From Pain to Purpose: A Journey Through Self Discovery and Mastery | Episode 7

In this article, we explore the inspiring journey of Vita-Marie Baggayan—a yoga instructor and the founder of Vitality Yoga, and a well-being lead in the health and social care industry in the UK. Vita-Marie opens up about finding the courage to discover her purpose through the trials of challenges and failures.

What started as a “selfish desire” to fill a void grew into a profound spiritual journey, allowing her to unlock her potential and embrace a deep sense of wholeness from within. Central to this transformation is her ability to quiet the mind, a practice that became the foundation for her growth.

Vita’s well-being journey began during a time when her life felt like it was falling apart. Despite having what seemed like a “good life,” she was haunted by a sense of emptiness. She realized she had been chasing goals that, once achieved, left her feeling unfulfilled.

This realization became a turning point in her life. She came to understand that her personal struggle wasn’t the end but a gateway to something greater—a chance to redefine her purpose and find fulfillment in the present moment.

The key takeaway is that feelings of emptiness are not something to fear or avoid. Instead, they serve as an invitation to pause, reassess your life, and realign with what truly matters.

One of Vita’s transformative practices is grounding—a powerful way to reconnect with inner calm amidst the chaos of modern life. She describes grounding as finding a place of stillness within, despite the mental noise and busyness that surround us.

Practical grounding techniques include:

By making grounding a daily habit, you can boost your energy, find greater balance, and handle life’s challenges with more ease.

For Vita, healing meant facing her emotional wounds, including feelings of abandonment. She highlighted the importance of recognizing and releasing trauma, explaining that unresolved trauma can often show up as physical symptoms or illness. To truly heal, she emphasized the need to confront fears, sadness, and loneliness directly, rather than avoiding them.

Here are some key practices she embraced:

These practices can help you begin to heal and reclaim your sense of balance and well-being.

Our brains are hardwired for survival, constantly working to protect us from real or imagined dangers. Thoughts are a part of this survival mechanism, and trying to silence them is neither realistic nor helpful.

What truly matters is learning to recognize and observe your thoughts when they arise. For instance, if you catch yourself thinking, "I’m not good enough," pause and acknowledge it. Then ask, "Is this thought true?" By questioning your thoughts, you disrupt the brain’s automatic pattern of accepting them as facts.

Recognizing that a thought is just a thought can help you see that it has no power to harm you unless you believe it. When you do believe it, that thought can shape your reality, showing up as emotions or patterns that hold you back in different areas of your life.

The state of your relationships often reflects your inner world. If you notice toxic people or negative patterns around you, it might be time to assess the energy you’re projecting and the thoughts you’re holding onto. Are beliefs like "I’m not good enough," "People are bad," or "The world is bad" shaping the reality you’re creating?

When you start shifting your inner world—your energy, mindset, and beliefs—you'll notice a transformation in the people you attract and the world around you. Change begins from within.

Rejection, heartbreak, failure, and feelings of emptiness or abandonment aren’t roadblocks—they’re stepping stones. Vita sees challenges as essential for growth, shaping her into the person she is today.

These struggles guide us toward where we’re meant to be. They teach us the lessons we need to become the best versions of ourselves. Whether it’s learning to find peace, discovering wholeness within, or uncovering our true purpose, challenges push us to seek the answers we might otherwise overlook.

Vita believes her own struggles and failures have prepared her to serve others by inspiring and uplifting them. Her journey taught her the value of sharing her story and using her experiences to encourage growth in those around her.

For Vita, purpose is about making a positive impact. Each morning, instead of approaching the day with dread, she asks herself, “How can I be of service today?” and “How can I make a difference today?” These questions ground her in her mission to create meaningful change in the lives of others.

For anyone beginning their journey toward wellness, Vita offers this advice: be patient. True change doesn’t happen overnight. Listening to one podcast or trying self-improvement for a few weeks won’t magically transform your life. Growth is a continuous, lifelong process that unfolds step by step.

Embrace vulnerability and share your story. Vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness. When you open up about your true self and share your experiences, you create deeper connections with others. Sharing your journey—especially the challenges you’ve overcome—can inspire others to do the same. Vita believes that this openness is how we create positive change and make the world a better place.

Forgive yourself. Self-compassion and forgiveness are essential for healing and moving forward. Understand that you did the best you could with what you knew at the time. If you had known better, you would have done better. Forgive yourself for past mistakes and release the blame you carry. Let go of the emotional baggage and recognize that everything you’ve experienced—both the highs and the lows—has been a necessary part of your journey. These experiences shape you into the person you are meant to become.

Be kind to yourself. Well-being isn’t just about looking good; it’s about feeling good about who you are. When you nurture kindness and compassion toward yourself, you’ll notice how your energy shifts and how everything around you begins to improve. Feeling good about yourself creates a ripple effect, positively impacting every aspect of your life.

Above all, remember that the journey is worth it. Take it one step at a time, and trust that every effort you make is leading you toward a stronger, healthier, and more fulfilled version of yourself.

A profound spiritual connection lies at the core of Vita’s well-being journey. She sees spirituality as inseparable from true well-being—a recognition that we are spiritual beings having a human experience. Each challenge she faced offered her a deeper understanding of her purpose and the interconnectedness of life. By aligning with her spiritual beliefs, Vita transformed her pain into purpose, reframing struggles as divine lessons designed to shape her into the person she was meant to become.

Vita encourages others to reflect on how they can align themselves with the highest purpose God has for them. This introspection can lead to a life filled with meaning, service, and fulfillment.

Central to Vita’s philosophy is the practice of intentional living: quieting the mind, reconnecting with your purpose, and approaching life with mindfulness and intention. For her, yoga became a powerful tool to embrace this way of life. It provided a pathway to calmness, clarity, and a deeper spiritual connection with God, allowing her to live in alignment with her true self.

If you're feeling empty, disconnected, or unsure of your direction, know that these moments are often the beginning of profound transformation. These feelings are not roadblocks but opportunities for growth. By facing your inner world, grounding yourself, and practicing self-forgiveness, you can step into a life filled with calmness, purpose, and self-awareness.

As Vita reminds us, the journey may not always be easy, but it is always worth it. Challenges are an essential part of the process—they shape you, prepare you to serve others, and guide you toward discovering your true purpose.

Take the first step today. Start by forgiving yourself and taking the time to pause, reflect, and reset. You have the power to transform your life.

00:00 - Introduction

01:07 - Meet Our Guest!

04:13 - On Lacking Purpose, Emptiness, and the Start of a Well-being Journey

15:13 - What is Grounding and How to Do It

24:04 - On Well-Being and Trauma

33:41 - Forgiving Yourself

35:06 - Moving Forward While Healing Inside

44:24 - Free Webinar: Paano Ba Magka-Oras Para sa Gusto Ko? (February 4, 2025)

47:15 - What Causes the Feeling of Emptiness?

55:12 - Asking Yourself: "How Can I Be of Service Today?"

57:17 - Be Patient and Kind to Yourself

59:32 - What the Well-Being Journey Gives You

01:01:22 - A Message to Those Starting Their Wellness Journey

01:06:48 - The Interconnection Between Psychology and Spirituality

01:11:12 - Connect with Vita!

01:16:23 - Grounding Exercise