"To all your questions, you are the only answer. To all your problems, you are the only solution."

-Unknown

You’re here because

You've done
everything you
were supposed
to do to be happy.

But on the other side of it, instead of the promised
land of eternal happiness, you’re greeted with:

Stress, overwhelm, burnout, anger, bitterness, resentment, and confusion
The stark reality of you having become the very person you promised yourself you’d never be.
Emotional outbursts that are ruining your relationships with the people you care most about.
Guilt – for not being enough or doing enough and fear of letting people down.
The fear of never fulfilling your potential, of not acting on the dreams you once held dear, of life slipping away.
The very real possibility of lying on your deathbed full of regrets and wonderment about what could have been.
And hope. Hope that you could still turn your life around, that there may be another way.

The good news? There is another way. It can be long, uncomfortable, and never ending, but it is also full of joy, fulfillment, and freedom.

How do I know? Because I’ve walked the path (and continue to do so.)

A BIT ABOUT YASHI

I am no stranger
to the disillusionment of realizing your pursuit of happiness has been ineffective.

In 2012, just before my 29th birthday, I found myself extremely successful yet deeply miserable. Confused and angry, I started questioning everything I had ever been told about what it means to live well. Since then, I have learned a lot. AND, I continue to uncover deeper and deeper layers of happiness. Happiness, I’ve found, is a bit like an onion.

I have spent an enormous amount of time exploring answers to one question: How can people live their happiest, most fulfilling lives?

This quest has led me to:

Switching careers to find more meaning, fulfillment, and balance
Going back to school to earn a Master’s degree in Applied Positive Psychology (aka the science of happiness)
Hours and hours of reading, reflecting, and working with therapists, coaches, and spiritual teachers for my personal growth, evolution, and yes, happiness
Questioning and changing some of my most basic assumptions about what it means to be “successful,” “creative,” and a “good mother” – among other things
Turning all of life’s challenges into fuel for my soul’s evolution

Every time I’ve become dissatisfied with my life, I’ve done the work to peel back another layer of the happiness onion. But looking back when I connect the dots, my journey boils down to one core lesson: inaccurate beliefs – about yourself, other people, and happiness – may be driving your life.

What if incorrect beliefs - about yourself, other people, and happiness - are driving your life?

Over and over, life has shown me that I was living based on beliefs I inherited or was programmed into – even if they were no longer true for me.

A belief I had during high school: I am an average student. But soon after high school, when a teacher called me “impressive,” I went from being an average student to being at the top of my class. The only thing that had changed was how I saw myself, but external results were drastically different. How was that possible?
A belief I had In my twenties: Success = happiness. But at 29, while I was successful in my corporate career, I was also deeply miserable. How do you explain that?
A belief I had in my early thirties: Productivity = doing more and more and more. But then why do I get more done, feel happier, and am more fulfilled while working fewer hours as an entrepreneur?
A belief I had about motherhood before I had kids: Motherhood = eternal unconditional love and self-sacrifice. But once I became a mother, why did I experience grief, anger, and resentment? Why had no one told me about the challenges of motherhood?
A belief I had about entrepreneurship: entrepreneurship requires you to be greedy, manipulative, and all about the money. But then, how have I built a business without compromising on my values?

You may relate to one or more of these examples. Or, you may have your own unique stories about carrying incorrect beliefs. My point is, true happiness cannot be rooted in inaccurate beliefs.

What the heck is going on?

We live in a world that values certain things. And from an early age, we get indoctrinated in these values.

You should look a certain way. You should earn a certain amount of money. You should work at least 8 hours a day. You should not be lazy. You should not waste time. This is how it’s always been done. That’s not how we do things here. That makes you a bad mother. Good leaders are strong and assertive. And
on and on and on.

In our formative years, we learn to act in socially acceptable ways for our safety, love, and belonging. Over time, we lose touch with who we truly are, what we really want, and why we’re actually here, on this planet in this life.

Cue mid-life crisis, which can happen in your twenties or your sixties. There comes a time when you realize that even though you’ve been following all the rules, you’re unhappy. Which sucks, because happiness is the one thing you wanted all along. That’s what you thought you’d get on the other side of all these shoulds. And now, is it any wonder that you feel angry, bitter, resentful, guilty, afraid?

It’s not. It’s not your fault. And you’re definitely not alone.

How to break free from inaccurate beliefs?

In my experience, the only way out of this mess is the way YOU find and choose for yourself. Autonomously. Consciously. Responsibly. Yes, there is a lot of wisdom out there in the world. There are so many people you can learn from. But if you are not in touch with and trusting of your inner compass, it is easy to get lost.

As I have worked through my own happiness, my biggest treasure has been cultivating a deeper connection with my true self. Being guided by the real me has led to transformations in my life I couldn’t even fathom until a few years ago. Starting 2023, I have

Tamed my inner critic and ended my life-long struggle with writing
Transformed many of my important relationships – including my relationship with my mother, which had always been challenging
Found a lot more courage as an entrepreneur
Started showing up as a much more loving, calm, and patient mother for my kids
Held immense love, compassion, and forgiveness in my heart for people in the world because I can see that all of us experience pain and heartbreak

A truly happy, regret-free life is one that you choose to live based on what matters most to you – the real you.

And that’s what I help you do. I facilitate the process through which you get to know, befriend, and BE your true self, while letting go of beliefs and expectations that are no longer serving you.

"Coaching with Yashi was truly powerful and had a deep impact on my life. I learned and discovered a lot about myself – my fears, my strengths and my core values. I learned to accept myself. The sessions helped me look at things from a new perspective, which in turn changed the way I respond to problems and challenges. Before coaching with Yashi, I was often stuck feeling like a victim, but after coaching, I could pick myself up, look at the situation objectively and take the appropriate action. As a result of this process, life is more meaningful and purposeful and I experience more fulfillment from it every day. As a coach Yashi is very present and non-judgmental. Her approach of letting the person find their own unique solutions was helpful for me. Her ability to listen actively and notice little details helped me a lot in uncovering many roadblocks."

Entrepreneur

India

My Formal Bio (in case you're looking for one)

Yashi Srivastava is a writer, coach, and teacher helping people evolve into a calmer, braver, truer versions of themselves using self-awareness, self-compassion, and self-acceptance.

Yashi’s unique approach combines the extensive study of the science of happiness, a spiritual lens, and exceptional coaching skills. Her passion for this work comes from her own life experiences and a life-long commitment to personal growth, evolution, and intentional living.

Yashi has helped numerous clients learn to be confident by being more compassionate towards themselves, effectively manage their challenging emotions so that they can show up more calmly in their relationships with others, and become authentic, effective leaders and parents. After working with Yashi, her clients report experiencing greater self-awareness, confidence, and an increased sense of peace and happiness in their lives.

Yashi’s formal qualifications include a Master of Applied Positive Psychology, an MBA in Human Resource Management, and ICF as well as CPCC coach certifications. Yashi has worked in the corporate world, academia, as well as in the non-profit sector.