We often treat “purpose” like a finish line, tied to productivity, careers, or achievements. In this episode of Playful Spirituality, Cara welcomes healer and author Amy J. Hellman to explore a more playful, embodied way of living with purpose.
Amy shares her practice of “following her smiles” — letting her body’s authentic responses point the way toward clarity, joy, and fulfillment. Together, she and Cara reimagine purpose as something we are always creating, an intersection of passion, service, and presence rather than a job title or outcome.
They talk about:
The in-between phases of life — career shifts, parenthood, identity changes — as fertile ground for curiosity and creation
How unlearning productivity culture makes room for purpose as presence, even in something as simple as a genuine smile
Seeing the unknown as a buffer zone for observation and gentle redirection
Amy’s origin story of sudden hearing loss, the letter that changed everything, and how it led her to Theta Healing
Cara also reflects on her own identity shifts through leaving a long-term job and becoming a mother, and how disorienting transitions can be deeply transformative.
Amy closes with what’s next: her upcoming book Dump Reflections: Essays on Breaking Up, Breaking Down, and Recycling Yourself, and a course on direct communication with self, others, and Source.
This conversation is an invitation to let go of striving, follow your smiles, and discover purpose in the spaces in between.
Amy's Bio:
Amy J. is an educator, author, mother, and healing facilitator for students of all ages world-wide. Author of "An Instructor's Guide to Educating with Kindness and Leading with Love," and others, she believes in our human potential for great change and growth. She currently lives with her son on Hawaii island.
Amy's Links:
Email: amy@manna-healing.com
Insta: @mannahealingwithamyj
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mannahealing/
Website: www.mannahealing.com
Connect with Cara!
Website - https://www.caraviana.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cara_viana/
Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/caraviana
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/caraviana
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Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to Playful Spirituality
01:18 Special Guest Introduction: Meet Amy
02:55 Amy's Reflections on Emotions and Smiles
06:01 Exploring Purpose and Fulfillment
15:56 Navigating Identity Shifts and Transitions
24:18 Embracing the Unknown
24:54 The Power of Curiosity
28:12 Childhood and Sensitivity
30:22 The Journey to Healing
30:59 The Turning Point: Losing Hearing
32:50 Discovering Theta Healing
35:57 The Letter That Changed Everything
42:08 A New Path: Teaching and Healing
43:25 Current Projects and Future Plans
47:51 Upcoming Workshop on Happiness