My Personal Growth and Healing Journey (Version 1.0)
ℹ️ This resource documents my healing journey from 2012 until about 2019.
I am currently working on version 2.0 (2019 until 2023).
This personal growth and development resource outlines the tools, people, healing modalities and events that helped me in exploring consciousness, emotional healing and essentially in becoming myself since 2012.
It is my complete personal growth master guidebook about my continuous upgrade and development as a human soul.
It’s a living document listing everything I have done, am doing, and will do on my inner spiritual journey.
This is my unique and individual path.
Please do know that you might require very different healing modalities, teachers and tools.
I do hope that it serves as an inspiration, especially if you are just starting out.
Because I remember well just how unbelievably lost I was at the beginning of my journey.
Everything that I listed below served as a puzzle piece.
Some might say, I’m a personal growth and development junkie.
I say:
I fucking love learning and understanding and growing.
That’s how my brain and soul are wired in every area of life.
But even more so:
I have a profound urge and desire to get to know myself deeply, on all levels:
who I am
what my needs are
why I react the way I do
why I do the things I do in the way I do them
why some patterns repeat themselves in my life
what my limiting beliefs are
what my potentials are
what my purpose is on this planet…
It has been the most magical journey to dive into who I am.
And I am incredibly open to whatever comes my way.
Most of what I list in this resource I didn’t have to seek out.
They presented themselves and entered my life without me having to go out and look for them.
I just got out of the way and said yes to the experience.
You know, Law of Attraction and stuff (duh, it works).
How I Started Evolving and Embracing Personal Growth and Development
I am very passionate about evolving my consciousness and learning more about myself in the process.
Through this journey that started in 2012, I have grown and expanded my mind, my soul and my body so much.
Before, I was sleepwalking through life. Unconscious.
Since then, I have found home to myself.
I am becoming myself, I am getting to know myself every day more. And most days, I love myself and treat myself with a lot of compassion.
I still struggle at times these days (cause, you know, I’m human still), and that’s ok. I have tools now to help myself and I know how to ask for help. Not to mention, I have an awesome support network.
I know my path. And I know what I still need to learn.
And then there are a lot of things I don’t know, but I am so damn open to receive.
What has changed and shifted for me over the years (an excerpt of a long awesome list):
got rid of many limiting beliefs
found a deep connection with myself
know my needs and what is good and not good for me
have deeper connections with friends and attracted many new inspiring, wonderful friendships
generally feel more connected and very rarely lonely anymore
developed a strong intuition that I fully trust when making decisions
worked through a lot of old stories and traumas, shed a lot of weight and stuck old energies
silenced my inner critic (to a very low volume that only sometimes comes up still)
I am way softer in my being and my heart is soooo much more open
de-shamed a lot of old stories and areas in my life (sexuality, body insecurities, vulnerabilities…)
got a lot more confidence in myself and my abilities
not afraid of feelings and emotions anymore (I can feel!!)
know how to handle depressive episodes better
learned so much about life, myself and consciousness
living my higher calling
developed self-love and awesome self-care routines
connected to my physical body and its energies
So yes, it’s worth it.
Transforming your shadows into light might not always be a joyful experience, but it is the shedding of the veil that will reveal the true you.
Because in the end, the journey into ourselves is the journey home to ourselves and becoming the ones we have always been all along.
And once you know, once you have seen, once you have awaken – there is no un-seeing, no un-knowing, no more going back to unconsciousness.
My Awakening Initiation
The event that broke me open and got me onto my inner journey to myself was my first real breakup from my first girlfriend at age 28 in May 2012.
It shattered me and my world into a million pieces and I faced immense emotional pain.
(you can learn more about the entire story here)
Since then, I have been on a big quest for personal growth:
to heal unhealthy relationship patterns and my tendency to be co-dependent
to heal from being in the closet until I was 26, to embrace my sexuality as a gay, androgynous woman
for emotional healing and healing depression (eg. deep sadness, anger, shame, loneliness, being lost, obsessive thinking patterns)
to embrace and express my feminine energies
to work through old childhood and other trauma and the relationships with my parents
for transforming limiting beliefs and old emotional conditioning that keep me stuck
to learn self-love and self-compassion
to find meaning in my life and purpose in my work
Healing Modalities, Events, Practices and Tools
What is not included are the countless conversation I had with many amazing friends and amazing people I met on on my path. The infinite list of inspiring blogposts and podcasts I have consumed (but you will find some good recommendations at the end). And some smaller events and gatherings I was part of.
Please note:
I am not sharing some details on purpose, such as the names or websites of some practicioners etc. I still honour my own privacy in some ways – so if there is no link or name, don’t ask me for it.
if you don’t know what something is, follow the link or google it.
there are many untold stories hiding within this blogpost – this article is just scratching the surface of my journey and gives you a little glimpse. I have plans to possibly write a book, maybe.
Here is what I have experimented with since 2012:
Classic Psychotherapy
several rather unsuccessful attempts
at age 17/18/19 after my parents divorced
sometime again in my twenties
in 2012 after my first big breakup
last time in its classical form for a few months in Berlin in 2014 – but I quit after a few months as it wasn’t going anywhere for me and she also wasn’t the right one (but I didn’t know what the right one would be, knowing so little about myself back then!)
My first real personal development book:
A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
I think I found it in my mum’s book collection at home (thanks mom!)
It properly woke up me from my lifelong trance in 2012.
Biggest epiphany thanks to this book:
I am not my thoughts (before I took every thought as truth). I am the observer of my consciousness.
Get your own copy on Amazon and German Amazon.
Buddhist Teachings
Discovering Buddhism fully woke me up. I got so many answers through its teachings while going through some intense suffering, I am forever grateful.
discovered the Lotos Vihara Centre in Berlin and Dr. Wilfried Reuter through friends
dove into books and teachings by e.g. Thich Nhat Hanh, Pema Chodron, Ramana Maharshi, Sir J. Krishnamurty.
listened to a lot of Audio Dharma talks
Meditation Practice
After diving into Buddhism, Meditation was the obvious next step.
first through apps and podcasts (can recommend Insight and Headspace for beginners)
went to a meditation introduction class at the the Buddhist centre in Berlin in 2012
read a few books on meditation, one that stood out is “Full Catastrophe Living” by Jon Kabat-Zinn.
over the years I have practiced a lot of different techniques of meditations
experimented with all sorts of traditional meditation techniques (eg. breath, mantra, Zen)
also enjoy those by Tony Robbins (priming) and Kyle Cease
right now, I am really into the meditations by Dr. Joe Dispenza
here is a video I did on meditation: How to Meditate – my little personal no-BS guide
my intention is to meditate every morning upon rising (I don’t always succeed)
Yoga
I took my first yoga class in 2008 in Guatemala.
started doing DVD and online Yoga at home after that for my stomach and back pain
tried out many different styles, studios and teachers starting in 2011
have practiced mostly Jivamukti, Vinyasa and Hatha regularly and all over the world in many countries since about 2013
also enjoy Yin and Restorative Yoga, Kundalini, Ashtanga, Tantra
big fan of Pranayama techniques
One-Month Yoga & Meditation Course
at Hidraya Center in Mazunte/Mexico
I did Module 1 of a series of modules, which takes you very deep into yoga, meditation and the life of a Yogi
we had Kirtan sessions, collective Heart Meditation sessions and one day of complete silence
was a wonderful experience and very transformational
Yoga Teacher Training
one month at Desa Seni in Bali in 2015
mostly trained in Hatha, Yin, Tantra and Kundalini Yoga and lots of meditation and pranayama
the intention with this training was to learn more and deepen my yoga practice
one of the best “personal growth courses” you can sign up for – it is very powerful, very intense and you will transform immensely as a soul
highly recommended if you want to dive deep
Family Mystic and Healer
he is originally from Pakistan and has been one of my mum’s gurus since I was a little child
distant healing sessions
regular group satsang
5-day meditation workshop retreat in Austria
Life Coaching + Therapy
discovered life coaching and my first coach in 2014
have worked with seven very different coaches
usually for 3-6 months each
right now I have been working with my current life coach, who is also a therapist, for several years (since February 2016) – we do a lot of somatic work and feeling through emotions
Inner Child Work
in coaching and therapy sessions
first I had a big resistance and had a hard time, but eventually was able to open myself up and connect to my little Conni and it has been wonderful
super important to develop self-love, self-compassion and reparenting myself
helps to silence the inner critic and the mean voice
can recommend this book: Reconciliation – Healing the Inner Child
Coaching Session based on Byron Katie’s work
read her book: Loving What Is: Four Questions Can Change Your Life
a simple method of self-inquiry
helps change the stories we keep telling ourselves
Family Constellation
did this method mostly in therapy sessions and several times in a group setting in Ubud/Bali
you explore current and old family dynamics structures, karma and stories
Energy, Reiki, Shamanic and Theta Healing
many sessions with different healers all over the world
Theta Healing is meant to change neural pathways & change limiting beliefs
mostly effective for me in the short-term, but can’t really say how effective the results were long-term
Astrological Chart Readings
I usually get my chart read once or twice a year
really helped me to get to know myself so much more and dive deeper into my purpose on this planet
my two personal recommendations: Larry Martin and Luisa Hartmann
Tarot Card, Intuitive and Soul Readers
I have had some really awesome sessions and some not so great ones, but overall, in times of a lot of chaos, they helped me to calm down and trust in life and the universe – knowing that I am on the right path
I definitely believe that some human beings are more connected to a greater consciousness than others
Heal the Woman Within 5-Day Seminar in Bali
was kind of like my kick off healing workshop into deeper spheres of inner work in the beginning of my time here in Bali in 2015
worked with modalities of Metaphysical Anatomy to heal old stories and trauma
definitely had some big breakthroughs, but didn’t realise that so much work would still have to follow!! (layer work ;))
Yoga Retreats
Orion Healing Center on Koh Phangan, Thailand
Andalusia, Spain
Tuscany, Italy
Yoga Healing Bali with Christina Maria Gabriel
great for a reset, grounding and deepening your practice
Silent Retreat in Bali
this is not a Vipassana – you can read, write, leave the premises – so it’s more like a silent vacation maybe
amazing food, magical setting
great way reset your systems
I did it over Christmas in 2015 and enjoyed it for the most part, but was also happy to leave after those five days
Cleansing Fasting Retreat
two times with Hillary at Dharma Healing International on Koh Samui, Thailand
only water, two fresh coconut waters a day, minerals, tea, veggie broth
every morning you do an enema yourself, you get one colonic session during the course and I booked a massage every day
it’s great for a body reset and to detoxify your body once in a while
I did the normal fasting course once and then also the fasting course plus “Dharma of Fasting for Professionals” course another time
it’s more than just a fasting week – Hillary teaches you a lot about nutrition, digestion, fasting, Astrology, Iridology.
Going Vegan / Plant-based in January 2015
been vegetarian my whole life
going vegan changed my life immensely in terms of awareness for my body and its health, the connection between food and energy
food is fuel = life
I feel more fit and have more energy in my mid-thirties than I ever did in my teens or twenties
I basically don’t get sick anymore and my skin is awesome
Non-Violent Communication
completely changed my life and the way I communicate with people, especially in conflict situations
one of the most important tools I have learned on my path
I read the book and watched a few videos by Marshal Rosenberg on YouTube (I recommend this one to get started)
there are also workshops all over the world. I personally have not attended one yet, but I might in the future
Grinberg Method
I like to describe it as a mix of talk therapy, massage and somatic experiencing to heal and release stress, trauma, tension, anxiety and stuck energies in the body
tought me to properly feel emotions and not be scared of them
we worked through energetic blockages in my body (specifically throat, stomach and back)
I had probably around six sessions with two different practicioners and this method changed my life so much
check out their official website (which sucks) to find practitioners and workshops in your area
The Gene Keys
helps you find paths of self enquiry that challenge, question and enlighten you about your true role in life
one of the most fascinating teachings I have ever discovered
helps you to understand your shadows and true potentials in life
a further dimension and evolution of Human Design
“Its purpose is to unlock the great reservoir of genius that lies inside you and bring you into a deep state of harmony with every aspect of your life.”
I got my first Gene Keys Reading at the end of 2017, lasted for about 6 hours and it blew my mind
get started by checking out The Gene Keys website and purchasing the book
if you are then interested to get a reading of your profile, you can e-mail me and I will share my contact/resource with you (she is amazing)
Tony Robbins Live Events
I first attended the 6-day Date With Destiny (DWD) event in Florida in December 2016 and then the 3-day Unleash the Power Within (UPW) in LA in March 2017. Read about the experiences.
personal development on steroids – huge life-changer, Tony is the man
everyone should attend UPW and if you can afford it, also go to DWD
I made a video reflecting on both events
Dr. Joe Dispenza Workshops and Retreats
2-day Progressive Workshop in Berlin in May 2017
4-day Advanced Course in Palm Desert/California in October 2017
6-day Advanced Course in Tarragona/Spain in January 2018
6-day Advanced Course in Cancun/Mexico in June 2018
bridging spirituality and meditation with science
wanna heal your body, raise your consciousness and manifest the most amazing life ever? Dr. Joe is the real deal – he is a scientist, not some woo-woo dude. He has tested all of his hypothesis and explains in amazing detail the interconnectedness between body and mind and why what he teaches works.
I love his meditations and the Mind Movies technique – I practice both daily, up to 1.5 hours
to get started with his work, check out his website and books, purchase some of his meditations (eg. Blessings of the Energy Centers), do his online course and attend one of his events
I talk about my experiences in these Facebook live videos: Live from the Retreatand Retreat Highlights
Plant Medicine Retreat with a Shaman in Ecuador
10 days in February 2018
3 ceremonies with the plant medicine San Pedro
1 sweat lodge ceremony
I was living with the shaman and his family
check out my video about the experience here
if you are truly committed, you can find more information about my shaman and his offerings on his website
I went back in April 2019 for two weeks and did two Ayahuasca sessions with him (one private and one in a small group setting). Here is my video about the experience.
Transformational / Holotropic Breathwork
Breathwork is an active meditation practice that produces altered states of consciousness to help with emotional healing and personal growth. It gives access to parts of the psyche that aren’t as accessible in our daily lives, as well as to the collective unconscious and the unity of everything and everyone, similarly to a psychedelic or plant-medicine ceremony experience.
Basically, you inhale and exhale for equal lengths of time, at increasing speed while being blind-folded. Intense music is played loudly to intensify the experience, which is even heightened by the group energy that is being produced through the practice.
I have done breathwork circles with Michael Stone in LA and online, as well as Sara Silverstein and Edward Dangerfield in Bali. Read my comprehensive article on breathwork here.
My experiences have been so healing, so liberating. I have released endless stuck energy, connected to my inner child and just had an out of this world experience.
I have also done private breathwork sessions, which are even more powerful and healing.
Other awesome stuff I have tried out and experienced
Ecstatic Dance Sessions (eg. Yoga Barn in Bali)
Sister Circles Sessions at The Practice in Bali
Goddess Gathering in LA
EFT Tapping
Cacao and Cannabis ceremonies in LA
Sound Bath Healing in Bali
Floating Tank in LA (sensory deprivation in a salt bath)
Two intimate workshops with Kyle Cease in LA – one in May 2018 with 50 people and one in October 2018 with 25 people
Some other great events I attended
Bali Spirit Festival
Wanderlust Festival in New Zealand
Marianne Williamson lectures in LA
Matt Kahn Lecture in Encinitas/CA
Longevity Now Conference in LA
Health-based healing modalities and practices:
My main health-related challenges have been digestion, PMS and period pain, eczema and psoriasis, back pain, and chronic wrist and knee pain from injuries.
I believe in the interconnectedness of mind, body and soul and that any chronic pain and dis-ease is stuck, lower-frequency energy in the body.
Suppressed emotions caused a lot of chronic conditions for me, especially skin and digestion.
For example, once I had my coming out at 26, many of my health issues disappeared and improved massively, as I started to live my true self and to express my emotions.
Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine
Myofascial Release
Juice fasting for 7 days and 3 days
Hydro-Colonic Therapy Sessions
Liver flush
Ayurvedic diet based on my dosha
Water fasting
Several Balinese healers
Rolfing
Intermittent Fasting (daily for 16hours and for 24 hours every couple weeks)
Chiropractic treatments
Detoxed from coffee, sugar and alcohol for several months at a time
Healing SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth) with a modified Fodmap diet and natural supplements – I worked with the awesome naturopath and health coach Kirsten Swales
24 hour water fasts
Osteopathy treatments to heal digestion issues at Praxis für Ostheopathie (highly recommended)
Kambo ceremony with Esther the Kambo Nomad
LIFE-CHANGING RESOURCES ON MY PATH
Books:
It is hard to pick just a few, so I created a living resource of the books that have had the most impact on my personal growth journey and my thinking. I update it frequently.
Check it out:
Here is my list of books that changed my life.
Blogs, YouTube Channels and Podcasts:
Kyle Cease on YouTube and also check out this program of his
Jeff Foster on Facebook and his books
Matt Kahn on YouTube
Mark Groves on Instagram and his website
Jeff Brown on Facebook and his books
Vienna Pharaon on Instagram
Tony Robbins videos on YouTube and also these online programs
Terri Cole and her Hello Freedom Podcast
Adam Roa on Facebook and his podcast The Deep Dive
Aubrey Marcus and his podcast
Tara Brach’s Podcast
And obviously so many more amazing people, just giving you a little best-of here.
Now I am guessing you are probably going to ask:
“WHAT HAS HELPED YOU THE MOST, CONNI?“
My answer:
All of it, in one way or another.
Whatever I did was helpful at the time in my healing and consciousness process.
In the beginning, I found a lot of answers through Buddhism.
Yoga and Meditation have been crucial the entire time and continue to do so.
Then Life Coaching was a game-changer.
And the one-month yoga and meditation retreat at Hidraya in Mexico and my Yoga Teacher Training in Bali definitely boosted my evolution to new levels.
Books on personal growth and development and Buddhist teachings have always been great supporters in so many ways. I love learning from more evolved beings and getting inspired by people who share insightful messages.
Every retreat, every course, every experience has been important on my path.
Every piece of the puzzle has been indispensable to arrive where I am today.
And of course, some more than others.
BUT if I had to decide, I would say:
San Pedro Plant Medicine Retreat with a Shaman in Ecuador (in Feb 2018)
Dr. Joe Dispenza Workshops (especially the one-week Advanced workshop I did in Spain in Jan 2018)
Therapy and life coaching with my current wonder woman
Grinberg Therapy Sessions
Mindfulness and learning to be with my emotions.
Being part of Kyle Cease’s membership community with weekly live calls
Continuously reading books (see my list), finding answers and inspiration through YouTube and Podcasts
Also, I got immense boosts of personal growth from being a creator and entrepreneur, from blogging, making videos and sharing myself on social media. Like crazy.
In the end, I have been passionately committed to doing THE WORK, no matter what.
I never want to leave a stone unturned.
I opened my mind and heart so wide, which enabled me to receive teachings and ideas and practices that my old self would have normally rejected.
MY CURRENT PRACTICES
You have to understand that change and transformation don’t just happen because you do things once or twice.
My whole journey led me to a whole new way of living and being and thinking.
I currently regularly do:
daily meditations
regular Yoga and other ways to move my body 5-6 days a week (gym, swimming, surfing…)
coaching/therapy
breathwork sessions
reading books on personal growth daily
practicing awareness/mindfulness in every day life
intentionally growing my consciousness
writing (eg. journaling, morning pages…)
going to transformational events/workshops every couple months
living on a clean vegan diet
sauna and ice baths
deep tissue massages
intermittent fasting (usually no food for 16-18 hours a day)
healing my gut through natural herbs and anti-inflammatory diet
practicing non-violent communication
I might do some of the following in the near future:
Core Energetic Healing
Cranio Sacral Therapy
Hoffmann Process
Somatic Movement Therapy
Burning Man
Hypnotherapy
10-Day Vipassana Silent Meditation Retreat
EMDR
Past Life Regression
Workshops and retreats at Kripalu and Esalen
Envision Festival in Costa Rica
Mind Body Spirit Festival
Shakti Fest
It’s been an amazing ride and it continues to be magical.
Not easy. Not always comfortable. Sometimes crazy intense. But worth it.
I’m just so grateful I woke up eight years ago and that I was able to shift my perception from “life happens to me” to “life happens for me”. I’m glad I can see the gift in the struggle and the pain.
I hope the same for you.
Stay on the path.
With love,
Conni.