E³ — Entertain Enlighten Empower

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How to Access the Unconscious Mind for Personal Growth

Sandra Pawula
E³ — Entertain Enlighten Empower
4 min readMar 10, 2025

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Headshot of a woman with long curly hair against a blue background smiling as she listens through headphones.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels

I laughed uncontrollably until, moments later, tears of sadness streamed down my cheeks.

“Feeling joy can almost feel painful,” I offered.

This intense response occurred after 52 seconds of listening therapy for nervous system regulation, using the Rest and Restore Protocol — the newest program from trauma pioneer Stephen Porges.

His first program, the Safe and Sound Protocol, also unlocked my unconscious mind, as evidenced by a remarkable shift in my dreams, but not as quickly or dramatically.

These listening protocols are costly. I lucked out and connected with a therapist who offered reduced fees.

The Rest and Restore Protocol may be enough to unlock my unconscious mind in the coming months.

But the direction of my life’s path involves getting out of my head, tuning into my body, and listening to my intuition. Naturally, I wondered,

“What other ways can I unlock the unconscious mind for healing and personal growth?”

In response, my thoughts immediately went to letters from love as practiced by the popular Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert.

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Sandra Pawula
Sandra Pawula

Written by Sandra Pawula

Essays to calm your mind, ease your heart and access your inner wisdom. I love Hawaii, mindfulness, and living with ease. https://sandrapawula.substack.com/

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