Sujala Shastry | A Cross-Cultural Story of Childhood Loss, Growth, and Finding Your Voice

In this soul-stirring episode, we explore the profound journey of Sujala Shastry, who lost her mother to a brain tumor at age 11 in India. 

Her story illuminates the complex intersection of cultural silence, emotional isolation, and the transformative power of breaking generational patterns around grief.

Key Takeaways:

• The impact of losing a mother in a joint family system that provided physical but not emotional support.
• How 20 years of survival mode led to disconnection, anxiety, and lost memories.
• The awakening that came with motherhood and the desire to heal generational trauma.
• The cultural dynamics of grief in Indian versus Western society.
• Finding one's voice and creating boundaries after decades of people-pleasing.
• The launch of her podcast "Discovering Journeys" as a platform for authentic connection.

Sujala shares how one can be profoundly lonely even when surrounded by loving family, the importance of emotionally safe spaces in healing childhood loss, and how unprocessed grief affects identity formation and relationships. This episode will inspire the importance of taking steps toward healing sooner rather than later, not as a means to rush, emotionally bypass, or forget. Instead, one must immerse oneself in one's inner emotional world to truly feel the hurt and pain so that it can be transmuted to live as full of a life as possible.

RESOURCES:

• Episode Sponsor: Magic Mind
• Podcast | Discovering Journeys

CONNECT WITH SUJALA:

• Podcast Website
• LinkedIn
• IG

Send Victoria a text message!

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NEED HELP?

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
• Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7 support via text message. Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a trained Crisis Counselor

If you are struggling with grief due to any of the 40+ losses, free resources are available HERE.

CONNECT WITH VICTORIA:

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• Website
• LinkedIn
• Facebook

This episode is sponsored by Do Grief Differently™️, my twelve-week, one-on-one, in-person/online program for grievers who have suffered any type of loss to feel better. Click here to learn new tools, grief education, and the only evidence-based method for moving beyond the pain of grief.

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