Partners in Sublime: Elevating personal growth through psychospiritual wisdom

We use the word "self" constantly, in therapy, in spirituality, in everyday conversation, but we rarely stop to ask which self we are actually talking about. In this episode, Shagun breaks down three distinct understandings of the self, from the everyday ego self to the IFS Self to the Jungian Self, and makes the case that it is this third, deeper Self that we most need to learn to connect with. Drawing on Edward Edinger's concept of the ego-Self axis, she walks through how that connection strengthens and breaks across a lifetime, what ego inflation and deflation actually look like in real life, and five concrete ways to stay connected to your higher self, one of which is beautifully illustrated through the coaching session with "Dorothy." Dororthy's situation is familiar to many, she has a job that pays the bills but costs her too: her sleep, her presence, and her sense of purpose. Shagun uses active imagination to offer Dorothy's higher Self the space to speak, and what emerges is not a plan or a prescription but a single unexpected symbol that points her back to something she already knows about herself.00:00 Introduction01:25 What is your higher self04:01 Do we live in a conscious universe05:13 How the ego-Self axis works09:02 What is ego inflation and ego deflation14:19 How to stay connected with our higher self22:03 What myth teaches us about the higher self24:07 Coaching session with Dororthy: Work is not aligning with purpose46:02 Session breakdown: Recognizing ego, higher self, and symbolismAbout the host: Shagun Chopra is an individuation coach, speaker, and educator. Her unique approach combines Jungian depth psychology with ancient Vedic wisdom to create the ultimate personal transformation. She supports professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives in bringing their wildest dreams to life and leapfrogging their career, business, and relationships. To learn more, visit shagunchopra.comJoin the show: To ask a question or get coached on the show, visit shagunchopra.com/ask - all coaching clients are assigned a pseudonym and given the option to not share their videoDisclaimer:  Conversations on Partners in Sublime are for educational purposes only, and do not constitute medical or psychological advice or treatment. Please consult a licensed professional for any mental health concerns.

We think self-abandonment is the falling apart: the life that becomes unrecognizable, the person we no longer see in the mirror. But the abandonment begins much earlier, in the quiet moments when we refuse the parts of ourselves that don't fit the life we have constructed. In this episode, we explore why self-abandonment moves in two directions, what Jungian shadow work and Vedantic philosophy reveal about both, and what it takes to find the integrated middle rather than swinging between extremes. The episode features 'Ana' who came to this session after two years of accumulated loss had quietly dismantled the spiritual life she had carefully built. The anger had arrived. The practices had disappeared. And she no longer recognized the person she had become. What emerged in our session together was something more uncomfortable and more liberating than a simple path back: the recognition that the self she is returning to cannot be the one she left behind.00:00 Navigating Grief and Anger02:47 The Impact of Spiritual Communities on Emotional Expression05:06 Decisions and Life Transitions07:11 Reconnecting with Passions and Career Aspirations09:22 Finding Balance in Life Choices11:41 The Journey of Self-Discovery and Acceptance13:45 Visualizing a New Path Forward16:36 Coaching Ana: Navigating Emotional Turmoil and Overwhelm17:41 The Journey of Self-Compassion and Presence19:22 Confronting Grief and Loss22:33 Lessons in Vulnerability and Acceptance25:03 The Role of Family and Legacy27:10 Embracing the Wounded Self27:28 Connecting with the Higher SelfAbout the host: Shagun Chopra is an individuation coach, speaker, and educator. Her unique approach combines Jungian depth psychology with ancient Vedic wisdom to create the ultimate personal transformation. She supports professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives in bringing their wildest dreams to life and leapfrogging their career, business, and relationships. To learn more, visit shagunchopra.comJoin the show: To ask a question or get coached on the show, visit shagunchopra.com/ask - all coaching clients are assigned a pseudonym and given the option to not share their videoDisclaimer:  Conversations on Partners in Sublime are for educational purposes only, and do not constitute medical or psychological advice or treatment. Please consult a licensed professional for any mental health concerns.

What does it actually feel like to not feel like yourself? Not the dramatic breakdown version, not the crisis that announces itself clearly, but the quiet, persistent sense that the person you used to be has become strangely inaccessible. In this episode, we sit with that experience without rushing toward resolution. Through a live coaching session with Miley, a new mother navigating the overwhelming mental load of early motherhood, we explore what happens in the messy middle of a major identity transition - when the old self has loosened its grip and the new one hasn't yet arrived. We look at the concept of liminal space, why our culture's favorite tools for managing motherhood stress keep us stuck at the surface of our experience, and what it actually takes to move through a threshold rather than around it.About the host: Shagun Chopra is an individuation coach, speaker, and educator. Her unique approach combines Jungian depth psychology with ancient Vedic wisdom to create the ultimate personal transformation. She supports professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives in bringing their wildest dreams to life and leapfrogging their career, business, and relationships. To learn more, visit shagunchopra.comJoin the show: To ask a question or get coached on the show (anonymously or otherwise), visit shagunchopra.com/ask

Most of us have asked ourselves some version of this question, whether it shows up as "did I respond fast enough?" or "am I pulling my weight at home?" or just that low hum of not quite measuring up that follows us into even our best moments. In this episode, we sit with that question seriously, tracing it from Alfred Adler's inferiority complex through Brené Brown's hustle for worthiness to the Vedantic teaching that dissolves the question entirely. Then we go into a live coaching session with Tony, a tech professional who is days away from starting his dream job and already consumed by anxiety about whether he can show up fully at work while still being present for his wife and two-year-old at home. What happens in this session is quietly remarkable. Tony doesn't solve his anxiety. He listens to it. And what his inner world offers in response is the last thing anyone, including Tony, expected.About the host: Shagun Chopra is an individuation coach, speaker, and educator. Her unique approach combines Jungian depth psychology with ancient Vedic wisdom to create the ultimate personal transformation. She supports professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives in bringing their wildest dreams to life and leapfrogging their career, business, and relationships. To learn more, visit shagunchopra.comJoin the show: To ask a question or get coached on the show (anonymously or otherwise), visit shagunchopra.com/ask

When we transition into a new identity, do we have to leave the old one behind? And what is the difference between our identity and what we present to the world? Max spent twenty years in the military before stepping into the world of mental health care, and four years later, he is still caught between two versions of himself. In this episode, we explore the psychology of identity conflict through the lens of Jungian analytical psychology, looking at how the ego constructs identity, how the persona and shadow work together to create internal splits, and what it actually takes to move toward a more integrated sense of self. Through a live coaching session with Max, we witness what happens when a neglected part of the psyche finally gets to speak, and what it has to say is both surprising and deeply moving. If you have ever felt pulled between who you were and who you are becoming, this episode is for you.About the host: Shagun Chopra is an individuation coach, speaker, and educator. Her unique approach combines Jungian depth psychology with ancient Vedic wisdom to create the ultimate personal transformation. She supports professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives in bringing their wildest dreams to life and leapfrogging their career, business, and relationships. To learn more, visit shagunchopra.comJoin the show: To ask a question or get coached on the show (anonymously or otherwise), visit shagunchopra.com/ask

We've been taught that negative emotions are problems to fix: signs that we're not grateful enough, not evolved enough, not thinking positively enough. But what if anger, sadness, envy, and fear aren't obstacles at all? What if they're messengers carrying vital information about what we truly need and want? In this episode, we explore how the positive psychology movement, while revolutionary in many ways, can trap us in a rigid persona that cuts us off from our authentic self. The session features Maya, a new Indian immigrant in the US, who has everything she needs to build the life she wants: resources, opportunities, clear goals. But she can't take action. Through a powerful visualization, she discovers that her unconscious isn't sabotaging her. It's protecting her authentic self from external expectations. We discuss the function of negative emotions, the shadow side of positive psychology, and what it means to choose wholeness over perfection. This episode features insights from Jungian psychology, Vedic philosophy, and the myths of Persephone and Kali.About the host: Shagun Chopra is an individuation coach, speaker, and educator. Her unique approach combines Jungian depth psychology with ancient Vedic wisdom to create the ultimate personal transformation. She supports professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives in bringing their wildest dreams to life and leapfrogging their career, business, and relationships. To learn more, visit shagunchopra.comJoin the show: To ask a question or get coached on the show (anonymously or otherwise), visit shagunchopra.com/ask

Can you help others while you're still struggling yourself? This question haunts many of us: parents, therapists, teachers, managers, friends, and so on. In this episode, we explore the wounded healer archetype and discover why your struggles don't disqualify you from serving others. Through a coaching session with Irina, a mental health professional wrestling with her own breakup and friendship loss, we witness the transformation from either/or thinking to both/and consciousness. Learn about holding the tension of opposites, the mandorla as a symbol of integration, and how Arjuna's crisis in the Bhagavad Gita mirrors our own daily contradictions. This conversation offers a pathway from feeling torn apart by opposing forces to discovering wholeness in paradox.About the host: Shagun Chopra is an individuation coach, speaker, and educator. Her unique approach combines Jungian depth psychology with ancient Vedic wisdom to create the ultimate personal transformation. She supports professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives in bringing their wildest dreams to life and leapfrogging their career, business, and relationships. To learn more, visit shagunchopra.comJoin the show: To ask a question or get coached on the show (anonymously or otherwise), visit shagunchopra.com/ask

What if the inner resources you're looking for aren't limited to yourself? What if they come from something far older and more powerful than anything in your personal history?Most of us reach for familiar strategies when we need strength: positive thinking, past experiences, coping mechanisms we've developed over the years. But host Shagun Chopra reveals why these personal resources have limits, and introduces a completely different source of wisdom that exists within every human being regardless of their individual story.Shagun coaches Mari who recently returned to her rural hometown and is a few weeks away from giving birth. As Mari grapples with the lack of pregnancy supports in her external environment, Shagun helps her connect to her innate resources. Mari's struggle with feeling like a victim, her grief over losing the structured life she had built, and her fear of the unknown all shift dramatically when she discovers she's been carrying the answer within her all along.This episode will challenge everything you think you know about where your strength comes from. You'll learn about psychological patterns you inherited at birth, why certain emotions seem to "take over" without warning, and how to consciously access a source of guidance that billions of humans have tapped into throughout history. The concepts are deep, potentially life-changing, and worth revisiting multiple times.About the host: Shagun Chopra is an individuation coach, speaker, and educator. Her unique approach combines Jungian depth psychology with ancient Vedic wisdom to create the ultimate personal transformation. She supports professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives in bringing their wildest dreams to life and leapfrogging their career, business, and relationships. To learn more, visit shagunchopra.comJoin the show: To ask a question or get coached on the show (anonymously or otherwise), visit shagunchopra.com/ask

Getting triggered by someone? Before you try to change them, consider this: your emotional reaction is revealing something hidden in your own shadow. In this episode, host Shagun Chopra explores how triggers are invitations to reclaim the parts of yourself you've been suppressing, and why that annoying behavior in others is actually a mirror for your unconscious.Through a coaching session with Michelle, who fears becoming a single mother while pursuing her entrepreneurial dreams, we discover how a seemingly small trigger about her partner's sleep schedule reveals a much deeper pattern. Michelle uncovers how her relentless pressure to be hardworking, motivated, and always ahead of the game has pushed away her ability to relax, go with the flow, and laugh at mistakes. The moment she recognizes this split, energy floods back and possibilities open up.Learn why triggers happen when you've locked psychic energy into maintaining a rigid persona, how to distinguish between helpful self-discipline and exhausting self-judgment, and the crucial difference between "I have to be this way" and "I choose to be this way." Discover Shagun's personal story of how her spiritual persona created an extreme aversion to meat that dissolved once she did her shadow work. If you find yourself constantly irritated by others or caught in harsh self-criticism, this episode will show you how to use those moments as doorways to freedom.About the host: Shagun Chopra is an individuation coach, speaker, and educator. Her unique approach combines Jungian depth psychology with ancient Vedic wisdom to create the ultimate personal transformation. She supports professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives in bringing their wildest dreams to life and leapfrogging their career, business, and relationships. To learn more, visit shagunchopra.comJoin the show: To ask a question or get coached on the show (anonymously or otherwise), visit shagunchopra.com/ask

Feeling stuck and unable to move forward even though you know you're meant for more? In this episode, host Shagun Chopra reveals why confusion is actually your ego's way of keeping you trapped in old patterns, and why having a clear vision is essential for creating the life you want.Through a coaching session with Serena, a highly educated professional who can't seem to build a stable career despite her obvious potential, we explore how the absence of vision doesn't keep you in place but actually pulls you backwards into default programming. Serena discovers that her inability to imagine her future stems from deep blocks around worthiness, internalized voices from childhood teachers who doubted her abilities, and unconscious beliefs about money that keep her stuck in unfulfilling jobs.Learn why visualizing your ideal life is not wishful thinking but essential co-creation with the universe, how childhood experiences shape what you believe you deserve, and the Vedic concept of gunas that explains why you must take action before you can find clarity. Discover the difference between letting your vision guide your choices versus waiting for external validation to tell you what's possible. If you've been too busy or overwhelmed to imagine what you really want, this episode will show you why that's the very thing keeping you stuck.About the host: Shagun Chopra is an individuation coach, speaker, and educator. Her unique approach combines Jungian depth psychology with ancient Vedic wisdom to create the ultimate personal transformation. She supports professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives in bringing their wildest dreams to life and leapfrogging their career, business, and relationships. To learn more, visit shagunchopra.comJoin the show: To ask a question or get coached on the show (anonymously or otherwise), visit shagunchopra.com/ask

Think you've healed from something only to have it show up again? You're not broken. You're growing. In this episode, host Shagun Chopra reveals why shadow work doesn't happen in a straight line but rather as a spiral, bringing you face to face with the same wounds at deeper levels each time.Through a reflective coaching session with Ria, who experienced unexpected heartbreak after believing she'd conquered her fear of abandonment, we explore how personal growth actually works. Ria shares how her recent breakup felt like failure at first, until she realized she was facing a new layer of the same wound with completely different tools. This time, instead of desperately seeking answers for a year, she learned to trust herself even without closure or explanation. Learn why the same triggers keep returning throughout your life and how to recognize you're actually making progress even when it feels like you're back at square one. If you've ever felt discouraged that old patterns keep resurfacing, this episode will transform how you understand healing.About the host: Shagun Chopra is an individuation coach, speaker, and educator. Her unique approach combines Jungian depth psychology with ancient Vedic wisdom to create the ultimate personal transformation. She supports professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives in bringing their wildest dreams to life and leapfrogging their career, business, and relationships. To learn more, visit shagunchopra.comJoin the show: To ask a question or get coached on the show (anonymously or otherwise), visit shagunchopra.com/ask

Ever wondered why you're magnetically drawn to certain people? In this episode, we explore the psychology of attraction through the lens of Carl Jung's shadow work. Host Shagun Chopra reveals how the qualities we find most attractive in others are often the suppressed parts of ourselves trying to emerge, and why that initial "high" eventually fades. Through an intimate conversation with Sam, a successful attorney who reconnected with her free-spirited high school boyfriend 20 years later, we uncover how romantic attraction serves as a mirror for our own unexpressed desires. Sam shares how she went from being obsessively responsible and achievement-oriented to recognizing that her attraction to Adam's unconventional, unbound lifestyle was actually her own soul craving freedom. Learn the difference between projection-based attraction and persona-strengthening relationships, why "opposites attract" has deep psychological roots, and how owning your shadow qualities can transform not just your relationships but your entire life. Whether you're dating, in a long-term relationship, or reflecting on past partnerships, this episode will help you reclaim the parts of yourself you've been seeking in others. About the host: Shagun Chopra is an individuation coach, speaker, and educator. Her unique approach combines Jungian depth psychology with ancient Vedic wisdom to create the ultimate personal transformation. She supports professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives in bringing their wildest dreams to life and leapfrogging their career, business, and relationships. To learn more, visit shagunchopra.comJoin the show: To ask a question or get coached on the show (anonymously or otherwise), visit shagunchopra.com/ask

Feeling unmotivated or drained? In this episode, we explore why lack of motivation isn't about willpower or laziness. It's your psyche's way of telling you something important. Join host Shagun Chopra as she works with Sara, a successful tech professional who can't find the energy to pursue her passion projects despite having the time and resources. Through depth psychology and a powerful visualization exercise, Sara discovers that her "laziness" is actually resistance to an endless cycle of achievement and uncovers an unexpected answer about what she's truly meant to pursue. Learn why pushing harder when you feel unmotivated only makes things worse, how your persona can become a prison even when it looks perfect from the outside, and what your lack of motivation is really trying to tell you. If you've ever felt stuck, burned out, or confused about why you can't just "do the thing," this episode will change how you see your resistance forever. About the host: Shagun Chopra is an individuation coach, speaker, and educator. Her unique approach combines Jungian depth psychology with ancient Vedic wisdom to create the ultimate personal transformation. She supports professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives in bringing their wildest dreams to life and leapfrogging their career, business, and relationships. To learn more, visit shagunchopra.com Join the show: To ask a question or get coached on the show (anonymously or otherwise), visit shagunchopra.com/ask

In this episode of Partners in Sublime, host Shagun Chopra unpacks the psychology and spirituality of fear. She explains how fear arises from the ego and how our personas are formed through childhood conditioning to ensure acceptance and belonging. When we begin to step outside that persona, the ego triggers fear to keep us “safe,” even if it limits our growth. Shagun explores two pathways for working with fear: one more action-oriented and the other more introspective. Drawing from Jungian concepts of the persona and the shadow, she emphasizes the importance of integrating disowned qualities in order to feel whole and access our deeper spiritual nature, pure consciousness. The episode includes a powerful live coaching segment with a client (“Ryan”), who faces fear around leaving a secure job to pursue a more adventurous and nature-connected life. Through their work together, listeners witness how exploring fear can unlock clarity, confidence, and help one answer the call to adventure. About the host: Shagun Chopra is an individuation coach, speaker, and educator. Her unique approach combines Jungian depth psychology with ancient Vedic wisdom to create the ultimate personal transformation. She supports professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives in bringing their wildest dreams to life and leapfrogging their career, business, and relationships. To learn more, visit shagunchopra.com Join the show: To ask a question or get coached on the show (anonymously or otherwise), visit shagunchopra.com/ask

In the debut episode of Partners in Sublime, Shagun Chopra shares her personal journey of balancing two parallel tracks: a successful 15-year corporate career and a deep-seated passion for spiritual wisdom. Discover how a life crisis transformed her path and taught her to embrace her true calling. Shagun introduces her unique approach that integrates Carl Jung's concept of individuation with ancient Vedic philosophy, offering listeners practical tools to navigate life's difficulties. She explains how this podcast will explore the unconscious mind, helping you shed false identities and step into your authentic self. Join Shagun as she begins this journey to guide you through life's challenges using time-tested wisdom from both Western psychology and Eastern spirituality.About the host: Shagun Chopra is an individuation coach, speaker, and educator. Her unique approach combines Jungian depth psychology with ancient Vedic wisdom to create the ultimate personal transformation. She supports professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives in bringing their wildest dreams to life and leapfrogging their career, business, and relationships. To learn more, visit shagunchopra.comJoin the show:To ask a question or get coached on the show (anonymously or otherwise), visit shagunchopra.com/ask

Partners in Sublime is your gateway to transcendent personal transformation, where depth psychology meets timeless Vedic wisdom. Each episode, Shagun Chopra draws from her unique background in clinical psychology and spiritual traditions to explore life's most pressing questions – from understanding your inner world to manifesting your highest potential.Through intimate conversations and real-world coaching stories, Shagun bridges ancient philosophical insights with modern psychological understanding, offering you practical tools for everyday enlightenment. This isn't just another self-help podcast – it's a guided journey into the depths of human consciousness, where transformation happens naturally and wisdom flows effortlessly.Welcome to a space where the mystical becomes practical, where ancient wisdom meets contemporary life, and where your journey of self-actualization unfolds one episode at a time.About the host:A lifelong student of Yoga and Vedic philosophy, Shagun Chopra bridges the ancient with the modern through her unique integration of spiritual wisdom and depth psychology. With her background in clinical psychology and deep roots in Eastern philosophy, she expertly guides others through their personal evolution journey.Shagun's approach was born from her own quest to answer life's fundamental questions. While finding theoretical answers in ancient Indian texts, she discovered their practical application through Carl Jung's work on spiritual psychology. Today, she helps others navigate their path to self-actualization by weaving together timeless wisdom with contemporary psychological insights. Through Partners in Sublime, she shares these transformative teachings, making profound spiritual and psychological concepts accessible for everyday life.