Samskeyti

This is the second time in a row that the title of a blog post came from a song in one of Better U's playlists.

Samskeyti - Sigur Rós

"Samskeyti" is an Icelandic word that has a few meanings, depending on the context. In Icelandic, it can refer to a feeling of emotional connection, often describing a deep, comforting, and serene state of togetherness or a kind of emotional bond that brings peace. It can also be associated with a sense of calmness or contentment that comes from being in the presence of someone or something important to you.

In the context of the song, it’s understood as a moment of quiet, intimate connection. The word itself doesn’t have a direct English translation, but it’s often described as a deeply emotional experience.

I started writing a book around the results of my healing journey, and I’m still trying to find words to describe the whole experience. It wasn’t just the ketamine treatment when I was going through it. It was all the journaling, the intentions I set before my sessions, and the integration afterwards. I met with an integration coach every three sessions.

My ketamine treatment definitely helped me get past some mental blocks. After failing nearly every class for five years, my love for Math was rekindled. I started doing well in school again. There was music I grew up with that was too traumatic to listen to for 20 years, and I fell in love with it again. I’m playing the saxophone again. I played the sax all throughout Junior High and High School.

There was a session I went into with the intention of having abundance in my schooling and my Amazon business, and I woke up from it with the feeling of just being kind to myself and others. It’s funny how sometimes we set a very specific intention, expecting to get answers or breakthroughs related to that one thing, but what we end up receiving is something entirely different, yet just as important. That session was a reminder that, before chasing after success or external achievements, I needed to learn to treat myself with the same kindness I often extend to others. That feeling of self-compassion, though subtle at the time, has become foundational in how I approach not just my studies and business, but my life as a whole.

Samskeyti, to me, feels like that moment of quiet understanding. It’s the peace that settles in when we stop striving so hard to force things to happen and instead allow ourselves to be present with what is. It’s in these moments of stillness that I’ve started to heal. The experience isn’t just about the highs or the breakthroughs—it’s about finding comfort in the simplicity of being.

As I’ve integrated these lessons from ketamine therapy, I’ve also learned that healing isn’t a linear process. There are setbacks, challenges, and periods where things don’t feel as clear. But those moments of serenity, of emotional connection to myself, have been my anchor. I can’t fully explain it, but there’s a certain peace that comes with understanding that I don’t have to have everything figured out.

I’ve noticed changes in how I approach my Amazon business, too. The pressure I used to feel to succeed quickly has softened. Instead of obsessing over each small failure, I’m able to step back and look at the bigger picture. I’ve realized that the journey itself, even with its challenges, is valuable. The calmness from that ketamine session, and the lessons that followed, have helped me be gentler with myself in both my personal and professional life.

I’m still on this journey, still finding words to describe what I’ve experienced, but I do know this: there’s a unique beauty in the quiet moments of growth, the slow unfolding of peace, and the understanding that sometimes, the right answer is simply to be present in the moment. Like the word samskeyti, it’s an experience you can’t quite translate, but one you can feel deeply—if you let yourself.