Did you know that Trista wrote an e-book? It is called My Somatic Life. Download it below for an introduction to somatic practice. 

Sometimes it’s not the big things, it’s the small things.

When we think about stress, we often imagine the hard seasons of life, the major transitions, the losses and upheavals. And yes, those matter. But for most of us, it isn’t the big things that wear us down day after day. It’s the little ones.

It’s the email that goes unanswered.
The sink full of dishes.
The text we’re not sure how to respond to.
The noise, the rushing, the constant tiny demands on our time and attention.

One by one, these things seem small. But stacked together, they fill the body with tension and keep the nervous system braced, as if we’re always waiting for the next thing.

Our nervous system doesn’t always know the difference between big stress and small stress. Every sigh of frustration, every tightened jaw, every moment of rushing sends the same message: we’re not safe, we need to keep bracing. Over time, this becomes the background hum of our lives, a low-level activation that we mistake for normal.

And that’s why it’s not always the big life changes that create the deepest healing. It’s the little things. Just as small stresses pile up, so do small resets.

A slow exhale.
Relaxing your jaw.
Letting your shoulders drop by just 5 percent.
Pausing to notice the color of the sky before you walk inside.

None of these seem like much in the moment. But your nervous system notices. Each one whispers: we’re safe now, we can soften.

You don’t need to overhaul your entire life to feel different. You just need to remind your nervous system, again and again, that not everything is urgent. Every repeated pause builds trust. Every gentle shift lays down a new pattern. It’s not perfection that rewires us, it’s repetition.
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The little things that stress us out are also the little things that can set us free. When we start tending to the ordinary moments, unclenching, breathing, pausing, we change the way we live in our bodies. And that changes everything.

If I have learned anything over the past year as a mother, a teacher, and a human navigating a full, unpredictable life, it is that my nervous system is not something to “fix.”

For a long time, I thought regulation meant getting myself to a perfectly calm, unshakable place all the time. I thought the goal was to be in permanent peace, never feeling anxious or overwhelmed. But the truth is, our nervous system is designed to move. To ebb and flow. To activate and then settle. To respond to what is happening, not to live in one perfect state forever.

In my somatic work, I see it over and over again. When we stop treating our nervous system like an enemy and start treating it like a wise messenger, everything changes. Tension, anxiety, and even shutdown stop being “problems to solve” and start being signals we can meet with curiosity and compassion.
This does not mean we will like every sensation we feel. It means we learn to listen to it instead of override it. And over time, that listening changes the way we move through the world.

The nervous system is not here to make your life harder. It is here to protect you. The racing heart, the clenched jaw, the frozen stillness, these are not signs of weakness. They are signs that your body is doing its best to keep you safe based on what it has learned.

When you shift from “How do I stop feeling this?” to “What is my body trying to tell me?” you create space for understanding, choice, and healing.

If you want to start building a new relationship with your nervous system, here are a few practices to try:
1. Pause and Name It
When you notice a shift in your body, maybe your shoulders tighten or your breath gets shallow name it without judgment.
Example: “I notice my breath is fast” or “I notice tension in my stomach.”
Naming what is happening helps you step out of automatic reaction and into awareness.

2. Offer Reassurance
After naming what is happening, gently remind yourself that you are safe in this moment. Even a simple phrase like, “It’s okay, I’ve got you” can help your system feel supported.

3. Use a Micro-Reset
Choose one small, regulating action that works for you. This could be:

• Placing a hand on your heart and taking three slow breaths
• Feeling your feet on the ground and pressing gently into them
• Looking around the room and naming five things you see
  These small cues tell your nervous system it is safe to come out of high alert.

The next time you feel your jaw clench, your shoulders rise, or your breath get shallow, pause and say to yourself:
"Something here is asking for my attention. I’m listening."

This is not just about relaxation. It is about building trust with yourself. Each time you respond with presence rather than pressure, you are teaching your nervous system that it is safe to feel, safe to soften, and safe to be.

Over time, this becomes a completely different way of living in your body; one rooted in compassion, understanding, and a deep knowing that your nervous system is not your enemy. It is your guide.

This is something I have been sitting with lately, and something I want to say to you, to my students, and to myself:
You are already enough.
From the moment you were born, before you spoke a word, learned a skill, or achieved a single thing, you were worthy. You were not loved because you earned it. You were loved because you existed.
Somewhere along the way, many of us lose touch with that truth. We start measuring our worth by how much we do, how much we give, how well we perform, or how closely we meet someone else’s standards. We learn to set conditions for our own belonging.
It is so easy to fall into the trap of thinking, I will feel worthy when…
When I am more regulated.
When my business is thriving.
When my body feels stronger.
When I fit into that dress.
When my relationships are easier.
But worth and growth are not the same thing. Growth is a process. Worth is your birthright. Worth always exists no matter what phase you find yourself in. 

You can be in the middle of healing, learning, or stretching yourself into something new and still be whole, still be enough, still be deserving of love, rest, and joy. You can have areas of your life you are working on while also honoring that your value is not on trial.

In fact, the most sustainable growth comes from knowing you are already enough. When you start from worthiness, you are not trying to fill a hole. You are simply expanding what is already there. Every practice, every step forward, every new skill becomes an act of expression, not desperation.

Think back to a newborn baby. They do not have to “earn” a place in the world. No one questions whether they deserve to be loved or cared for. We hold them, protect them, and celebrate them exactly as they are. Somewhere in your story, that was you.

That truth has never changed. Even if life has covered it with layers of doubt, self-criticism, or comparison, your worth has been constant. It is not a goal to achieve. It is a truth to remember.

If you are ready to start living from the truth that you are already enough, here are a few practices that help anchor it in:

1. Notice the “When/Then” Thinking
   Each time you hear yourself say, I’ll be happy when… or I’ll feel enough when…, pause. Ask yourself, What if I am already enough right now?
2. Act from Worthiness, Not For Worthiness
   Before making a decision, ask: If I already knew I was enough, what choice would I make?
3. Give Yourself What You Think You Must Earn
   If you think you have to “earn” rest, love, or joy, give it to yourself today, without the conditions.
4. Speak to Yourself Like Someone You Love
   Replace inner criticism with the kind of words you would offer to a dear friend.

If you need the reminder today:
You do not have to wait until you are “better” to be worthy. You do not have to achieve a certain level of success, health, or ease to deserve love and belonging. You were born enough, and you will always be enough.

When you live from that truth, the most beautiful growth can happen, not because you are chasing your worth, but because you are free to explore the fullness of who you already are.

When my dad passed away in January of 2021, I was fortunate enough to have asked him to complete a small booklet filled with questions about his life, values, and wisdom before his passing. Among the many treasures he left behind, one piece of advice stood out like a beacon: to always look for the daily hidden pearls in life. These pearls, he explained, were the moments of beauty, lessons, and gratitude that can so easily go unnoticed in the rush of everyday living.

As I navigated my grief, his words became my anchor. In the midst of heartache, I started looking for those hidden pearls each day. Whether they came in the form of a lesson, a quiet moment of peace, or a glimmer of gratitude. Slowly, this practice began to transform my grief into something more profound. I realized that even in the darkest of times, there are always small gifts of insight, healing, and love waiting to be uncovered. It was through this lens of seeking out life’s subtle beauty that I was able to honor his memory and process the loss of the most influential man in my life.

This simple yet profound practice has since become a guiding light not just in the way I live, but also in the way I teach. In my work, whether through somatic healing or mindfulness, I encourage others to seek out their own hidden pearls—those moments of clarity, growth, or connection that remind us of the richness life offers, even during our most challenging times. I believe that healing and transformation are often found in these small, quiet moments that invite us to pause, reflect, and embrace what is present.

I hope that as you read this blog, it offers you your own little “aha” moments, glimmers of insight, healing, and gratitude that serve as your own hidden pearls. It’s my deepest wish that this space provides you with the comfort, growth, and peace that my father’s wisdom has given me.
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Sending you and your loved ones all my love,
​Trista

There’s a passage in the Bhagavad Gita that’s always stuck with me:
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"You have the right to work, but not the fruits of your action."

At first glance, this might seem a little frustrating. After all, aren’t the fruits—the results—why we work so hard in the first place? We set goals, work toward outcomes, and often measure our success by what we achieve. But the wisdom behind this teaching invites us to shift our perspective entirely. It’s not about abandoning our hopes for success; it’s about freeing ourselves from being controlled by those outcomes. When we let go of attachment to results, we can rediscover the joy and meaning in the work itself.

When we think about loving our work, it’s easy to assume that love comes from doing what we’re passionate about or achieving success. But what if the real fulfillment is in the process? What if the true joy comes from being fully present in the act of working, learning, and growing, rather than waiting for a specific outcome?

It’s natural to want to see the fruits of our efforts, but the truth is, those outcomes aren’t always in our control. Sometimes the project doesn’t go as planned, the business venture stalls, we feel like we can't affect change or the recognition we hoped for doesn’t come. When we place all our focus on the result, we set ourselves up for disappointment. But when we can show up fully for the process itself, loving the work for what it is, we become grounded in something far more sustainable.

Imagine pouring your heart into a creative project, knowing that whether or not it’s a "success" doesn’t define its value. The act of creating, showing up, and growing through the experience is what matters most. The beauty lies in the journey.

The Gita’s teaching isn’t about not caring—it’s about releasing attachment to the result. Non-attachment doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have goals or dreams. It means we can approach our work with love and dedication while holding the outcome lightly. This is where true freedom comes in. When we’re no longer tied to external validation, we find our center in the work itself.

I’ve found that when I’m able to let go of the pressure to achieve a certain result, I’m more open, creative, and present. The work becomes lighter, and in many ways, more meaningful. I’m no longer waiting for the end result to tell me whether my efforts were "worth it"—I’m experiencing the worth in real time.

There’s something deeply freeing about viewing our work as an offering. When we take the focus off personal gain and look at how our work serves others, a new sense of purpose unfolds. Whether we’re teaching, creating, or helping others in some way, our work becomes a way to contribute to something bigger than ourselves.

This shift in perspective is particularly helpful when things don’t go as planned. We can take comfort in knowing that the energy we’ve put into our work has value, even if the results don’t look like what we expected. Maybe the impact was subtle or slow, or maybe it touched someone in ways we’ll never fully understand. When we work with the mindset of service, the results—whatever they are—become secondary to the intention behind the work.

Practical Ways to Embrace the Process

1. Focus on Intention Over Expectation: Start each day or project by setting an intention. What do you want to give to the work? What’s meaningful about the process itself? Let the outcome unfold naturally.
2. Celebrate Small Wins: Instead of waiting for the big result, acknowledge and celebrate the small victories along the way. Maybe it’s learning something new, overcoming a challenge, or simply showing up with consistency.
3. Release Judgment: Notice when you’re getting caught up in judging your work based on the results or others in the workplace. Take a deep breath, and gently shift your focus back to the present moment, reminding yourself of the value in the work itself.
4. Serve Through Your Work: Reflect on how your work benefits others, whether directly or indirectly. When you align your work with a sense of service or contribution, the pressure of personal achievement softens.
   

The fruits of our actions aren’t always immediate, and they don’t always show up in the ways we expect. Sometimes, they come long after the work is done, or they appear in subtle forms we might not recognize at first. But here’s the thing: the fruits are just the bonus. The real gift is in the love, dedication, and growth we experience as we work.

When we can embrace this wisdom—to love the work without being attached to the outcome—we find a deeper sense of freedom, joy, and purpose. We learn that the true measure of success isn’t in the final product but in the heart we put into every step of the journey.

So, show up for the work, love it fully, and trust that the fruits will come in their own time—whether or not you’re looking for them.

Tonight, under the vast, velvety sky of the Rockies, I found myself in one of the darkest corners of this majestic mountain range, where the stars seemed to hang low, twinkling with a brilliance that city lights often hide. We took advantage of this natural wonder and engaged in mindful stargazing, allowing ourselves to be fully present in the moment, immersed in the beauty and stillness of the night.

As I sat there, wrapped in the quiet embrace of the mountains, I was struck by the realization that these stars, these magnificent points of light, are always there—present even when we cannot see them. They exist in the same space we do, but it’s only when we step away from the noise, the distractions, and the artificial light of our daily lives that we can truly witness their brilliance. The longer we sat, the more stars revealed themselves, filling the sky with a breathtaking display that left me in awe.

This experience got me thinking about the parallels between the stars and my meditation practice. Much like the stars, our thoughts, emotions, and inner truths are always there, existing beneath the surface of our conscious awareness. But just as the stars are hidden by the brightness of day or the lights of the city, our inner landscape can be obscured by the busyness and noise of life.

Meditation, for me, is like finding my way to that dark, quiet space in the Rockies—an opportunity to turn off the noise and allow what’s been hidden to come into view. As we sit in stillness, bringing our awareness inward, we begin to notice thoughts and feelings that we may have been too busy to acknowledge. At first, it might seem like there’s nothing there, just the quiet void. But as we stay with the practice, with patience and curiosity, more begins to emerge. The stars of our inner cosmos start to shine, illuminating parts of ourselves that we may not have seen before.

This process isn’t always easy. Sometimes what comes into view isn’t comfortable or convenient. But if we can stay curious, if we can meet these revelations with a sense of wonder rather than judgment, the experience can be profoundly beautiful. It’s in this quiet, mindful exploration that we can discover the richness of who we truly are, beyond the surface-level distractions.

So tonight, as I reflect on the stars and the insights they inspired, I encourage you to stay curious and mindful. Whether you’re gazing at the night sky or sitting in meditation, know that there is always more to discover—both in the world around you and within yourself.

Sending you love, my friends. Stay curious and keep exploring.