February 16, 2023 | Authority Magazine
Having a connection with a higher power is the foundation of spiritual wellness. This can be a God, the universe, or just energy. Recognizing that we are all a product of the same powerful source and the fact that we can connect with that source is so freeing. For me, I have a connection with the universe and know that the universe has a plan for me. I know that I have free will, but I also know that there is a divine order to things, and everything happens for a reason. This is what my spiritual connection to the universe has given me, a sense of faith.
Often when we refer to wellness, we assume that we are talking about physical wellbeing. But one can be physically very healthy but still be unwell, emotionally or mentally. What are the steps we can take to cultivate optimal wellness in all areas of our life; to develop Mental, Physical, Emotional, & Spiritual Wellbeing?
Holistic wellness is all about balancing different areas of wellness to find a sustainable state of optimal wellness. When we are able to dedicate a portion of our awareness to different areas of wellness, (including mental, physical, emotional, spiritual, interpersonal, and even financial) we find that they all complement each other. For example, if we have a daily spiritual practice such as meditation, we see benefits for our mental and physical well-being, which in turn helps us manage potential stress in our interpersonal and financial life. As a part of our series about “How We Can Cultivate Our Mental, Physical, Emotional, & Spiritual Wellbeing”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Monica Samuels.
Monica Samuels is a mother, business owner and wellness advocate. She founded Quasar Quantum Healing out of personal experience and with the intention to help others navigate their own healing journeys. Monica has always practiced holistic wellness and adapted this into her business, where she utilizes advanced technology to heal the mind, body and soul.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive into the main focus of our interview, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory?
Iwas born in Guadalajara, Mexico and lived there for the first 10 years of my life. My family then moved to Guatemala where I completed my secondary education. Growing up in Central America exposed me to natural methods of healing the body as well as an education on how a grounded lifestyle can boost health and longevity.
What or who inspired you to pursue your career? We’d love to hear the story.
My family was the main inspiration that led me to pursue my business. About 10 years ago, a family member began struggling with their mental health. When something like that happens, it affects the whole family. After years of going to many doctors and specialists, we discovered machines that healed my entire family from the trauma we endured. I felt that this technology needed to be shared, so I opened my business where I utilize those same machines.
None of us can achieve success without some help along the way. Was there a particular person who you feel gave you the most help or encouragement to be who you are today? Can you share a story about that?
Again, my family helped me get to where I am today. It was not just something I took on myself, it required the support and help from my two daughters and my husband. We started construction during the pandemic, so it was necessary for me to have a support system in my family during that difficult period. I consider Quasar Quantum Healing a family business. My daughter Alana is my business partner and manages the yoga and wellness studio.
Can you share the funniest or most interesting mistake that occurred to you in the course of your career? What lesson or take away did you learn from that?
I am a very hands-on person with my clients and consider many of them my friends, and I used to use my personal cell phone to communicate with them. This was a mistake because I had hundreds of business messages at a time that would get lost in my personal messages. I have since gotten a business cell phone, which I can still use to text, but now there’s no risk of accidentally sending a grocery list to one of my clients.
Is there a particular book that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story or explain why it resonated with you so much?
“The Untethered Soul” by Michael Singer is a book that I recommend everyone reads at least once. It is about how we all have the power to move from a place of conscious awareness, in other words, not let the mind take a hold of our reality. It has helped me find freedom from habits that were not serving my higher purpose.
Can you share your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Why does that resonate with you so much?
My saying that I have dubbed as my signature quote is “persistence is the key to success.” Ever since I came to the states, I have faced obstacles to attaining the life I knew I was destined to live. Those obstacles did not stop me because I was persistent and “kept my eyes on the prize”. If you are determined enough, you can achieve your dreams. What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?
The main project that I am constantly working on is raising awareness for the wellness center and for alternative health practices in general. I know there are so many people out there that have tried everything and have not seen the healing results that they so desperately need. I want to be able to reach as many people as I possibly can and make sure they are receiving the care they deserve.
OK, thank you for all of that. Let’s now shift to the core focus of our interview. In this interview series we’d like to discuss cultivating wellness habits in four areas of our lives: Mental wellness, Physical wellness, Emotional wellness, & Spiritual wellness. Let’s dive deeper into these together. Based on your research or experience, can you share with our readers three good habits that can lead to optimum mental wellness? Please share a story or example for each.
The best habit that I have learned and that has impacted my mental health in a super positive way is meditation. I don’t meditate for long, just about 10–15 minutes a day depending on how much time I have, and I use my own personal mantra as a focal point. I have found that meditation helps my busy mind quiet and allows me to center into the present moment, which carries into the rest of my day. Just that short amount of time meditating allows me to manage all the things that come up during the day that can throw me off balance.
Another habit that is helpful is taking one day in my week, usually Sunday, to have absolutely nothing on my to-do list. This usually means watching a show on Netflix and staying at home for most of the day. I go into the wellness center Monday-Saturday, and I am always on my feet, busy attending to clients. Having a “me day” once a week has become necessary for maintaining my mental health and is my practice for self-care.
Lastly, my eating habits play a big role in my mental wellness. A lot of people overlook the effect that food can have on the brain, especially since the gut and the brain are so intertwined. For me, this means staying away from animal products because my body does not digest them well and consuming a lot of fermented foods, like sauerkraut and kombucha. I find that when my belly is happy, so am I.
Do you have a specific type of meditation practice or Yoga practice that you have found helpful? We’d love to hear about it.
I meditate every day. The mantra I use was gifted to me by a guru and is personal to my own energy. You don’t need a guru to decide a mantra for you, however, you can intuitively decide what that is. Or, you can have a few that you choose from and apply to different situations based on what resonates with you in that moment. I also do a brief yoga/stretching session daily just to get my blood flowing and keep my mobility up.
Thank you for that. Can you share three good habits that can lead to optimum physical wellness? Please share a story or example for each.
For my physical wellness, I have a maintenance regimen using the technology at my wellness center. I am blessed to have access to the machines that have helped me heal over time. My favorite machine is the Theta Chamber, which is a capsule that you lay in and allow the brain to go into theta. Theta is an incredibly healing brain wave because it is where emotions and memories come up and it activates the vagus nerve, which calms the nervous system. The hyperbaric chamber is also important for me because I have asthma and this technology allows my body to take in more oxygen. It also regenerates some of the tissue in my body that’s getting older. Our other machines are red light therapy, which helps with inflammation and anti-aging; foot detox, which helps with circulation and immunity; and rTMS (Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation), which helps with mood. I try to do at least one session of each machine per week kind of as a tune-up.
Although I am not the biggest fan of exercising, I find ways throughout the day to stay active. I find that if I sit for too long, I become antsy and the energy inside me that wants to move. I am naturally a hyperactive person, so I need to release my energy throughout the day. I will usually do this by cleaning or tidying up, just dancing or skipping around, or playing with my dog.
Going back to eating, I also practice intermittent fasting. It has been shown that eating less than three hours before bed doesn’t allow for proper digestion, so I usually eat my last meal before 5 p.m. so I can give my body that time. That gives me about a 14 hour fast before my breakfast meal at 7 a.m. It is not a very long fast at all, so I find it doable, but it is just enough to make me feel bright and light when I wake up in the morning.
Do you have any particular thoughts about healthy eating? We all know that it’s important to eat more vegetables, eat less sugar, etc. But while we know it intellectually, it’s often difficult to put it into practice and make it a part of our daily habits. In your opinion what are the main blockages that prevent us from taking the information that we all know, and integrating it into our lives?
I think that a lot of people have an all-or-nothing mindset where they condition themselves to believe that you can never break your diet if you want to achieve results. I believe that you can have anything in moderation and can make smart swaps for the things that you may be craving. For example, I maintain a low sugar diet, but that doesn’t mean I never have sugar. Every once in a while, I will order dessert at a restaurant if I go out to eat, but I do not do it every time. Allowing yourself to indulge occasionally is more sustainable than holding yourself to the impossible standard of never “cheating” because odds are you will eventually cave and overindulge.
Can you share three good habits that can lead to optimum emotional wellness? Please share a story or example for each.
I believe that emotional wellness and spiritual wellness go hand in hand, and both have a lot to do with mindset. Having a positive mindset seems like a hard thing to do, however it just depends on how much you want to be happy. If you truly want to be happy, you will choose that every day. This does not mean you can’t have your moments of sadness or pain, just that you can choose to pick yourself up when those moments pass. Choosing to be happy means focusing on what fulfills you, being grateful for what you have, and not placing value on the low moments but rather viewing them as life lessons.
This habit builds on the last one: finding what is fulfilling. For me, I have found greater purpose and fulfillment in helping others on their healing journey. Finding what you’re passionate about and pursuing that is the key to fulfillment. It does not have to be something outrageous like solving world hunger, it can be simply a hobby like playing piano. Having at least one thing in your life that connects with my soul and time seems to melt away when you’re doing it is a great habit to have for emotional wellness.
Having a way to express your emotions, whether that is journaling, confiding in a friend, or seeing a therapist or spiritual teacher, is also important for emotional wellness. Our brain is so busy that it sometimes cannot fully process all the emotions and memories being formed in the present moment. Taking a moment to talk those through is so important for processing and letting things go. I have my family and friends that I go to when I need to express my emotions. I find that even just speaking about my thoughts out loud helps me process.
Do you have any particular thoughts about the power of smiling to improve emotional wellness? We’d love to hear it.
Smiling and laughter is so beneficial for your overall health. When you smile or laugh, you release endorphins that improve your overall wellbeing. It also is a great way to connect with others. You are much more likely to connect with others with a smile on your face. It goes in the opposite direction as well, when someone smiles at you, it is just a feel-good sensation. Finally, can you share three good habits that can lead to optimum spiritual wellness? Please share a story or example for each.
Having a connection with a higher power is the foundation of spiritual wellness. This can be a God, the universe, or just energy. Recognizing that we are all a product of the same powerful source and the fact that we can connect with that source is so freeing. For me, I have a connection with the universe and know that the universe has a plan for me. I know that I have free will, but I also know that there is a divine order to things, and everything happens for a reason. This is what my spiritual connection to the universe has given me, a sense of faith. In moments where things are overwhelming, I practice taking a step back and reminding myself that everything is an illusion. For example, when I become stressed about the schedule or list for the day, I tell myself that whatever happens throughout the day does not matter in the grand scheme of things. My purpose in life is not to check things off a list, but rather to experience love, happiness and learn the lessons of this lifetime. The list is simply an illusion and a way for me to learn patience and hard work, and it is not the end of the world if I don’t complete it.
Having several practices that increase my vibration is another habit that maintains my spiritual wellness. We are all energy and vibration, and the frequency at which we vibrate affects us. I increase my vibration through music tuned to different frequencies (especially 432), shaking my body and chanting. I will even do horse sounds sometimes to really feel the powerful vibration of my own body. I find that when I use these practices, I can achieve mental clarity, feel uplifted and more connected to my inner self.
Do you have any particular thoughts about how being “in nature” can help us to cultivate spiritual wellness?
Nature is just another manifestation of the same energy that lies within us. I find that nature is a purer and more untouched version of this energy. Even if you don’t believe in energy, the source of all nature is water, and water is the source of humans as well. Just allowing the human body and mind to connect with the source of nature, which is also the source of us, is a spiritual experience. In other words, connecting with nature is connecting with our own source.
Ok, we are nearly done. You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
I would want people to realize their own power to heal. So many people are out of touch with themselves and rely on things that, in a lot of cases, prolong sickness instead of promote wellness. If I could bring widespread exposure to the non-invasive modalities of healing, like frequency, yoga and meditation, that would be so powerful.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US, whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we both tag them :-)
I would love to have a private conversation with Eckart Tolle. His teachings are very in tune with what I believe in terms of what lies within each of us and the power of frequency. He also has the same vision as I have in terms of spreading awareness to the masses about connecting with one another and with our own consciousness.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
All the information is located on our website quasarquantumhealing.com as well as Facebook (@quasarquantumhealing) and Instagram (@thestudioatqqh).
Thank you for these really excellent insights, and we greatly appreciate the time you spent with this. We wish you continued success.
To read the article on Authority Magazine, click here.