Shattering the Surface — The First of Twelve Depths

Throughout my life, when people meet me for the first time, they seem overly concerned with where I’m from. After I introduce myself, I watch their expression twist into interrogation as they ask, “What are you?” My olive skin onesie wrapped around a compact Junoesque physique trips them up. Sometimes they ask where I am from if they are too afraid to question my heritage. Both of my parents were born in the United States, so I usually respond, “I am American.” That never seems to satisfy them.

It wasn’t until I could spit into a tube that the percentages of genealogies flowing through my veins—dancing in my DNA—could be pinpointed. In a flash, I had the firepower to hit back with a vibrant confluence of cultures.

What is it about appearance that makes us judge a book by its cover? What will it take to dismantle false belief systems herding humanity into a vanilla-coated existence?

Thank goodness I grew up in a time when letting your freak flag fly was encouraged. We embraced our uniqueness: to be a wildflower in a field of beige roses.

So, allow me to extend an invitation.

Unfurl your authentic self and hang it high. Feel how much lighter you become.

It is time to reveal the juicy depths of our inner beings, and the first move is getting past the surface layer without causing damage or destroying what’s beneath it.

I think of elite divers standing 27 meters—89 feet in the air, surveying a silky blue postage stamp of water with hyper-awareness. Adrenaline rushes. They rehearse, visualizing complex twists and movements. Then, they see themselves entering without making a splash.

A diver doesn’t think about the bottom of the pool; they see themselves slicing like a hot knife through butter, breaching the looking glass to enter the inverted world beneath.

This journey wants us to loosen the grip of attachment on outcomes. Instead of aiming for the deepest zone—where light never penetrates—let’s focus on what comes first. Our technique for piercing the glassy veneer.

A way to begin is to admit something that most people don’t want to acknowledge:

The imaginary lifeboat we’ve been clinging to... has been holding up our progress.

Join me in not waiting for the universe to pry our fingers loose. Let’s not wait for the grip to be severed by exhaustion, disappointment, or timing.

Instead, I suggest we choose the release. Let’s melt into the tides of emotions and engage all of our senses. This is how we gain a deeper understanding of the layers that make up our true selves.

Shattering the surface is the first act of courage. It is where we break the grip of the ego—the part of us that gets hypnotized into believing we are separate, unworthy, and disconnected from an infinite wellspring of energy. That belief is not truth. It is conditioning.

No, I am not suggesting that we take a blind heroic leap into the abyss.

This is Depth One, where we slice through the membrane of societal beliefs and begin to own our uniqueness. If shame and doubt creep in, stop and chant:

“I am enough, I Am Enough, I AM ENOUGH!”

I keep this enchanting phrase on my calendar so it pops up on my screen every day as a reminder to say it out loud. This is because the world around us changes when we change ourselves.

Next, I am taking us to the Second Fathom: Feeling the Waters of Emotions—where we connect with one person at a time.

For now, observe yourself—especially in the moments you clamp down, brace, or perform. Let the surface crack. Throw off the shards.

You don’t need them anymore. Not where we are going.

—Ambika Devi

Rebel Anthropologist

Kindred Vibe Collective Originally published in the Kindred Vibe Collective on LinkedIn. Ready to go beneath the surface? In a strategy call, we can explore the patterns keeping you stuck and discover Mind-Taming techniques to help you loosen their grip and move forward with greater clarity.

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