SHOULDER TO HAND - THE JOURNEY
From Shoulder to Hand: The Journey of True Transformation
In a world overflowing with problems and challenges, many of us have grown accustomed to offering our shoulders—a temporary resting place for others to lay their burdens. For any problem the first heroes are the ones who offer shoulders But at Satvakirani, we believe in something more powerful, whats that lets understand it in this post.
The Shoulder Therapy
Shoulders are abundant. Almost everyone can offer a shoulder to cry on—a passive space where troubles are momentarily set down. When we offer only our shoulders, we participate in what might be called “problem tourism.” We visit each other’s difficulties, express sympathy and then leave with nothing fundamentally changed.
People advertise their problems and share their troubles with close friends, mentors, counselors, parents, family, etc. And yes, its bring relief for sure initially but then this initial unburdening brings mere temporary relief—a lightness that comes from setting down a heavy bag down for a moment—it’s ultimately just a mind game. The troubles remain because the core is not addressed or dealt with, only thoughts were expressed relaxing the illusionary feeling and the mind that something is happening as we feel lighter without knowing that the baggage has to be picked up again this time more heavier than before. Nothing actually happened at the problem level, just a feel light moment which actually also reduces with each given day or sharings. Have we not noticed that this problem sharing now does not bring that much respite as it used to give originally.
This approach feeds what we might call the “poor me attitude”—a mindset that keeps us stuck in victimhood rather than propelling us toward growth and transformation. The shoulders we lean on become enablers of our stagnation rather than catalysts for our progress. These shoulder therapy gives fodder to our ego which makes us believe that we are pure, innocent, righteous creatures who has not committed much wrong and the universe has mistakenly given us these troubles. Although at an initial level we all do this because we don’t actually know how to solve an issue than pray or wait for the solution to appear, isn’t it. In many cases this also happens because we want our issues to be resolved in our own dream way and till that does not happen we actually don’t take any constructive step ahead.
What we really need is not a shoulder but a golden hand to hold which can help us through this turmoil, a shoulder can offer temporary reprieve whereas the hand is always the guiding spirit. A hand represents active engagement. When we take someone’s hand, we say: “I understand these issues exist, but there is a way forward, there is hope. There is light at the end of the tunnel and I will take you there because I’ve been there myself. I have seen all of this very closely and know the path out of it.”
Hands pull upward and forward. They guide. They support. They actively participate in the journey toward healing and transformation. Unlike shoulders, which passively receive burdens, hands engage energetically in the process of overcoming them.
This is the essence of our work at Satvakirani—not to create spaces for people to become “cry babies” with the same troubles and no solutions, but to facilitate real movement toward lasting change.
At Satvakirani, we believe in this approach. We don’t offer shoulders to lean on to, we extend hands to hold to take them out of their troubles.
There’s an important principle at work in this hand-holding journey- you must give to receive. Let me share a simple example story here. Many people approach us saying, “I am drawn to your sessions, but I don’t have money.” What they fail to understand is that money is not just a transaction; it’s a divine element in the healing process. It represents energy exchange, commitment, and valuation.
The Priceless Lesson
Ravi, a young man struggling with life’s challenges, heard about a wise guru who helped people transform their lives. Eager to learn, he approached the guru and said, “Master, I am deeply drawn to your teachings, but I don’t have money to pay for your wisdom.”
The guru smiled and handed Ravi a small clay pot. “Take this to the river, fill it with water and bring it back.”
Ravi did as instructed, but when he returned, the pot was still empty. Confused, he told the guru, “I tried, but the pot has a hole at the bottom—it won’t hold water.”
The guru nodded, “Just as this pot cannot hold water, you cannot hold the wisdom I offer without valuing it. Money is not just payment—it is your energy, commitment and willingness to receive. Without that exchange, the lessons will slip away, just like the water from this broken pot.”
Ravi understood and the guru’s teachings transformed his life.
When you withhold giving for proper healing, the universe has a way of collecting anyway—often in far less beneficial forms. The money not invested in transformation or healing tends to disappear through domestic issues, hospital expenses, court cases or other unjustified costs.
We often tell people- “Take your time. Be free. Just note down today’s date and give yourself three to six months. See if your troubles have reduced without taking action.” Ninety-nine out of a hundred people return saying their troubles have actually increased, particularly their financial challenges.
This must be understood from a higher consciousness level: the money you don’t give for healing won’t help solve your issues either. It will flow out in different ways, often leaving you in a worse position than before.
The journey from shoulders to hands is reciprocal. Just as we extend our hands to guide you, you must extend yours to be guided. This mutual extension creates a circuit of energy that powers the transformation process. Without this complete circuit, energy stagnates and healing remains elusive.
Many spiritual traditions speak of this principle. In giving, we receive. In opening ourselves to guidance, we find our path. In committing resources to our healing, we demonstrate to the universe our readiness to transform.
The shoulder-to-hand journey represents a shift from sympathy to empowerment. While sympathy says, “I feel sorry for your situation,” empowerment says, “I believe in your ability to overcome this situation, and I’ll help you do it.” This shift is profound. It moves us from passive observation of problems to active participation in solutions. It transforms the relationship from dependent to interdependent. It changes the focus from the past (what happened to create these problems) to the future (what can be created instead).
The Journey Begins With a Choice
Ultimately, the journey from shoulders to hands begins with a choice—your choice. Will you continue seeking shoulders to cry on or are you ready to take a hand that will guide you forward?
At Satvakirani, we’ve seen countless individuals make this choice and transform their lives as a result. The path isn’t always easy, but with a guiding hand it becomes navigable. The troubles don’t immediately disappear but a solution emerges which .
The question now rests with you: Are you ready to stop leaning and start moving? Are you ready to give your hand to be held, understanding that in this giving lies the key to your receiving? Are you ready to invest—not just money, but energy, commitment and faith—in your own transformation?
If so, a hand awaits you. Not a shoulder to cry on, but a hand to hold as you walk toward the light at the end of the tunnel.
The Choice is Yours
Some take years, some take decades, some even take lifetimes to transmute the journey from shoulder to hand.
How long will you take?
For too long, you may have leaned on shoulders, believing them to be hands. Shoulders offer temporary relief, but hands guide, uplift and lead you forward.
The hand has been waiting for you—patiently, unwaveringly. Will you finally reach out? Or will you remain where you are mistaking comfort for progress?
The journey must be traveled. The choice is yours.
Are you ready?
