Aww Shift: How to Unlock The Beauty of Belonging with Ritu Bhasin (2025)

Aug 1, 2023

Welcome to the 'Aww Shift' podcast, where we dive deepinto the art of transformation and growth with your host, AnthonyTrucks! Today, we have an extraordinary guest, Ritu Bhasin, anaward-winning empowerment coach, speaker, and author who will helpyou turn your hard life into a beautiful one by showing you how toknow, embrace, and be who you are. In this captivating episode,Anthony and Ritu shared amazing insights about self-perception,identity, and how to show up for humanity. Get ready to shift yourperspective and unleash your potential in this power-packedconversation!

[4:28] Why should I listen toyou?

You should listen to me because when you speak, Iwon't just be listening to what you're saying; you will feel safeand loved in my presence. When I interact with you, it's as if I'mtaking you in with all my senses, reading your energy because I'mdeeply curious about what makes someone's heartbeat. I believe mysuperpower is being a high empath, sensing and absorbing people'senergy. When people talk to me, they often feel seen, which mattersa lot to me because I didn't always feel seen myself. I want othersto feel the same. Not only will you experience a good, fun, andenergetic vibe with me, but you will also feel good on a deeperlevel because your energy will resonate with mine.

[6:35] At what point in time did you startnoticing Gnosis as a genuine part of yourself and utilizing it asan asset to have deeper conversations and improve your connectionsand network?

I didn't realize I had this ability until my 20s, whenI found myself having conversations with people, quickly cuttingthrough the superficial to understand their true drivers,inspirations, and essence. However, I assumed everyone could dothis, a skill I took for granted. It wasn't until my 30s that Istarted to realize my unique talent for connecting with others. Ibegan exploring body-based work, mindfulness meditation, andhealing practices, which enhanced my ability to feel and readpeople's energy in ways others didn't. Transitioning from a lawyerto an HR leader, I worked with hundreds of people one-on-one,realizing my EQ and empathic nature. By the age of 40, I embracedthis gift, owning and leveraging it openly. I don't strategicallyset out to read energy; it naturally happens. This blessing allowsme to form deep connections with others, who often confide in meand express emotions they haven't shared with anyone in years.Embracing this gift has been transformative, as I now confidentlyclaim and utilize it to nurture meaningful connections withpeople.

[17:00] How did you manage youranger?

When our bodies feel more stable and less threatened,we can regulate our emotions and avoid falling into a state of rageor fury. While anger is a natural and important emotion, as humans,we experience the full spectrum of emotions. For instance, whensomeone cuts me off on the road, I may get annoyed or frustrated,but I rarely experience intense rage. I try not to dwell onnegativity and instead focus on managing my emotions morehealthily.

[24:50] Where did you first learn the act ofbeing intentional?

So, the first time I applied this methodology was whenI started my business. Back then, I felt uncomfortable talkingabout myself and articulating my ideas during business meetings.Taking a step back and adopting a thoughtful and structuredapproach to these discussions was immensely helpful. Over time, Ihave become deliberate and mindful in all my interactions. It'sespecially important to do this when we're not in a flow and aremoving from meeting to meeting, feeling stressed and anxious. Inthose moments, it's essential to take a pause and consider theenergy we want to emit into the universe or convey to the people weare engaging with.

I was inspired by Jill Bronte Taylor's story, whereshe developed a heightened sensitivity to energy after a severeinjury. She learned the importance of being responsible for theenergy we bring into a room. This notion resonates deeply with me,and I constantly think about how I want to positively impact otherswith my energy, whether it's an Uber driver, a little kitten, orthe people tuning in to our conversations today. Being responsiblefor the energy we project is a significant aspect of how I approachmy interactions.

[29:27] How did the book "We've Got This:Unlocking the Beauty of Belonging" come intoexistence?

Many years ago, I wrote my first book, "TheAuthenticity Principle," which focuses on how to embrace one's trueself amidst societal pressure to conform and hide identities. Mychildhood experiences as the child of Indian immigrants in Canada,witnessing my parents' struggles with racism, and enduringrelentless bullying and racism, deeply affected me. By my 20s, Ihad curated various personas to fit different environments, losingtouch with my authentic self. In my early 30s, I decided to liveauthentically and left the legal profession to start my ownbusiness. However, it wasn't just about authenticity; I realized Ineeded to heal from the trauma caused by those negative experiencesrelated to my identity. This healing journey led me to write mylatest book, "We've Got This: Unlocking the Beauty of Belonging."The book not only shares what I've learned about embracing our trueselves and finding belonging but also serves as a healing processfor me. Through extensive research and reflection, putting myinsights into one book has allowed me to better claim to belong,stand in my power, and embrace who I truly am—a beautiful andtransformative journey.

[33:34] Who is the best person to pick up yourbook and read it?

First of all, I define belonging as the profoundfeeling we hold inside ourselves, of being honored and accepted forwho we truly are. To truly belong, we must first belong toourselves. It means embracing and accepting our authentic selvesbefore seeking to belong with others. Considering what we knowabout human beings, belonging is an innate human need; it's aninstinctive desire to be seen, respected, and valued by others. Mybook is for anyone out there who has ever struggled to be honoredand accepted for their true selves, especially those who have facedchallenges with their own identity due to negative messaging thattells them they are not good enough or they should be different insome way. Whether it's being too loud or not loud enough, facingprejudices based on cultural backgrounds, or any other hurtfulremarks that have made them feel untethered and distant from theirtrue selves. This book is for those who have experienced hate andhurtfulness due to their identities, and it aims to address theinjustice and unfairness that hinders our ability to belong. Inparticular, "We've Got This" is for you, offering guidance andsupport to help you reclaim your sense of belonging and embraceyour authentic self.

[37:00] Have you experienced the fear ofbelonging?

Just last year, as I was writing my book on belongingand researching the topic deeply, I had a fascinating experiencewith a group of friends whom I deeply loved and cared for. However,some darkness unfolded within that friend circle, and I ended up nolonger being part of it. This experience was eye-opening for mebecause, even as a grown woman in my late 40s, I realized that mydeep wounds of unworthiness and feeling unlovable still affected mysense of belonging and impacted my relationships. Writing a book onbelonging did not mean that my journey toward it was over; it's alifelong process that involves continuous healing and growth. As aprofessional speaker working with senior leadership audiencesaround the world, I often find myself in boardrooms where I am theonly one who looks like me, coming from an immigrant family with aworking-class background and belonging to a minority religion. Inthese situations, I feel my nervous system activate, triggered bychildhood experiences of not feeling like I belong. But I havelearned to regulate myself, using breathwork, self-coaching, andmindfulness techniques to settle in these moments. Although I'mstill healing, I now use my skills to confidently stand in my powerand speak my truth.

[45:07] What promise did God make to the worldwhen he created you?

He put me here to talk about how beautiful the journeyof claiming our belonging is.

Key Quotes

[21:04-21:08] One of the mostimportant things is being mindful of what is happening aroundyou.

[23:25-23:28] How we choose to be insituations reshapes how we engage with people.

How to connect with Ritu Bhasin

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ritu_bhasin

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riturbhasin

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/ritu_bhasin

Aww Shift: How to Unlock The Beauty of Belonging with Ritu Bhasin (2025)

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