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Kjetil Vaajma Kvalvik
“What drives us to change is the suffering...”
Part 1/2: Saami wisdom, trauma, consciousness and inner work
Listen / Watch Part 1:
Spotify – Listen to Part 1
Youtube– Watch Part 1
This page includes episode links and my personal reflections after listening back to the conversation.
About the Guest
Kjetil Vaajma Kvalvik is a Saami shaman, healer, mentor and coach. His work focuses on helping people reconnect with themselves, their body, their deeper wisdom and their responsibility in life.
Website:
www.kjetilkvalvik.com
Episode Themes
Trauma, family history and inherited patterns
Connection with the soul and inner guidance
Nature, silence and higher awareness
Sports, movement and healthy regulation
The risks of escaping pain through substances
Parenthood, responsibility and breaking cycles
Taking action instead of waiting to be fixed
My Reflection
This conversation with Kjetil touched many deep topics: trauma, family history, soul connection, nature, consciousness, healing, substances, parenthood and responsibility.
One of the strongest themes was the idea that many people are still shaped by old wounds. Some of these wounds come from childhood, family patterns or difficult experiences we have not fully understood. If we do not work with them, they can continue to influence how we think, feel, behave and relate to others.
For me, this connects strongly with inner work. Inner work is not something we do once and then finish. It is a continuous process of becoming more aware of what we carry, how we react and what we pass on to others. This is especially important in relationships, parenting and leadership. If we do not look at our own wounds, we may unconsciously give them to the next generation.
Kjetil also spoke about the importance of connecting with something deeper in ourselves. You might call it soul, intuition, higher self or inner guidance. The word matters less than the experience. When we become quiet enough, we can often notice what is true for us more clearly. But this requires space, silence and discipline. A distracted mind cannot easily hear deeper wisdom.
Nature was another important theme. Kjetil described how being in nature helped him experience connection in a different way. I believe many people need more of this. Not as an escape, but as a way to return to the body, calm the mind and remember that life is bigger than daily stress and mental noise.
We also spoke about movement and sport. Sport can teach us a lot about discipline, resilience, losing, winning, effort and self-respect. Healthy physical practices can help us regulate the body, release tension and rebuild strength. For many people, movement is one of the simplest ways to come back to themselves.
Another difficult but important topic was the way people try to escape pain. Some people use alcohol, substances, partying, constant distraction or unhealthy habits because they do not know how to deal with what they feel. I think it is important to speak about this honestly. The goal is not to judge people, but to understand what need is underneath the behaviour. Very often, people are looking for relief, connection or peace.
At the same time, not every method of escape is safe. Some experiences may open something, but they can also confuse, destabilize or mislead people if they are not handled carefully. For me, the safest path is consistent inner work: mindfulness, therapy when needed, honest conversations, healthy routines, movement, nature, community and learning to understand ourselves better.
Parenthood was also an important part of the reflection. Being a parent is not easy. Many people become parents before they have developed the tools to understand themselves. This does not make them bad people. It means preparation matters. The more we know ourselves, the more chance we have to respond consciously instead of repeating old patterns.
For me, this episode is about responsibility. We cannot wait for someone else to fix our wounds. Support is important, but the work is still ours. We need to learn, reflect, ask for help, practice, and take action. If we want a better life, better relationships and healthier communities, we have to begin with ourselves.
Put yourself together and take action.
"If there is a God, please help me"
Listen / Watch Part 2:
Spotify – Listen to Part 2
Youtube– Watch Part 2
Episode Themes
Power awakening and returning to balance
Spiritual experience and inner guidance
Community, responsibility and modern disconnection
Nature as nervous system support
Building an inner toolbox for difficult moments
My Reflection
In the second part of the conversation with Kjetil, we continued speaking about power awakening, power loss and what helps us return to balance.
One important theme was spiritual experience. Kjetil spoke about moments that opened something deeper in him, and I shared how my own experiences with meditation and spiritual teachers changed the way I understand life. These moments can remind us that there may be more to life than our daily problems, thoughts and personal stories.
For me, spirituality is not about escaping life. It is about seeing life from a wider perspective. When we are suffering, our mind can become very narrow. We may believe that our current pain is the whole truth. But sometimes, through meditation, breathwork, nature, prayer or deep inner work, we get a glimpse of something bigger. That can give us strength, humility and direction.
We also spoke about community. Many people today live without real supportive communities. They may be surrounded by people, but still feel alone when life becomes difficult. In the past, communities often had a stronger role in helping people carry life’s challenges. Today, many people are expected to handle everything by themselves.
This is why inner work matters. We cannot always rely on society, family or community to hold us when we struggle. Support is important, but we also need to build our own inner toolbox. That toolbox may include mindfulness, movement, honest conversation, nature, therapy, coaching, spiritual practice, rest and learning how to regulate the nervous system.
Nature was another important topic. Being outside can help the body calm down. Many people live with constant stimulation: screens, noise, pressure, messages and responsibilities. Nature gives the nervous system a different rhythm. It can help us breathe, slow down and feel more connected to ourselves again.
We also touched on the importance of pacing. Sometimes we try to consume too much information too quickly. We read, listen, watch and analyze, but the nervous system needs time to absorb and integrate. Inner work is not only about collecting knowledge. It is about letting the body and mind digest what we learn.
For me, this part of the conversation is about returning to balance through deeper connection — with ourselves, with nature, with community and with something greater than our everyday thinking. When life becomes difficult, we need tools that help us stay present instead of collapsing or escaping.
The question is not only how to avoid losing power. The question is: what helps us come back?
Want to explore these topics in your own life?