S2E32: Loving Your Authentic Self With Reiki Master Sarah Chung

Sarah Chung is a multifaceted healer helping women find community and connection so that they can develop their self-awareness and feel fully self-expressed.

Sarah Chung is a health & wellness coach, certified meditation teacher, nurse, herbalist, and reiki master. She shares her healing journey of navigating childhood trauma through writing letters, her experience as a travel nurse, and how she uses the powerful tool of Reiki to provide energetic balance to her clients as well as herself.

Connect with Sarah:
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/therealsarahchung/

Website:
sarahchungrn.com

Complimentary Self Discovery Sessions:
linktr.ee/therealsarahchung 

Maryann Samreth 0:00

Welcome to mental breakthrough, a mental health podcast about owning our most vulnerable stories. As a reminder, we are all human. I'm MaryAnn Samreth, trauma training coach, founder of sincerely Miss Mary and your host. This season I bring in healers, coaches, therapists and writers in the mental health and thought leadership space to share their stories of overcoming their shadows, to get to a place where the light shines again. These are trauma survivors, mental health advocates, spiritual guides, coaches, and first and foremost, human beings, reminding us to be softer and kinder to ourselves, so we can then meet others with the same compassion. The power and sharing our truths with the world gives permission for others to feel safe experiencing theirs. As a disclaimer, this podcast is not a replacement for trauma informed therapy. But as always, you can find mental health resources on my website at www that sincerely, Miss mary.com

Hey everyone, in this episode, I interview multifaceted healer, Sara Chung Sara wears many hats as a health and wellness coach, a certified meditation teacher, a registered nurse, an herbalist and a Reiki Master. She shares her healing journey with us from learning to forgive her parents through writing letters, her experience as a travel nurse, and how she uses the powerful tool of Reiki to provide energetic balance to her clients as well as herself. She also owns her multifaceted identity, especially as a Korean American, and how she got there by loving her authentic self. And that's honestly how I discovered Sarah we met on tick tock I was really drawn to her authenticity and just her ability to just own who she is, it's really powerful to watch. So before we begin this episode, I would love to share a few words as a brand ambassador for mine shine. Mine shine is a mental health coaching app right in your pocket. And I was a little skeptical at first to use this app to use a automated coaching app for my mental health. And I was really surprised by how this app is somatic healing and formed and I think that's amazing that integrates body awareness, somatic internal family systems, somatic experiencing and emotional regulation into this app. Definitely check it out. One of the features that I love is the SOS section. And this is great for emotional regulation, the one that I use a lot is anger. Because even though you can't tell, I have a lot of repressed anger in my body and so I use this app and it guides me to identify where my anger is in my body and just accept that this is a part of me that I am not an angry person that I have parts of me that are angry that need to have a voice and to be acknowledged and this app guides you through that it's very somatic informed and I was just really impressed by it. So definitely check it out. And I have partnered with mine shine to give you guys one month free access to this coaching app use code Miss Mary and I'll add all this in the show notes so you guys can check it out. Thank you for being here and I hope you enjoy this interview with Sarah Chung.

Hi, everyone, welcome to Mental breakthrough podcast. Today's guest we have Sara Chung, me and Sarah man on tick tock, of course, love that platform. Sara is a health and wellness coach, a certified meditation teacher, a nurse, an herbalist and a Reiki practitioner, you do it all. Sarah helps a woman find community connections so that they can develop their self awareness and feel fully self expressed. Thank you, Sarah, for coming on my podcast, and I'm so excited to hear your story.

Sarah Chung 4:25

Thank you so much for having me. And yeah, this is how people meet these days now. Tick tock, right.

Maryann Samreth 4:33

Yeah, exactly. So what made you the person you are today? Tell us a little bit about, you know, your mental breakthrough story and how you entered your healing journey.

Sarah Chung 4:45

Yeah, so this story goes back. I want to say a long time, but from my recollection, it started off about three or four years ago. Being a single person I am 38 I've never actually had a long standing relationship. And I was starting to ask myself these questions on a Why was this the case? Not that I've never been on dates or anything like that before, but I would always end it super quickly. And I had to reexamine myself, and going back to my childhood. And this is not to say that I blame him because I've done a lot of healing around this and my mother, but my father opening up about this very recently, a lot more. I he actually beat my mother. And I, that definitely has affected me with my trust issues with men. Yeah. And I realized that from trying to reevaluate myself, like why do I cut these guys off? Um, yeah. And that started when I was about 3435 years old, which is like, kind of late in the game for somebody

Maryann Samreth 6:04

to be honest. No, but you know, or too young or too old. Healing dating journey, there's that there's no, like, no shame around that.

Sarah Chung 6:15

Yeah. I'm glad. I'm glad I did it, though. Because, you know, going inward and looking at yourself really opened my eyes to why I was doing these things. And the traumatic events that happened to me when I was younger, it definitely affected me as an adult. Yeah,

Maryann Samreth 6:34

what was like, Do you remember that? Because that's a pretty big revelation to have when you're on your dating journey and realize that the way you have been dating because like, it sounds like you have like avoidant attachment style, which I have it too, so I understand that attachment style. It's there's a lot of fear around, you know, repeating things that you've seen in your childhood. What was that? revelate? Like, what was that? Like when you have that revelation that oh, this is from my childhood?

Sarah Chung 7:04

Well, yeah, I definitely. I'm number one, I was like, Oh, is this why I'm not attracted to Korean men? Because my parents always wanted me to marry you know, within the Korean American community. And I was like, never attracted to those types of guys. And it might be the fact that my mother growing up, you know, it's like that typical Asian, I guess household. I wouldn't say typical. That's, that's like a religious generalization. But I grew up thinking, and I think it is a lot with my cousins. And this is why I think this way, if you come here, as a Korean woman, you're supposed to wait like hand and foot to your husband, like cooking his meals, even when you're working a full time job. You're supposed to provide the food, like, a lot of them, like don't even know how to cook. Maybe they know how to barbecue but yeah, do the laundry, household chores like everything, my dad basically just let he use now. He's retired, but he used to just make the money and like, everything else was on my mother. And I think coming to that realization, that's probably why I never wanted to date in, like, my breaks. And yeah, I can make jokes about it now. But it also like trusting I always thought that the guy was either gonna, like breakup with me first, or they were gonna, like, do something bad to me first, a lot. That's why I always broke it off first, before I would get hurt. So I don't know if that answers your question.

Maryann Samreth 8:48

Yeah, no, definitely. It's definitely like you had that awareness of the fear and where that came from? What was your journey of, you know, kind of working through that and moving towards like, a secure attachment style and realizing that, like, you have the power of choice, like you, you know, like, we can't control like the men that we meet like who they are, but we can always like, have the power of choice to like, walk away and trust ourselves. So how did you start building a trusting relationship with yourself to like, be able to navigate your dating journey? Yeah, I

Sarah Chung 9:20

think it started off. I know very, very basic, if you've ever done childhood trauma work or childhood things. I started off by actually writing forgiveness letters, actually to both my mom and dad because my mom actually chose to stay with my father. So I forgave them. And I don't think my dad is in full understanding of what he did. So I mean, they're still together. So that's also kind of like, for lack of a better word of mind. Fuck that. They like she abused her, but then she's still with she's still with him. So I wrote a forgiveness letter to both of them right out loud as if they were in front of me. And I just needed to learn to trust myself in what I through my growth process, know what my, like what my values are in finding the the person, my soulmate, whatever you want to call it, life partner. If those values align with mine, then you know, I should give this person a chance. Yeah. Wow. Breaking it off after three dates, dates, you know?

Maryann Samreth 10:35

Yeah, I mean, that that makes a lot of sense. What was how many letters did it take you to, like, reach towards a place of peace? Because I think I mean, I know, writing is so powerful. And so healing. And I mean, I'm just like, in awe of you having the courage to do that, because you see a lot of your truths on paper, and you can start to accept and heal from it.

Sarah Chung 10:59

Yeah, to be completely honest with you. I'm still writing so yeah. That's, yeah, yeah. Because it actually I was, I have my own like, I coach people. And so, you know, coach, he coach coaches need coaches. So this topic was brought up again, and I got really emotional. So I was like, Maybe I'm not over it. So I started Friday again. Yeah, because they were they, the question was like, name. And that was the first thing that popped into my head just said, name, a sad event that happened in your childhood. And for some reason, that popped up right away in my head. And I was like, Maybe I'm not over there. So I started to write again, I'm think total, I've written about five, well, two to my two of my mom. And then this would be like, the fifth time, I'm like, sort of writing one, just for myself. You don't actually, I don't know if your listeners would do this. But there's just like a technique that I use, you don't have to actually read the letter to your father, you can, it's more healing that way. But for me, I don't think my dad is at mental capacity to be like, Okay, I hear you, I understand. Like, he's kind of just like, I feel like he has that. I feel like I'm talking bad about my father. But he did, he does have his own love language, which he just showed me, that's another thing to get into. He does a lot of access service for me to show that he loves me, but in terms of like, a mental emotional understanding of his children, because I have an older sister, he's like, not there. And that also I've learned comes from his own childhood trauma. So there was this understanding of his own, what my dad went through as a child that he thought was normal that he never healed from. So that's a whole other, you know, process that I had to go through. Like, I have to understand where he's coming from, therefore, this is how he lives his life. And his turned into this man who's now I think, I believe he's like, 75 I know that sounds really bad. I don't know his age. But he's, he's, I think, over over 75 now and just at that point, he's not. I know, I know. It's people say like, it's never too late to change. But I think for specifically for him, like he's, he won't change as a person. So I've come to acceptance of who he is now, because he does show his love to me in his own love language.

Maryann Samreth 13:33

Right? Yeah. Yeah, I think that's super powerful that, you know, you started writing those letters, because I mean, I'm, I'm on I'm fresh on that journey, too. So I understand, I haven't even you know, started to that process of forgiveness with my parents. So thank you for that tip. And writing is a great tool and writing letters, like I wrote. So I began this is what helps me with my avoidant attachment style with my current relationship as I started writing letters to him in a journal every single day, and I think I'm at like, 140 right now. Wow. And it's like, they're not like all happy letters all the time. Sometimes. It's like, I don't know if I can do this. Like, that's just like, me admitting the truth. And I think like, for you like being able to just be honest with your experiences, and do it from where you are today, like, you were able to reach acceptance and I think that's so huge and starting to heal that wound with, you know, your parents and the way you were, you know, your upbringing, your childhood trauma, like acceptance is so freakin hard to get to what was I know like being Korean American, did you? You were born in America, right? Yes. Were your parents born in America to

Sarah Chung 14:52

know so they immigrated here in 74? Yeah, my dad was actually already here because he was in the army. So something not a lot of people know, because I didn't really know until I actually visited Korea, but they still have kind of like Israel does. All male boys at the age of 18 have to actually go into the army. So my dad was forced into the not four sessions. But they have to go into the army. So he was in the army and was living in America for a little bit. And then my mom came and actually they he was already here. And then my mom came over to like, meet them meet up with him. And then they made like, a life together here. So I want to say that was in 74. Yeah,

Maryann Samreth 15:42

yeah. What was your experience? Like growing up as a Korean American?

Sarah Chung 15:46

Oh, gosh, that was like, I think that was also a part of my childhood was like a, it was like, sort of like his escape Islam. And this is to answer your going back to your initial question. This is how I am here today. But I grew up and I'm fully grateful for the life that I have. Because in all honesty, even though I am a minority, I am privileged because my parents, when I was before kindergarten, we did live in like a rough area of the Bronx. And my mom knew, like, you know, education was like, the most important thing. So she moves my sister and I to a suburb about an hour outside of Manhattan. And we grew up in a very white neighborhood and school, it was very safe, like, you know, we leave our car doors open, like our house is locked, but our car doors were like, kept open. It was very trusting. But in terms of like, minorities, and like ethnic things, there was I think, me and like one other girl were Asian, everybody else was white. So I had sort of like an identity crisis, like I always felt like I quote, unquote, didn't belong. I wasn't, you know, obviously white, because of obviously, the way that I look. And then I wasn't Asian enough for the Asian communities that spoke their own language. So I always felt like I needed to fit in somehow, and I never did. And now that I think about it, it was quite exhausting to try to, like put myself in little places. And I think when I remember growing up, I had friends and like, each separate, like, little group, because, you know, I don't know if your high school was set up like this, but there was like, the very popular kids, the athletic kids, like the people in the middle that like will kind of like rub together. There was like, the emo kids. And then they were like, and like, you know, I think I was like, sort of in the middle trying to put myself into one. And I think I just made friends with. I just made friends with a group of, for lack of a better word, white girls. And I always felt like I kept trying to fit in and like, then when we went to college, and we would come back to our hometown, I felt like I was making a lot of the effort to be like, Let's hang out, whatever. But then I was like, and then I start, this is where my like reevaluating of like, where am I in life? And are they really my friends kind of thing that that, you know, we all do this reevaluation of ourselves, our friendships, relationships, and I think that's actually in colleges, where I started to re evaluate things like what do we really have in common? Like, they never actually contacted me. Like, whenever we would come back home, it was always me doing the effort. So then I was like, Yeah, I really don't have any problem with you. Because we never talked about my, like, Asian American family. And like, I was always ashamed of like, eating like, my food, my home, my mom's food around them, because they will be like, That's disgusting. Yeah. And I distinctly remember this, like when I because I have family out in California. And you know, he had a really good Mexican food in California. And, you know, fish tacos. Like, they were really pop. They're really popular now. But like, back when I was in high school, I would say this to my friends. Like, I love fish tacos. You're like, Oh, fish tacos. And I'm like, Yeah, fish tacos. Like, now it's like the most popular. I'm just like, and kimchi, you know? Like some? Oh, yeah, Chef Korean food. Yeah, like growing up, I was ashamed of that kind of stuff. And it's like, like, Why should I be ashamed of my own culture? Because that's what I grew up eating. You know?

Maryann Samreth 19:48

Yeah, for sure. It's definitely frustrating because I feel like within the past, maybe like five or 610 years like Asian food and culture has become trendy but like they I feel like a lot of people don't Don't recognize like the human people behind, you know, these culture. So it's, it's definitely frustrating. You know, like, like me too. I grew up in a very white suburb and felt like, you know, I had to just hide my identity. And now like, I feel like I try twice as hard to just show my Asian is, and I feel like you do the same thing. What gives you the courage to now just fully embrace everything that you are?

Sarah Chung 20:29

Well, yeah, I think that's part of my growth process. And that started about like, three years ago, because I was kind of like, why do I care so much about proving myself to other people, right, because everybody, and this is this is so different, also from the, like, Korean or Asian communities, like we're like a collectivist society, right? Like, we grew up, you know, hanging out with our family and everything. America is so individualistic, and I realized that, like, everybody's out for themselves, yeah, no, that's, it's so sad. But I'm like, I'm like, okay, and I know, this is bad. But like, I have to think of myself like, I It's like, survival of the fittest kind of thing. Like, this goes then like the workforce, like I, I'm, like, nobody cares how hard you work. Because if the next, if you call out too much, it's like, you can be replaced. It's like, so like, messed up like that. So I've come to just own my own stuff, I think because you're, you're very responsible. You're you have to be responsible for your own actions, what you say what you do, and I, it comes to, again, your own self awareness and being proud of who you are. Because if you don't know who you are, then that's where other people can influence you. And make you want to be somebody else, right? You don't want to do like, you really have to own your own values and to core of yourself, because without that, then that's the question. It's like, who are you? Right? Yeah,

Maryann Samreth 22:03

definitely. How do you like fight that feeling of like, constantly having to prove to yourself that like, you belong here?

Sarah Chung 22:12

Yeah, I think it's just knowing that you belong here. I know that sounds very basic. But I think it this comes with like confidence, right? And everybody's like, it confidence just comes from within, like, you don't even have to like roll up into the room like being like a brightest strike. You just have to own like your own who you are, basically. And I think I don't, I don't even know how I do it. I think it's just being self aware of yourself that I'm going back to that word. I think you just have to know who you are century, rehearse yourself and not let other people for example, this is some of the work that I do is not being ashamed of being single at 38. It's like, an I know, this is a very good example of this, because my mom jokes about this all the time. So we just recently went to a family wedding. And of course, our family weddings. In still in our, in our modern society, family relatives will be like, Oh, what's wrong? Like to my Mom, what's wrong with your daughters? Don't they ever want to get married? And I say like, what is it their business? What I do with my life, you know, it's kind of like, you're not living my life. Like, let me live my life the way I want. As long I think happiness is the most important thing when you're living your own life. So you shouldn't really have to care what other people say about it. I know that sounds like also cliche, but and I know it's hard to get other people's opinions out of your head. But you just have to really own how you're living your life. If you're happy with what you're doing, how you're living your life. I think that's all the explanation that you need. Like, even when people ask you like, you don't owe anybody an explanation. That's it's just like, period. Yeah, this is what I'm doing. And like, you're not living my life. Like do you pay my bills? Do you? Do you live? Are you in my shoes right now? No, they're not. So it's really like owning your own stuff, owning yourself and what you do, and it doesn't have to be like, what I know I have a title that's like, nurse, but I do other things. And I'm trying to introduce myself more as like somebody who's a healer and does other things rather than that one title. Because, you know, society also pickles us into like, oh, what's your, what's your name? And what do you do? It's kind of like more than that. It's like, who are you as a person?

Maryann Samreth 24:47

Yes, exactly. It's like, how are you showing up to the world as you and how are you making? How do you make others feel safe to be themselves and you do a great I mean, you do a great job of I think that's how, like how I found one of your Tiktok videos, I was like, Oh my God, she's so confident owning who she is. And I would love to hear more about, you know, your, you know, the evolution of like, you know, your career and how you went from nursing to becoming like this multi dimensional healer.

Sarah Chung 25:18

Yeah, so I actually, I noticed that I was getting burnt out about three or four years ago, when this all started, I was so burned out at work, this was actually all pre COVID and everything too. So you can only imagine what it is like now. But, um, like I was going, going back to what I was saying before, so a lot of and this is how I grew up, too. So as an Asian, I'm always, I've always grown up to be like, you have to give 100% Like, you always go in doing your job, you you shouldn't call out because that shows that shows that you're like a weak individual. So I would always show up to work, never called out. But because I was that quote unquote, strong nurse, they would always give me like the hard patience. He, they just loaded on there. Let's just say that. And I got burned out. And I told my manager about it. And she's like, well, how can I help and I told her how it would, how she could help. And things just didn't change. And I was like, there has to be a better way. And going going back a little bit. I just noticed too, this is going to the Reiki thing in any job, wherever you work, it all comes down to who you're working with. Yeah, and um, you know, the bad bad vibe of somebody, you changes the atmosphere of the room so much. And I noticed it and I was like, this has to be something. So that's why I started to look into Reiki and I've ever received Reiki before. So that's what initially got me interested in and I was like, I was when you feel the bad, the bad, like energy of somebody like that's that Reiki? Energy, that's universal energy when somebody is, I don't know, I just, you know, you could just feel it, right? Like, if something like that that'd be down or at your office or anywhere, like you just know, right. So that that is universal energy Reiki. And that's how I got into that. And I thought, Okay, this is how I can change like health care a little bit like in my own nursing career, like I can try to be that positive energy for people, you know, that was also exhausting. Because yeah, and I see Intensive Care Unit setting and ICU. It's, it's, it's intense is that's why it's called that and I got burned out like that, too. And I started going to therapy, which I highly recommend people do. And therapy is also not talked about in the Asian community. That mean, I am saying Asian community, but I should just speak for myself and say Koreans because I know Koreans don't talk about their feelings. And that's something that I'm trying to advocate for. And like, say that it's healthy to show your emotions. Yes. Um, and therapy really helped me in actually realizing my emotions, really. I kept them hidden for so long that I actually didn't know what those feelings were. She was. And I just remember my therapist being like, well, what are you feeling? I'm, like, burnt out. And she was like, Well, what does that like she, you know, like, they go into detail. And I was like, I'm just so fucking tired. Oh, no, it's like, and she's like, well, how can this help? So yeah, I started to meditate. That was one big thing. And I just said that there has to be a better way to provide care without the nurses getting burnt out. Because I think it is. I'm thinking of the word right now. Compassion, integrity.

Yeah. Like, yeah, exactly. Catastrophe. Like, it happens so much in nursing. Yeah. And we have to take care of each other. Because another thing that sadly happens, because it's mainly it's more men are getting into the field, but women are in the field. A lot of women are in the field. And there's a lot of especially in the unit that I used to work in. There's a lot of bullying and sort of like clique Enos going on, and it really shouldn't be that way. I think we all need to support one another. Women's Empowerment and I don't know why. Everybody's so out for each other and you know, again, coming from a collectivist society, not an individual. I never seen such pettiness before from people. Was it all women it's basically All women. Yeah, that's especially in because I work in the NICU. So the NICU is stands for neonatal intensive care unit, which is like the small babies or any type of baby that can't go directly to the mother for some reason. Um, and yeah, there's a lot of women that don't support one another. And you know, I never came from an environment like that.

Maryann Samreth 30:21

Right, right. I heard I've heard that is huge within the healthcare field, but just a lot of like women versus women. And like, one of my best friends works as a surgeon. And the way she was describing the healthcare industry sounded a lot like the fashion industry, because there's a lot of like women versus women and a lot of pettiness. And I just like, I think when there's a lot of hierarchy, there's a lot more people just willing to put others down because I think that's how they rise to the top. So it's, it's so heartbreaking until like to hear like women, you know, knocking down other women to get to the top and like, it's it's unfortunate, but you're bringing in that Reiki energies, though.

Sarah Chung 31:06

Yeah, I mean, I'm trying, I'm trying. Some days it can be. It can be tough. Yeah, I'm just like, you know, and another thing is like, I'm really right now. So I still work in the eye and in the NICU. And part of it is just showing, just trying to put yourself in another person's position, because I think a lot of us are so quick to react. We're not really and it's fine, because I think it's just a defense mechanism that we've all generally developed. And I'm, we're, I'm still working on all these things. By the way, I just wanted to full disclosure, I say all these things, but I'm still working on a lot of them. But I'm really trying to, like, if somebody is coming at you, meaning like, if you feel like they're talking to you in an aggressive way, it's very easy for us to lash out and get start to get our fight, fight or flight response up and be like, but this was the but now you have to just come to a place of understanding on why this person is acting in that way. Yeah. And I know it's hard because you want to almost defend yourself to people, right. But I think it's really like trying to come from a place of understanding where that person is coming from, especially in a high stress situation. And I'm really trying to teach and advocate for this in my in my unit like, but it's it's hard when people are not self aware that using this word again, or wanting to learn these techniques, because I think it's it's their survival thing, like we're so wanting to prove ourselves. We want to defend ourselves, especially in a work situation. But I think we could all, I think not even just speaking of a hospital, I think, in general, we all have to come from a place of stepping back and being like, how am I coming off and coming from an understanding of where this other person is coming from. And I don't want to really get into this, but this also comes from like, you know, like, it's the VAX verse anti Vax, like, just, let's, I don't want to get into it. But obviously, it's like, just come from a place of understanding where the two sides are coming from, you know, it's like everybody has their own opinions about things based on how they grew up going back to that. Yeah. So did I enter original question? Because I forgot.

Maryann Samreth 33:34

I forgot it to my brains. I just got really into what you're saying. Amazing that you're integrating, you know, your holistic coaching approach into the healthcare field? And is it being well received now? Because I feel like I mean, I don't know what's going on with your world. But it seems like the world is moving towards being more aware of mental health and self care and burnout and just, you know, trying to find a balance with with work and life.

Sarah Chung 34:05

I mean, I think people are more aware of it, definitely. But I think when it comes to a high intense environment, like I just said, it's, it's hard to. There's no other way of saying this, but I guess like there's a nursing shortage, there's always been a nursing shortage. And that is a stressor on the whole situation. So I think when you add stress, this is another thing that I talk about is we all need to evaluate how we deal with stress because I see it every day on different people on how they react to stress and some of it's really not healthy. And again, I'm dealing with it too. I'm still working on it. But again, it's like taking a step back and not like lashing out at another person yelling at another person. It's really Just thinking about what you're saying and how you're saying it to other people, because it's like interpersonal communication, like how one how you meant to say something, is not how somebody may perceive it. That's so true. So it's, it's like, it's being aware of like how they took it. And like, when you say something, just like looking at their reaction to like how you're saying it. This this goes through like, another thing is like Reiki, like you can almost like sense how that person is responding to you. Does that make sense? Yeah. So, um, when I talk about when I talk about, like, you know, let's just take a deep breather, let's just relax, and everybody kind of looks some people will look at me like, she's got the correct audience, you know, and then I'll just back off, you know, and and yeah, it's fine. Because, again, this this takes, like, willingness and self awareness to actually make it work. Because like, I can't force this on anybody, you have to want to do it.

Maryann Samreth 36:05

Yeah, that's so true. Yeah, it's, I feel like wanting to create self awareness, and, you know, stir it to change, like, there has to be that decision to want to do that. Because you use that over and over again, throughout your healing journey, the willingness to ever evolve, because once you start this journey, it just doesn't end you just like up level to, to the next journey. And I'm, I've actually, like, never have done Reiki, can you talk about like, what that is like, like, what someone will go through? Because like, energy is basically derived from emotions, right? Like from feelings? And can you explain what what a Reiki session is like and what that is?

Sarah Chung 36:45

Sure. So Reiki is a Japanese form of healing. And it's not me giving you my energy, it's. So I can just I can just explain, like you said, you just asked me Sorry, I'm like going on a tangent now. So what happens is, you come with the intention of what you want out of the what, what you want out of the session, keeping that in mind, the Reiki petrous, or like, I would do non non touch therapy on you based on what you told me. So it's universal energy, meaning that I take source energy from the Universe, I'm basically the channel that's going to clear it out of your system and make you balanced or whatever you want to whatever you want to call it. It's just taking energy from the universe and balancing out your chakras and clearing it out of your system. And sometimes, not all the time, I get channeled messages on what depending on what your intention was for the session, what you need to work on, and everything's taken on a grain of salt, you know, just like any reading, or astrology, reading or any type of psychic thing. You always take things like if it pertains to you, because the way things come through may not may not put into you. Yeah, if that makes sense. And it's basically just to move your energy around in a way that you are balanced. That's like the most basic way I can explain it.

Maryann Samreth 38:32

Yeah, no, that's very fascinating. Yeah. Like, How often should someone be doing this? Or for it to like work?

Sarah Chung 38:38

Well, I think you can get a powerful session just in one sitting, it depends on the person unless such a, like, medical way of saying things, it depends on the person but yeah, yeah, I think some people can use like many sessions, other people can get a lot of benefit from just one. And usually, like 60 minutes is like a good amount of time. And because the first part of it is just us trying to Reiki practitioners, just getting an understanding of your needs, kinda like a therapy session, but not really, and what's going on, like, mentally physically with your body, because some people use it for like pain. Some people use it for mental clarity. Some people use Reiki it could be used for basically anything, but those are like the most popular ones. I would have to say. Yeah. I know I have. I have a friend who it has. She has breast cancer. So she just wanted to feel more relaxed. That's what her intention was. But I remember when I was doing her session, like, like more messages came through. So something like that could happen. And you know, normally the practitioner would ask you are you doing Want me to? Do you want to receive what I got from the universe? So I don't want to claim that I'm a channeler. But a lot of Reiki practitioners can do that as well, because it is a universal law universal energy.

Maryann Samreth 40:15

Yeah. Wow, that's so fascinating. Like, are these like messages that? Are you like, is that like psychic abilities? Or is that just kind of like a feeling that comes in that you can tell someone?

Sarah Chung 40:27

I think it's both. Because it doesn't always for me, I know a lot of people are more everybody has, and something that something that everybody gets a little scared that I say, and I was scared to when I first heard this, but everybody has some sort of psychic ability. But going back to what our conversation was based on trauma, and what is Western society has taught us about being psychic, because some people some people think psychic is actually being like a witch and like a bad thing. It's been suppressed in a lot of people. Yeah. So we all have some sort of intuitive ability. And for me, I think it comes as a feeling and sometimes it's just like a message that comes through. And that comes through practice. Yeah, I don't really know how to explain how it comes through i because a lot of people are Clairaudient clairsentience. Like, I don't know if you've heard of these phrases. But some people see some people here some people feel some people will see other ones like all the senses. They see spirit and like they'll tell them messages. Yeah, kind of Yeah, like a psychic or like a medium or that's

Maryann Samreth 41:49

so fascinating. I mean, I'm, I'm a spiritual person. But that whole world is very new to me. And I think you're right, like psychic ability is just really like being able to tap into our intuition and connecting to the universe. And just the more we learn about ourselves, like, the less we know about the world, like it just makes, you know, everything feel like a lot bigger. And so I think it's amazing that you're integrating like Reiki and like your holistic coaching into western medicine, because those are kind of like opposing forces sometimes, but I think like, you know, people need to see that people need to, you know, see this, you know, holistic approach to, into western medicine, because Western medicine really shuts you off from your own body, your own mind, like your spirit. So, I think I think it's incredible that like you're, you know, you're evolving from nurse to coach to incorporating Reiki into your practice. And I know that, like nursing is a big part of you know, your journey, and you are also a travel nurse, what was that experience? Like?

Sarah Chung 42:57

Yeah, so back back, like two or three years ago, I was at my, the unit that I'm actually at now. Because yeah, who goes back to their job that they've quit full time I do. For purposes of, to be honest money, and I'm not ashamed to say that, but travel nursing, I was like, okay, there has to be a better way. Or like, there has to be something different because I was at that job for over 10 years, and which is like kind of, nobody really stays at their job. Besides teachers. Maybe I was like, nobody really stays at their job for that long. So it's like there has to be another another way. So I wanted to see how other hospitals worked. And it's a very interesting concept because I actually knew that this was going to be my issue when going into travel nursing. I am an introvert, introverted extrovert, as you would call it, but I need to going back to Reiki to I almost know if I'm gonna like you as a person based on like, how you act around me or like what you say around me. Yeah, so some people say that I'm very standoffish just from my face. I know that sounds really bad, but I you know, I don't smile. If nothing's funny, if I get a bad feeling about you, I'm not going to smile around you. So I think that comes off in like being like, nein in certain areas. So it was trouble. It was almost felt like I was back in high school to be going back to this, like, I had to try to fit in with a group. But I was really just there to do a job but you know, it would have been nice to find friends but I think I found trouble. You know, um, what's what's like a there's no other better word of like being liked. Like I felt like I needed to be liked by other nurses, other people. And at this point in my life, I was like, I don't really need to be doing. I don't I don't need to prove myself to any And more so I think coming when you first meet me I don't necessarily have like a super sunny disposition. I'm just like who I am when you meet me and I think it comes off as standoffish to certain people. Therefore, if you're not there yet or want to get to know me, it kind of like shuts down for other people, not me, like I'm willing to meet with anybody. But yeah, I think, yeah, I there's no other way to say this. But like, sometimes when people first meet me, they, they say that like, or once a stick around, they say like, Oh, when I first saw you, I thought you were like a bitch. There's no other word for a bit. But I was like, No, I'm really nice. Once you get I opened up more as you get to know me. And that I know, also is a defense mechanism that I've also developed. Because of the trusting thing. Going back to like, the very beginning of this. Yeah, I have trouble trusting especially. Not only men, but I women too.

Maryann Samreth 46:05

Oh, yeah. It's a huge one. I feel

Sarah Chung 46:10

like I feel like I've been like, quote, unquote, burned by a lot of friends in the past. So now in like, my adulthood, it's kind of like, I'm like, do I really, I know, this sounds very crappy of me as a friend, but like, do I really need you as a friend like? Like, it's, it's a lot of work. And let's be honest, people don't think friendships are work, but they are like, it's a given goal. Yes. Like, I will call you invite you to things, but you also have to invite me to things or like to something like that. And there are people, you know, there are genuine people out there, there's, but there's also friends that will only call you if they need things, you know, and I think my experience, as a travel nurse has, a lot of people are there to make money, go and discover that area. And kind of like get on with their life. And my I know, a lot of people do meet nice, a lot of other nurses do meet other travel nurse friends. And yeah, that's good for them. But I guess that didn't happen for me, I guess. And I just came back home to New York. Because it was it was more, I think it was more work when necessary. Not even just not just not nursing in general. But it was more like the socialization and all that kind of stuff. And I found that I was doing a lot of discovering cities by myself. And I was like, well, I could do that. From here. Like, I can just go and discover another city, like living in New York, where my family is, you know, so it's like, yeah, and I'm not knocking down travel nursing, I really think that you should experience it, because you can see how other hospitals work. And I learned a lot from going to other places. And it was definitely an interesting experience for me. And I think, initially, I can go on a long tangent about this. But I think I was very fearful to about doing it because I was at my job for so long. And quitting that full time job to do travel nursing was scary for me. As I was leaving secure job. I was leaving, like my pension. I was leaving, like, wow, Cincy, which, for me is like if you if you really knew me, as a person, I like consistency, knowing where my next paycheck is coming from. Knowing like that I have a bed to go home to like knowing exactly where it is. But as a travel nurse, now there's a lot a lot more out there, but they weren't when I started. You have to almost prove yourself that you're good enough to these travel agencies. It's like, oh, repeat of a prior experience you have, right. So yeah, it's it's an interesting process. But I really think that a lot of nurses should do it. I encourage a lot of the young ones specifically, who don't have a family. I mean, you can always travel with family, but it's more fun when you're younger. So

Maryann Samreth 49:20

yeah, you could do whatever you want. I mean, it sounds like that experience. I mean, it's also good to have experiences where you're like this isn't for me, I think you learn a lot about like what you don't want and it sounds like you built you know a relationship with yourself while you were traveling nurse and it probably led you to you know, having a more like a holistic approach and view of the world from from that experience and I definitely feel you on the the like, well for me like I wish I was more standoffish because like I think like with at least like my upbringing, and like the Asian culture were just like so conditioned to appease and people please and for everyone around us. So like, I like hearing that, like you kind of take your time to get to know someone before inviting them in. Because, you know, we've at least for me, like, I've been so conditioned to invite everyone in before I even know who they are. And now it's like, now I'm like, inviting people in, then I'm like kicking them out. You're like, you probably see all my breakup, like broke up on our friend this week. Oh, like, I like that, you know, you are taking your time and like, you know, like, it's, it sounds like you're able to process you know, like, get a good read on people before, you know, you decide like if you like them or not, because I feel like we've been conditioned to just be inviting and like people and make everyone comfortable when like, we actually don't have to do that we can take our time, and take our time deciding if we like someone or not. Yeah,

Sarah Chung 50:53

that's interesting that you said that, though. Because in terms of like, people pleasing, and I, I'm guilty of this with my family, because like, I can't, and I'm working on this too with boundaries. But when it comes to family, like I have a hard time saying no. And and certain friends I have to say so it's like, it's everybody has their own, like, quote unquote, people pleasing way. Yeah. So it's like, yeah, everybody, including myself, like I said, it's so in a work in progress. We're not perfect. But yeah, I think in terms of, yeah, with like, with, like, starting new friendships on that way. But yeah, in like family, it's definitely hard for me to like, say no, and I'm definitely come to develop a technique where I'm like, Okay, do I really want to do this, then? No. or Yes. You know, it's like, that's part of the process.

Maryann Samreth 51:54

Yeah. I think that's important. Just like before even making a decision, ask yourself that question like, do I want to do this? And I think I mean, for me, I override that decision making process. And I just, I think maybe it's from that trauma response survival mode to that. I'm like, I have to make a decision. I forget that I can think about it. So it's, it's great to hear like that perspective. And thank you so much for offering like, all of everything you said, I just like resonated with so much. And I'm, I'm excited for my listeners to hear I have two final questions for you. Yeah. What do you wish the world has more of?

Sarah Chung 52:32

Oh, I think just self awareness. sounds so stupid. And I know I said that were like a few zillion times. But yeah, just being more aware of your own self and what you want.

Maryann Samreth 52:46

Yeah, I don't think that's a overused word. Because you're, you're using that because not a lot of people have it. It's it's true. That is a very important one. And my last question for you is what advice do you have for anyone? I guess, like healing trauma?

Sarah Chung 53:06

Yeah, that's like a really? That's a very good question. I would have to say, take your time, it is a really long process, and it's never gonna be fully healed. And all that sounds like a bad answer, but never expected to be fully healed. Because that's when it comes back. And then you're like, I thought this is all bad. So and then you start like bawling out, but it's a continuous process. And just go back to what you what has helped you in the past from trauma or like any type of healing. There are plenty modalities out there, that will help you. But never, never, like, let your guard down. I know that. But never let your guard down that you are fully healed. I know. I think that's my best advice. Because I thought, again, for a prime example, I was fully healed from my childhood trauma. And yeah, it just got brought up again. And I was like, Guess not?

Maryann Samreth 54:08

No, it's not true. It's evolving. It's, it's, it's good for you to say that it's good for people to hear because there is no end destination, to healing trauma, and it happens within the process. And if we are allowed to pace ourselves, so we're not constantly on our recovery journey, we can you know, move out, enjoy our lives, go see a movie and then like go back to healing trauma. Like it doesn't have to be like full on all the time. You can definitely take take your time and pace yourself because it's forever. Exactly. Well, thank you so much for coming on my podcast. How can my followers find you work with you?

Sarah Chung 54:50

Yeah, so a lot of my stuff is on Instagram at the real Sarah Chung and I have a website Sarah Chang, RN duck Calm. Those are the two main forms. Instagram has my newsletter if you sign up for that. Yeah, and thank you so much for having me, Maryann.

Maryann Samreth 55:10

Yeah, of course. I'll add all the details on on my show notes so people can work with you. Thank you so much for coming on. Yes, thanks for having me we all have a story to tell and I want to thank you for listening to Sara's journey. She is currently offering complimentary self discovery sessions. I'll put the link in the show notes, but definitely take advantage of it and have a chat with her she will be your biggest hype woman. I hope you enjoyed this week's episode a mental breakthrough podcast. Please leave me a review and subscribe to Apple podcast and Spotify. I'm MaryAnn trauma informed memoir writing coach and founder sincerely Miss Mary. You can follow me at sincerely Miss Mary on Instagram, and Tiktok for more content about healing trauma and memoir writing. If you need a jumpstart on your memoir writing book, a 90 minute intensive session with me where I help you write the first chapter of your memoir teach you the proven storytelling method I use for all my clients and myself for my personal memoir and just guide you to becoming the author of your dreams. You can go to www dot sincerely Miss marriott.com/memoir momentum. Thank you guys for listening

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