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As we welcome the new month of March in, it is my great honor to introduce to you this month’s Evolving Being in Action.
This month’s inspirational featured story comes from Nadia Ballas-Ruta.
I have known Nadia for over a year now through her wonderful site – Happy Lotus. Her enlightening, witty, profound and at times humorous writing and messages that she shares with others draw people in magnetically.
Today, she shares her story as an evolving being here with us all, and I am just delighted to feature her story for you, as it is a story of great change. So many of us at one point or another in our lives question why things are as they are. We may have it all, yet for some reason we are not satisfied. We know…we feel that something is missing. Nadia felt that something within and this propelled her forward on an amazing personal journey of transformation.
So I now invite you to sit back, relax and take in a story of great change, great love, awareness and self discovery. Here is Nadia sharing it all with us:
What area(s) of your spiritual/emotional life have you decided to change and why?
When I was twenty-five, I had attained every single material desire that I wanted. The funny thing was that even though I had every thing I wanted, I felt extremely miserable. It was a very ironic situation because I had sworn that if I got all that I wanted, I would be happy. Yet here I had every possible thing and I was very unhappy.
There was a huge void in my life but I had no idea what it was and I wanted to stop feeling so empty. I didn’t have a very good childhood and teenage years which created a lot of suffering.
I wanted to have a meaningful life but I had no idea what that looked like and how to get it. I just knew that there was something inside of me that needed to be discovered and I wanted to feel alive. My life at that time was so dull and I knew that happiness and joy were real but how to attain them was my question.
For me, the existence of God or a Higher Power was a given. I just wanted to know what the point of being alive was and what my purpose was. There had to be meaning in this thing called life and I wanted to get to the bottom of that issue. I wanted to be happy and free.
That began an intense spiritual journey which changed my life around in every possible way. Over the course of about twelve years, I traveled the world, lived in India, almost became a Buddhist nun and did so many other wonderful things in search of meaning and happiness.
My hard work paid off because the void became a distant memory and I was fortunate enough to discover happiness. Now the funny thing about attaining happiness is that from the outside it may look like I do not have much in material terms but I do have inner peace which is everything to me.
What strategies have you implemented to change, who inspired you, person or organization, book, etc.?
One of the many beautiful things about life is that we are constantly in the process of evolving. Growth and change are essential to the human experience and in order to become our best we have to be aware of the fact that none of us are perfect.
If we were perfect, we would not be here unless we took a vow like Buddha to keep re-incarnating until every soul has achieved nirvana. I have no idea how many souls have made such a choice so it is not my place to determine who is what. All I know is that we are all works in progress and we each have to accept the fact that there is always room for greater awareness and perception.
Humility is key in my mind and the people who have been of inspiration to me are those that really have been honest with their imperfection and are secure enough to show that vulnerability.
The first person who really inspired me was my father because even though he had his flaws, he has dedicated his life to the concept that a person should live a life based on passion and not be so concerned with money. He has been telling me for years that a person should never do anything for money. He also told me that all religions were one and that God loved everyone. As a result, I was raised with the freedom to pick a religion that suited me as opposed to being forced to follow a particular one. I am eternally grateful for my dad for providing a foundation that enabled me to see the beauty in all.
The next inspiration was Marianne Williamson because this was a person who put to words things that had been bothering me throughout my life. I felt that she was a kindred spirit. I will be forever grateful to Marianne Williamson because she was the first person who was able to shine a light in my tunnel of darkness.
The person after that was the teacher who introduced me to Buddhism and it is Buddhism which helped save my life. She is a lifelong friend and guide. Meeting her took my journey to the next level and she is a wonderful example of being in the world and yet not of it.
The most recent inspiration has been my husband. He introduced me to the concept of unconditional love which was a life changing realization. His love and support of me helped me to learn more about myself. When someone loves you with all of your flaws and yet sees beauty in them, it creates a foundation that allows you to really look at yourself from an angle of compassion as opposed to judgment.
Besides these four amazing people, another thing of inspiration to me was my determination to overcome my pain. I have never been the kind of person who was content with being miserable or sad. I was fully determined to have a meaningful life and so I was willing to do whatever was necessary to achieve my goal. I was extremely driven when it came to finding happiness.
The funny thing about having a crappy past is that you have a great tolerance for putting up with stuff. You already know what it is like to hit rock bottom, so fear of experience is not an issue. That was a big factor which I think kept me going too.
How have the changes benefited your overall life, happiness up to this point?
The journey that I took changed my life for the better. It was not always an easy journey but it enabled me to make peace with my past and to understand the whole purpose of the human experience. It brought not only wisdom but clarity and inner peace. My life has meaning and I know who I am.
I am not a perfect person and that is cool. I know my good and my not so good points. I see the beauty and wonder of life. The happiness that I so much wanted became a reality. Life no longer is this hard journey but rather a fantastic ride. Life is what you make out of it and the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. People always talk about wanting to be happy but not many really want to do the work. The thing about life is that you can achieve anything you want. You just have to be willing to do the work necessary and sometimes that work will not be fun. But nothing of value was ever achieved by playing it safe.
What are the next steps or goals in your life as an evolving being?
So many things are changing in my life right now. I am going through another re-invention which is so wonderful. It is a very exciting time right now for me.
Even though I had achieved all that I wanted on the inside, the one area which I always struggled with was trying to find a career path that was in alignment with my true self. Last September I became unemployed which was a huge blessing in disguise for it made me finally realize that I needed to have a career that was a reflection of my passion.
So I am now working on a project that is a culmination of many things that I have been wanting to do for years but had no idea how it would happen. Much of life is a matter of timing and now is the time for me to create something that is fully a representation of my passion which is to help make the world a better place.
I spent so many years working on myself and now the time has come to focus on helping others. And with whatever time I have left on the planet, I want to dedicate it to being of service. Nothing would bring me greater joy than knowing that when my time is over that I left the world a better place than when I came into it.
What message do you have for others who are struggling or embarking on a similar journey?
My first piece of advice would be to realize the fact that fear is poison. So if fear is preventing you from having a life that you love, face the fear and go for what brings you joy.
Some people are cliff jumpers meaning that they are cool with jumping into the unknown. I have always been a cliff jumper and after taking numerous risks throughout my life, I can tell you that the Universe is merciful and you will land when you jump off the cliff and always have what you need.
Now not everyone is a cliff jumper and that is cool too. Some people need to take baby steps in order to go after their dreams. Whether you are a cliff jumper or a baby stepper is irrelevant. What matters more is to go after what you love. Life is short. Your time here will eventually be over so why not leave knowing that you tried everything that you wanted.
This does not mean that you become reckless. It means: do not become a slave to fear. You were not designed to spread fear. You were designed to spread love. So spread love in whatever you do.
You are here for a reason. This is not some haphazard journey. This is a journey that you created to become better. So don’t play your role small. Play your part to its full potential. You have nothing to lose.
37 Comments to “Evolving Being In Action: Nadia Ballas-Ruta”
[...] share the details of my new venture with all of you. However, today I am being featured over at Evolving Beings and in that piece I talk a bit more about what is happening in my life at the [...]
Nadia,
What a wonderful, wonderful soul you are! And so fitting to have you here and featured on Evita’s site.
In this journey through life, it’s so fitting that I’m reading this today, after a weekend that really had me thinking about how truly short our time on earth is.
Nadia, you are an inspiration. In so many ways, how you are living your life and how much peace I feel in all the words you share. I think that speaks volumes to where you are in terms of connecting to your true self.
Love and blessings,
Lance
Hi Lance,
Thank you so much for all the kind things you wrote. I am so touched. :)
Life is truly short and with that awareness, we should be able to make decisions that come from a place of love as opposed to fear.
Sometimes that is easier said than done but it does get easier with time. :)
Love and blessings to you, dear friend!
Hi Nadia – it is going to be great to see what you are working on – as I’m sure it will challenge us too ..
fear is a prison … it keeps you …
time is ticking … so love it …
enjoy all of life – live it to the full ..
Great to be around you .. hugs Hilary
Hi Hilary,
What a great poem! I love it! :)
Thank you so much for all that you wrote and for always being so supportive. I am honored.
Hugs back!
Hello Nadia
Thank you so much first of all for sharing your insights, experiences and thoughts here.
From the first time I “met” you, I felt that I resonated a lot with the energy that you held in how you transformed your life to be where you are today. Change is a powerful thing. We can leave behind so much pain, drama and anything else that does not suit us, and begin anew. It is all in the end up to us, and you illustrate that beautifully in the story you share above.
Thank you for being such an inspirational being and I wish you all that will continue to expand your being and enlighten this journey we all call life.
Hi Evita,
It is me who should be thanking you! :)
I am touched that you chose to include me on your beautiful blog. It was a joy to answer your questions.
Change is truly a beautiful thing. I know that many people are scared of it. I have always been one of those people who welcomed it with open arms.
I have never been the kind of person who believed in limits. I think we can achieve whatever it is that we want. We just have to believe in it and then do the work that is necessary.
Anyway…thank you again for letting me be a part of your site and keep shining bright!
Nadia,
Thanks for sharing your story through this interview.
I think your Dad gave you some really good advice about money. I have had a bit of an awakening about money over the past six months.
I did an abundance exercise where I would spend lots of money every day in my mind in order to open up the abundance in my life.
After a few weeks, I actually had trouble coming up with things to buy! I realized that aside from housing, a car, etc., I really didn’t want that many possessions even if I could afford them. Therefore, as part of the exercise, I started mentally putting money away in the bank!
Instead, once I had these basic things, I figured out that what was most important to me was to be able to have enough money to:
1. Work on what I was passionate about
2. Travel
This is what was important to me, not accumulating more and more possessions.
You mentioned that you will now focus on helping others. I think the people you help will benefit greatly from all you have learned on your life path.
Best of luck on your current project!
Hi Greg,
Good for you for having an awakening about money!
My father was once offered a job with a salary of a million a year. He turned it down because he said it was not related to his passion. Everyone thought he was crazy but he did not care. He said it was more important to follow his bliss than sell his soul for a paycheck. He ended up being a leader in his field and always says that the Universe will provide. I have never seen him do anything for money.
I was blessed to grow up with such a father because it forced me to really think about what is it that I want out of life.
Many people want stuff because they think it means something. Something only carries meaning when we give it meaning. So we should structure our lives around what we love.
Sounds like that is what you are doing and that is awesome!
By the way, I am with you on travel. The world is a beautiful place. :)
Wonderful interview, I enjoyed learning more about you, Nadia. I especially love what you said about humility, and about it not being our job to know which beings are here for which reason. I also love your inspirational people. Thanks for sharing, and looking forward to your new endeavor. XOXO – Lisa
Hi Lisa,
You are welcome and thank you for all that you wrote and for the support.
Life is truly an interesting ride! :)
Nadia,
Thanks for the response! And what a wonderful story about your Dad. What an amazing person.
It’s also great to hear you enjoy travelling, too!
Hi Greg,
You are most welcome. :)
I love traveling. Words cannot describe the joy at being able to discover new parts of this world.
When we travel, we realize that human behavior and desires are the same regardless of the location. A mother in India wants the same thing for her kids as mother in Ireland and as a mother in America.
It helped me to see how we are all more alike than we are different.
May you have a wonderful evening! :)
Hi Nadia .. it wasn’t written as a poem – but that’s how it came out .. it was a series of phrases, leading to the next phrase .. just a muse?!
Love that you’re moving on so well .. can’t wait … hugs more!
Hi Hilary,
That is cool how the poem came to be…I love how things have a beautiful way of coming to fruition on their own.
Thank you for the extra hugs and support. Like I said before, I am having a wonderful time. :)
Hi Nadia, what a perfect place to talk about your passions. I feel like you and Evita are soul sisters.
I love how you say fear is poison. It truly is. When I learned to not let fear make my choices it’s when happiness released within me. It didn’t happen overnight and I have a long way to go, but I am happy. And just like you I want to be of service to the rest of the world.
Know that the world is already a better place than before you arrived. I know you’ve helped me discover a lot of my own happiness.
Hi Karl,
You touched my heart. Thank you so much. If you were in front of me, I would give you a HUGE hug.
Good for you for being happy! Yay! What a beautiful blessing. I am sure that your wish to be of service will come true. You are already serving with all that you share on your blog.
Thank you again for all that you wrote. It just was so kind. :)
Hi Nadia and Evita,
You give so much encouragement and healing in your words, Nadia. You have a generosity that you’ve gained from your life experiences and all the lessons you’ve learned that many among us are still struggling with. Thank you for sharing your life-giving spirit and for not being afraid to embody love and joy.
Hi Belinda,
Just like Karl, your comment also touched my heart. Thank you so much for all that you wrote. Here is a HUGE hug from me.
I think we all are capable of being love and joy. Actually, our true nature is rooted in love and joy. However, fear gets in the way.
Look at babies and young children, they have no fear. The concept of inhibition has not entered into their consciousness. They talk freely and do whatever they feel. Somewhere though they will learn about fear and that joy/love will be buried.
All we have to do is peel off those layers and re-connect with what is our nature.
And trust me, if I could do it with my crappy past, any one can. I seriously mean that too. I am not a special person. I just worked really hard to overcome my issues. Like I said in the post, I was extremely driven which played a huge part.
Great piece and update and I wish you well and thank you Evita for sharing Nadia’s evolving here.
My mother always said leave a place better than you found it….and that included public restrooms…later in life when she traveled she carried gloves and throw away wipes to tidy up…
She was a first grade teacher and I am sure she made a huge and loving impact on those small children during her 64 years. I could not live up to her expectations but fortunately I provided her with 3 loving granddaughters who adored her and one who was her perfect match in this world….
Now it is my turn to make my journey and I think some fears are easier to release at 60 then at 30 or 40….some though can really scare your socks right off…just keep working on doing my best and being of service…good stuff here – thanks for sharing
Hi Patricia,
You are welcome. That is wonderful that your mother made such an impact on you and those around her.
To be of service to others is a great thing and good for you for wanting to be of help.
As for fear, it truly is a form of poison. Nothing keeps a person more stuck than fear. Nothing ventured, nothing gained is my motto. And sometimes people make their fears so huge, that it prevents them from living.
Being cautious is one thing but being paralyzed is a far different story. A person can proceed with caution but to not proceed due to fear strikes me as a waste of human potential.
Hi Nadia and Evita
Nadia I resonate with this; “The thing about life is that you can achieve anything you want. You just have to be willing to do the work necessary and sometimes that work will not be fun. . . . And trust me, if I could do it with my crappy past, any one can.”
I do think we need to realize that it requires work and that it is not a something people naturally have anymore. We used to bu we do not have it now.
And we need to know what to work on. For a long time I had no idea how I could get where I wanted to go. Now I do and for that I am grateful and now I can work hard.
It is so good you are going to share what you have learned as we need teachers in this field. I too am grateful to be able to share my learnings.
Hugs to you both, xox Wilma
Hi Wilma,
Yay for sharing our experiences! :)
I am often amazed that people expect wonderful results without lifting a finger. Maybe it is because everything in our world is so automatic, we forget that there is such a thing as work and effort.
Hard work is a wonderful thing which I think many people forget. It reminds me of the saying “easy come, easy go”.
And you are right about the importance of realizing what it is that we want to experience.
Hugs back!
Hi Nadia,
YOU will continue to inspire and be of service no matter what, I am certain of that my dear…so this new journey sounds a bit like a continuation of the one you have already been on…perhaps a slight turn in the road? I am looking forward to finding out more as your story unfolds.
gentle steps (even if you are a cliff jumper)
Laura
Hi Laura,
Thank you so much for all that you wrote. And yes, there is a slight turn but a wonderful one.
Blessings to you!
Hi Nadia!
How marvelous! I think the people who re-invent themselves a few times during a lifetime have the most fun, share the most love, inspire the most people and lead with a warm light! It takes courage to take a leap in a new direction – oh how easy it is to just sit and ponder everything, eh? I know you know we never really jump alone. :)
hugs
suZen
Hi Suzen,
You are so right….we never really jump alone. :)
Change is a funny thing because some people are really scared of it and others love it. I always have loved it because I think it is important to evolve and grow. Stagnation is death. Being stuck just drains out any sense of joy.
So change, in my mind, is vital because we are capable of so much. And the only way we realize that is by expanding our awareness and perception.
Hugs back!
As always, I love to read about your unfolding journey and hold you in my heart as this next phase of your life unfolds. I cannot wait to hear. It is obvious that you are full of life, love, and wisdom as you follow through, step by step. :-)
And I greatly appreciate your analogy of fear as poison. I agree. It paralyzes us, weakens us, so we cannot live with full strength and the joie de vivre that we were intended to. I was just listening to a wonderful dharmaseed.org talk today where the speaker also used an analogy of not forgiving as personal poison and continuing to administer something harmful to ourselves by not healing from a particular hurt. Very powerful.
Love and joy to you this day. And thank you Evita for hosting Nadia. She is an inspiration!
Hi Jan,
Thank you so much for all the kind things you wrote and for holding me in your heart. I really appreciate the support. :)
Life sure is a wonderful journey and what you shared about not forgiving is another example of poison. We are capable of so much but things like fear and lack of compassion often keep us stuck. The sad part is that those things only have power because we give them that power. At least, that is what I have come to see and believe.
Love and joy to you too!
Beautiful post!
Fear is indeed the thing we must release. The funny thing about it is that it’s completely delusional.
I look forward to hearing more about your project. I’m sure it will be remarkable!
love and peace,
k
Hi Kaushik,
Fear is definitely a delusion and it is also an illusion. Nothing keeps people more stuck than fear.
And thank you so much for the support regarding the project I am working on. This is unlike anything I have ever done. I am having so much fun with it. It has been wonderful. I look forward to when everything is ready to be launched.
Love and peace to you too, my friend! :)
Thanks Evita and Nadia! Nadia, I love what you have to say about fear…it’s just the reminder I needed today. Your desire to help others and create a better world is so needed today. I wish you well on your journey. Those who find you will be blessed.
Hi Tess,
I am happy that my comment on fear was of help. It is tricky little thing isn’t it? Fear has such a smooth way of creeping in and keeping people stuck.
Thank you so much for all the kind things you wrote about me. You made my afternoon! So thank YOU! :)
Nadia,
You continue to be such an inspiration! I love that each time you share your story I learn so much from where you’ve been and who you are becoming.
As far as happiness, I have very little in material terms but so much on every other level. For me, material bogs me down, gives me reasons to be attached; the less material I have the more creative and open I am in giving and sharing.
You made an excellent point that I’ve never considered within my own life. When you have lots in your past, you have no fear because you’ve already hit bottom–perhaps that explains why I can and often do “jump”; I’ve been through “the worst” and recovered so any result from further jumps will only help me to grow and blossom. In life, when I have fear, I take a deep breath and face it. I now see why that seems “easier” for me than others. Thank you for helping me to see that.
I am excited to see what your re-invention will form as. I know you will inspire others who may not have considered re-invention possible, to make changes within their own life.
Thank you so much Nadia for all that you share!
Hi Joy,
Thank you so much for all that you wrote. I hear you about material items. We do not have much material items either and I love it. That is one reason why I refuse to own a home. A home just ties down a person and I rather have the freedom to move around.
And I am happy that my comment about how hitting rock bottom makes it easier to jump off cliffs spoke to you. I have come to notice that those who have hit the worst and survived, usually do not mind taking chances.
As for the re-invention, I am having the time of my life! Thank you for always being so supportive and so kind!
Hi Nadia!
Seems like we’re on the same journey – you on your path of re-invention, me on mine. Kinda cool, huh? I can’t wait to see where you are going and what your new adventure will bring!
Love,
Peggy
Hi Peggy,
That is kind of cool. :)
I am sure you are enjoying the journey too. It is a wonderful journey to be on. I am loving every single second. Life has an amazing way of taking us places.
Thank you so much for the support too!
Lots of love back!