rooted in science. guided by soul. shared with heart.
The Wisdom Behind the 4 Keys to Inner Peace Framework
Many people arrive at my work through the 4 Keys to Inner Peace Framework — a holistic path that helps you move from stress and disconnection to calm, clarity, and wholeness.
If this is your first visit, welcome!
This page offers a glimpse beneath that framework — into the research, teachers, and wisdom traditions that inspired my work.
The 4 Keys didn’t emerge from a single source. They’re a synthesis of insights gathered over more than three decades — from my early nursing practice shaped by Rosemary Parse’s Human Becoming Theory and the philosophy of palliative care, to years of study in neuroscience, psychology, and contemplative traditions.
Ken Wilber’s Integral Framework helped me see that we can honor both science and soul, healing and growth, psychological development and spiritual awakening — without fragmenting ourselves across competing approaches.
The 4 Keys are my way of translating these profound teachings into practical, lived experiences — a bridge between ancient wisdom and modern science, between the needs of our nervous systems and the longings of our souls.
Explore below to discover the thinkers and traditions that shaped each Key — and why they continue to guide the journey home to yourself.
The 4 Keys to Inner Peace:
Self-Regulation – Cultivating Calm & Clarity
Foundational Wisdom
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HeartMath Institute – Heart-brain coherence and nervous-system regulation.
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Polyvagal Theory (Stephen Porges) – The neuroscience of safety and connection.
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Gabor Maté – How trauma and emotional suppression live in the body.
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Meditation Traditions – Focus, mindfulness, and body-based awareness.
These teachings remind us that inner peace begins with regulating our physiology — shifting from survival to presence.
Self-Love – Nourishing Yourself From Within
Foundational Wisdom
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Kristin Neff – Groundbreaking research on self-compassion.
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Gabor Maté – Disconnection from self as a root of dis-ease.
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Contemplative approaches – Embodied practices like loving-kindness, gratitude and forgiveness that opens the heart.
Self-love transforms self-criticism into care — creating the inner conditions for healing and wholeness.
Self-Discovery – Reconnecting With Your True Self
Foundational Wisdom
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Carl Jung – Shadow work, individuation, and the journey toward wholeness.
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The Enneagram (Riso-Hudson, Beatrice Chestnut & other lineages) – Understanding patterns and pathways to integration.
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Ken Wilber’s Integral Theory – A comprehensive map of human development that honors both inner and outer growth.
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Ancient Wisdom Teachings – Buddhist psychology, Esoteric teachings (William Meader), and New Thought.
These lenses help us see beneath conditioning to the essence of who we are.
Self-Expression – Living in Alignment With Your Soul’s Desires
Foundational Wisdom
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Dana Jack – Silencing the Self theory on how women lose voice and vitality.
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Brené Brown – Research on courage, vulnerability, and authenticity.
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Parse’s Human Becoming & Palliative Care Philosophy – Health as wholeness; presence as healing.
Self-expression is where healing becomes creation — where personal authenticity contributes to collective wellbeing.
From Wisdom to Practice
The 4 Keys to Inner Peace translate these profound teachings into practical, daily practices. They’re a bridge between ancient wisdom and modern science, between the needs of our nervous systems and the longings of our souls, between healing what’s been wounded and actualizing what’s waiting to emerge.
Ready to experience the framework in action? Explore how to work with me or begin with my foundational Learn to Meditate workshop. I’d be honored to guide you!
