A year later, I find myself once again having a significant conversation with Zuri Adele. In our previous discussion, we touched upon her impressive career in acting, activism, and her dedication to collective liberation. She discussed her continuous exploration of her spiritual path and journey, which encompasses practices like prayer, yoga, meditation, crystal sound bowl healing, connections with loved ones, and continuous self-care. The speaker’s insights were truly inspiring, as she shared how these practices have transformed her life, bringing about a sense of balance and fulfillment. I felt an urgent need to catch up with her.

We covered five key components during our conversation: lifestyle, rhythm, yoga, mindfulness, and boundaries. Zuri invited me on a transformative journey of self-discovery, where she shared how each experience has deepened her self-awareness, love, and compassion.

Lifestyle

“It’s the atmosphere we embrace in our daily lives. It’s the rhythm, smells, music, energy, pace, colors, culture, and our rituals,” Adele replied. I inquired about her perspective on lifestyle. It was clear that she didn’t associate the term “lifestyle” with clothing, food, or fitness. It’s important to approach this with purpose and maintain a steady effort. She emphasized the importance of setting the tone when it comes to one’s lifestyle. One must approach it as an actor in training. Regardless of your placement on the callsheet, make sure to approach each interaction and experience with the leadership, kindness, presence, and discipline required of being Number One.

“Lifestyle requires a deliberate choice on our part. However, what truly matters is maintaining consistency.” Zuri added.

Rhythm

At the mention of rhythm, I initially assumed she was talking about her approach to life. Marching to the rhythm of her own drum. However, she made it clear that rhythm encompasses the frequencies and vibrations that we experience with our bodies on a daily basis. She refers to it as the divine wisdom that resides within each and every one of us. Adele stated, “Rhythm is my discernment. And I’m using that discernment to listen to my body even when I don’t understand what it’s telling me. (in those moments, I practice stillness)” She elaborated on how the rhythm we feel is connected to our inner selves, the earth, and the spiritual realm. It’s a treasure that must be safeguarded, like a precious gift bestowed upon us from above.

“When you know what is helping your body feel most relaxed, it means you are aware of your internal system, like a metal detector. You will hear that beep when you get near things you don’t need to be near,” Zuri added.

Yoga

She described how yoga has helped her become more mindful in her everyday life, not just during her practice. “I didn’t anticipate it when I initially began practicing yoga,” Adele stated. Initially, she believed that yoga simply involved arriving on the mat in a room of people and following the prescribed breathing and movements. However, when it was introduced as part of her acting training at Spelman, she discovered that yoga is all about embracing the present moment and connecting with the breath, no matter the time of day, both on and (especially) off the mat.

“Yoga helps me recenter myself in many situations.” Zuri added.

Mindfulness

She has discovered the power of mindfulness in her journey of self-care and personal growth. Adele expressed the importance of regularly prioritizing ourselves, taking breaks, disconnecting, and establishing clear boundaries. From this part of our conversation, I gathered that mindfulness revolves around prioritizing oneself and valuing personal time, energy, and love. According to her, the demands of life often feel overwhelming, causing us to neglect our own needs.

Her journey of mindfulness leads her to a profound exploration of inner peace.

Boundaries

Adele expressed how therapy has been instrumental in her journey of self-discovery and personal growth. Through therapy, she has gained a deeper understanding of codependency and the importance of establishing sustainable boundaries in her relationships. She frequently experienced self-imposed exhaustion in various situations. And uncovering the underlying cause of its recurring nature prompted her to reconsider the concept of establishing limits.

Initially, Zuri had a negative perception of setting boundaries. After gaining a new perspective, she discovered that it was a powerful means of expressing self-love. Now I uphold my boundaries, no matter what the reaction may be,” Zuri added.

Many of us can easily relate to Zuri’s experiences and appreciate her candidness about the ongoing learning process. Her spiritual essence shines brightly, not through outward displays or superficial gestures, but through the ever-evolving path of the human experience she says we are all on. We must approach this with a mindset of compassion, empathy, personal growth, and integrity.

Photography Credit: Elijah Mackey @mackattackpix