In this episode, you'll hear some adult language, so if you've got little ones around, grab your headphones now.

Who you are is something and someone beyond your possessions, beyond your career, beyond your relationship.

You are something grander and more essential than that, something of essence, not something of substance.

Hey, what's up everybody? It's Marie Borleo and welcome to another episode of MarieTV and the Marie Borleo Podcast.

You are in for a treat today, my friend, because my guest is a leader in the field of mindfulness and psychology.

Dr. Sheffali received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Columbia University.

Specializing in the integration of Western psychology and Eastern philosophy, she's an expert in family dynamics and personal development.

She's written four books, three of which are New York Times bestsellers, including her two landmark books, the conscious parent and the awakened family.

Sheffali, thank you so much for coming back on the show, and I have to say congratulations on this gorgeous new book.

So great to see you.

Thank you for having me.

So let's dive in. I want to hear about the inspiration behind this book.

I know your life has changed radically recently, and I also know that can be really challenging for someone, anyone who has their work out there in a public way.

Anytime you go through some kind of transition, it can be difficult.

Can you tell us about how this book came to be in the inspiration behind it?

Absolutely. You know, higher life's work in a way has been to take parents to take my clients and myself to a more authentic place.

All my work, especially in the field of conscious parenting, has been about teaching parents to take off their masks, to take off their egoic defenses and to really connect to the essence that lies within them and their children.

So this has been my mission, and in my own life, I have been on a deep quest to uncover and unlayer my own egoic disguises.

So as I was approaching my mid-40s and my daughter is now bursting forth into her own essence, I think something happens to us women, especially those who have identified in the role of mother as I was.

When our children kind of break free and no longer need us, you know, we kind of feel useless.

Our identity now has to find a new mission and I went through a metamorphosis at that point and really began looking deep within myself asking, you know, am I living my most authentic self?

Am I being transparent or am I hiding behind my roles of wife and mother and career woman and constantly on a chase for something external?

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