Discover how values, curiosity, and authentic connection create safe, healing spaces—beyond politics, fear, or judgment.

Tranquility Rising is a neutral, nurturing space—a sacred place where no matter who walks through the door, healing can happen. Clients often tell me that as soon as they arrive, their bodies take a deep sigh. The scent of incense replaces the outside world, the harsh fluorescent lights seem to fade away, and an instant calm begins to settle in.

Over the years, I’ve had conversations with clients across the full spectrum of politics and belief systems. What has struck me most is how often people, no matter what “side” they’re on, feel they have to hold back—be less authentic—out of fear. Fear of being judged. Fear of being excluded. Sometimes even fear of real harm. And more often, it shows up in the subtle but painful ways gossip travels: “Did you know so-and-so was ________?” That slow drip of toxin eats away at connection and trust.

Recently, it feels like the world has been holding more grief than usual—through deaths, tragedies, and moments of loss that touch people in different ways. People have experienced a wide range of emotions: sadness, anger, disbelief, confusion, and everything in between. These collective waves of emotion are a reminder that we each process events differently. While we can’t control everything, we can focus on what is within our reach. This reflection brought me back to a conversation I had with a client:

Remove the politics. Remove the arguments. Remove the right and wrong.

The question isn’t whether we should hide who we are. We should never hide our light.

As one translation of the bible says: “No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.” (Matthew 5:15, NLT)This reminds me that our authenticity—our inner light—isn’t meant to be hidden. It’s meant to shine, to bring clarity, warmth, and presence to the spaces we enter.

Even writing this, I noticed myself hesitate. Would quoting the Bible stir backlash? But the truth is, I grew up Christian, and no matter where our life paths lead—whether we embrace or move away from our roots—our story shapes us. That knowledge is always there to draw from.

So what I told my client was this: focus not on political labels, but on the person sitting in front of you. Do they have the ability to show up with curiosity and non-judgment?

This is reflected in yoga’s Yamas and Niyamas—the ethical guidelines for living. They teach us non-harming (ahimsa), truthfulness (satya), and contentment (santosha). When we embody these principles, we’re able to hold conversations that are not about proving right or wrong, but about listening, learning, and seeking to understand.

Every human being we meet is made of the same flesh and bones. Each one has an origin story, experiences that shaped them, and reasons they see the world as they do. When we sit in curiosity rather than judgment, we may find new information that shifts us—or perhaps we offer a perspective that gently shifts them. Or maybe, it allows us to feel exactly how we felt at the start of the conversation, but we choose to show up and listen anyway. And if we remain the same—that’s perfectly fine too.

This is where the practice of healthy detachment comes in. We can care deeply, listen fully, and even disagree—without needing to take on someone else’s story as our own. Healthy detachment doesn’t mean we don’t care; it means we stay rooted in our values while allowing others to hold theirs. It gives us freedom: freedom to connect without pressure to convince, and freedom to walk away without resentment when values no longer align. In yogic philosophy, this reflects aparigraha, the principle of non-attachment, which teaches us to release outcomes while remaining present.

One exercise I offered a client recently was to write out their value system. What do you value in a person? If we strip away politics as a surface layer, what remains? Personally, I value honesty, compassion, empathy, steadfastness, and understanding. So even if someone holds opposing views, I know I am safe—because I create my own safety by surrounding myself with people who embody those deeper values.

A Practice to Anchor This Reflection

Journaling Prompts

1. Clarifying your values: What qualities matter most to you in the people you spend time with? (For example: honesty, compassion, empathy, understanding, steadfastness.) These are the principles that make you feel safe and supported.

2. Observing safe spaces: Can you recall a time when you felt safe, seen, or supported by someone? What about their words, actions, or presence honored your values?

3. Recognizing unsafe spaces: Can you recall a time when you felt unsafe or unsupported by someone? What about their words or actions made you feel that way? Which of your core values were not being respected or held in that interaction?

4. Separating values from beliefs: Remember, values are about how we show up and what we prioritize in relationships; beliefs are opinions or convictions about the world, people, or situations. Reflect: is there someone whose beliefs differ from yours, yet they still uphold values you deeply respect? How does that feel compared to someone whose beliefs you agree with, but who doesn’t honor those values?

   
   

Breath Practice (Box Breathing)

1. Sit comfortably, feet grounded.

2. Inhale for a slow count of 4.

3. Hold the breath gently for 4.

4. Exhale for 4.

5. Pause and rest for 4.Repeat this cycle 5–7 times, allowing your nervous system to settle.

   
   

Meditation/Reflection

Close your eyes and bring to mind a person you disagree with, yet who also carries one or more values you deeply respect. As you breathe, imagine that shared value glowing between you like a bridge. With each inhale, allow yourself to feel curiosity. With each exhale, release judgment.

Stay here for a few minutes, noticing that your heart has room to hold complexity: disagreement and connection, difference and shared humanity.

If you find yourself struggling with this practice, you can book an appointment with Arielle. You may choose to move through Thai Yoga Therapy, which helps recover the nervous system through touch and elemental coaching, or book an Aufstellung session, where we begin to unwind some of the generational stories that might be affecting your ability to stay present in curiosity and non-judgment.