BUDDHI BUSINESS

"bood-dhee" = brain in the Kannada language

June 21, 2026

I am excited to share the first installment of Buddhi Business, a newsletter to highlight important topics about mental health! I chose this name in honor of my parents who were from Bangalore and spoke Kannada. They have both passed and I wanted to incorporate them into my practice as they are my forever heroes and the constant source of my inspiration.

Today feels like the right time to launch this newsletter as it is not only Father's Day, but also my mother's birthday. My father's passing occurred sooner than expected and shook me to my core. Luckily, my mother remained my rock and propped me up with her calm and counsel. Less than four years later, she passed and my footing became unsteady. Losing them both left me feeling disconnected to the world, with a deep sense of loneliness.

While it is true that loneliness has long been part of the human condition, it is only relatively recently that we have started to acknowledge and address its effects on our health. In 2023, the Office of the Surgeon General issued an advisory on the health consequences of social isolation and loneliness while discussing the healing powers of social connection, which is facilitated and modified by the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve and innervates multiple organ systems, regulating basic functions including heart rate, breathing, and digestion. It is also a critical part of our nervous system, allowing for healing and an improved stress response. The increasing lack of connection amongst us hinders vagal tone, the activity of the vagus nerve. We have a basic need to belong and each social connection has the ability to strengthen that vagal tone, which is so vital to our well being.

Father's Day may evoke different feelings for each of us. I encourage you to accept those feelings without judgment, allowing for vagal activity. I have become grateful for my sadness on these days because it is a gentle reminder of the wonderful connection that I was so fortunate to have experienced, and that I now miss. I welcome you to think about your social connections. Is there someone you have been meaning to call? Make the call. Is there someone that you have been wanting to spend time with? Spend the time. Are you feeling grateful for someone? Express the gratitude.

Social connection is a spectrum and there are different ways to increase your vagal tone. We have so many modern communication tools these days, but the foundation of social connection is simply PRESENCE. Be present with someone, free from distractions, regardless of communication method. Even being in the same room with someone you trust is a form of connection and heals your nervous system.

Losing my parents has left a void, but my connection with them continues to drive my work around healing, which all begins with the vagus nerve. As profound as the loss has been, it has also allowed me to appreciate my strong connections with friends and family, while also being open to meeting new people. I invite you to start taking your walls down and increasing your vagal tone, one connection at a time.