Even if it’s just a protein shake or a piece of fruit, the body must learn that fuel is coming consistently. Cleanse your body each evening, treating it not as a chore, but as a "washing off" of the day's stress.

While the Earth Star was about where you stand (your environment), the Root Chakra is about your RIGHT to stand there. It's located at the base of the spine, and it governs survival, physical safety, family/tribe, routine, and our basic needs. Addiction hijacks the brain's survival mechanisms, making the substance or behavior feel as necessary as food or water; it shatters the Root because it threatens survival and disconnects us from our "tribe." Our goal is to move the nervous system out of "fight or flight" and into "rest and digest" where things are more predictable. You cannot heal if your body feels unsafe. I listened to everyone's feedback, and I realize I was giving everyone too much too fast. So we're cutting back a little this week. I only have three activities for the entire week. First one's coming right up!

I lost my mind—and it changed everything. I don’t mean that metaphorically. I mean my reality fractured. The rules dissolved. What I thought was solid… wasn’t. It was terrifying, disorienting, unreal. But here’s the part no one talks about: When the mind breaks, the body is still there. Breath is still there. Sensation is still there. And in that chaos, I found something real. Not the stories. Not the interpretations. Just the raw, immediate experience of being alive. That experience reshaped me. I don’t trust every thought anymore—and honestly, that’s a relief. I don’t need to analyze everything to death. I don’t need reality to make perfect sense to exist inside it. “Lose your mind and come to your senses.” — Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī Sometimes breaking is what brings you back.

The clock grows louder, but so do you. Answers come easy doubt comes quicker. You don’t search for truth, you search for certainty. Yet somewhere inside, you already know you’re not guessing… you’re just learning to trust.

I’m offering 1:1 trauma-informed coaching through The Purple Phoenix Collective 💜 This isn’t about fixing you. It’s about helping you come back to yourself. My work focuses on reclaiming your narrative through creativity, metaphor, and symbolism—because not everything can be processed through logic alone. Sometimes we need poetry, imagery, and meaning to access what’s deeper. We might explore: ☯️ Shadow work + parts of you that have been pushed down ⭐ Writing, symbolism, and personal mythology 🌿 Rituals, nature, and grounding practices 🧘 Somatic work + nervous system regulation This is spiritual, but not dogmatic—deeply influenced by Taoism, Buddhism, mindfulness, and lived experience. I’m not a guru. I’m a survivor. I live with C-PTSD and bipolar 1 disorder. I’ve experienced profound trauma, loss, and rebuilding from nothing. That’s my main credential—I understand this from the inside. This is a collaborative space. You are the expert of your own experience. If you’re feeling disconnected, stuck in survival mode, or craving something deeper, this work might resonate. You can also explore workshops + support circles through The Purple Phoenix Collective. Email me if you feel called 💜 Kristina Pingston p2collective@protonmail.com

I’m learning to listen to my body. It’s not always easy, but it’s something I care deeply about doing and trying to teach my kids to do the same.

Trying to embrace the idea that it's okay to fail as long as I keep trying 🌀

Science has proven that journaling can help us self care!