Embarking a 100 Coffee Chats Challenge

As I was reading Kaley Chu’s book, 100 Lunches with Strangers, an idea sparked: "Why don’t I do 100 coffee chats with strangers or people I long to reconnect with?" According to my Human Design as a Manifesting Generator, my strategy for action is to respond, not initiate, so I waited. The very next day, on September 30th, 2024, I opened my planner and saw it—October 1st is International Coffee Day. This felt like a sign from the universe. Excited, I quickly drafted a letter to reach out to potential coffee chat partners, feeling the momentum building.

That same day, an online contact reached out to me, asking if I’d like to have a coffee chat. Another sign, I instantly said yes. It felt like everything was falling into place, and what better way to start than with my first chat on International Coffee Day itself?

When things are aligned with your soul, everything flows effortlessly.

Before the chat, I was a bit overwhelmed with some tasks that weren’t going as planned, but I took a moment to ground myself. I needed to be present for this call, especially since it was my first of many. My contact, Suriati Supana, turned out to be a Muslim from Norway. It just feels so exciting to me to meet my Muslim sisters all from all over the world.  We started by discussing Islamic beliefs, which set the tone for a meaningful conversation. She asked how people in my country view energy work, meditation, and shadow work within the context of Islam. Her experience, coming from Singapore with Malay roots, was that people often associate these practices with Buddhism or yoga, and therefore shy away from them. I also shared my struggles with judgement from family and community for the healing work I do and how I have overcome it.  I felt completely free to share my beliefs and my love for God, which is something I tend to hold back on when speaking with people from different religious backgrounds. It felt refreshing to be so open.

It was an "aha" moment for me. I realized that these coffee chats could offer so much more than just connection—they could help me tap into global perspectives and common struggles. It gave me inspiration for social media content, blog posts, and teaching videos.

As we both had participated in the same speaking challenge and business boot camp, we compared notes, discussed our big visions, and reviewed how to craft a compelling speech. I was also captivated by Suriat’s passion for helping people leave their legacy by publishing their first books. Her projects and ambitions aligned so well with my own intentions for this challenge—to build connections that would help us lift each other up.

However, after the call, I felt the weight of being an empath. I was drained, and it took me quite some time to ground myself and settle back into my own energy. In the past, this might have made me question whether it was safe for me to have friends and make connections. But now, I’m curious about the "why" behind this reaction. Could it be linked to my Human Design? Are there gates I need to explore and heal? How can I prevent this from happening in the future?

This experience has opened me up to understanding more about how I can protect my energy, listen to my intuition, and know when and how to connect with others. I want to strike a balance between giving and receiving, between opening up and maintaining my boundaries. I am committed to learning how to do this better, so I can break free from the past conditioning that no longer serves me.

Despite the discomfort, I know that I’m willing to continue with these chats. I’m ready to embrace the imperfection, to make mistakes, and to learn how to manage my energy in a way that allows me to connect without fear. I’m ready to show up in the world in a bigger way, knowing that building community and meaningful connections will be the key to my growth.

As I reflect on this first encounter, I see how perfectly aligned it was with my vision for these 100 coffee chats. It’s the start of something beautiful, and I’m excited for what’s to come.

Stay tuned for more inspiration 

Love & Light

Are you walking around with a book in your heartAre you waiting for ‘permission’ to share your message to the World?Or Are you waiting for the right time?Wait no more…, Why not just take baby steps & join Suriati FREE Book Challenge below.

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