We recently connected with Patty Ramirez Pinckney and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Patty Ramirez, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
Some people are born cheerful and light. I was not one of them. I experienced a longing that I thought was part of life since I was a little girl. Moved by that longing, I had a deep desire to what I called ‘wake up’ as an adolescent and began a meditation practice. It was not until my 30s that I started experiencing life without that ‘background noise’ that I discovered life had a different joyful and peaceful flavor. Not only were my emotions and the way I experienced life affected by this energy, but my body too. I had been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that caused strong pain in my body and was told that I would only be able to manage it but not get rid of it. However, seeing the traditional medical treatment and its side effects and having two young boys, I decided to focus on using everything I had learned over the years about well-being to manage the pain. Through my learned everyday practices, meditation, yoga, and finding the right food, I not only got rid of the pain, but I had the blessing of healing completely. When I posted pictures of me doing headstands and other challenging yoga poses, my intention was to transmit how powerful each one of us is!! The power that we have inside is indescribable, but learning how to find and cultivate our own power is not taught to us as part of our lives.
That is why I started teaching ‘The Art of Happiness,’ a set of principles that support the way we live so each one of us can find a realistic life that we love to live, with the challenges and changes that life offers to us human beings, but with tools that help us navigate each day in the best way for us, authentically.
Through my student’s sharing, I saw how people in the U.S. felt disconnected or lonely, so I created a yearly peace festival where hundreds of people got together to do 108 sun salutations in nature. Each of the 108 sun salutations was accompanied by a universal intention of well-being, resulting in an almost magical experience of uplifting beauty. Yoga practitioners, people in wheelchairs, children, and our senior sisters and brothers were all welcome and embraced.
My purpose is not only to continue to practice principles of well-being and happiness in my own life but to share those with as many people as I come across. Connecting and supporting the well-being of others increases my own and makes me happy. That is my purpose.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
So, as life moved along during a time when I was genuinely content, I encountered a remarkable spiritual teacher speaking about how everything that happens can bring us closer to the incredible energy within each of us. I remember thinking, ‘One day, I’ll apply this knowledge.’ That day arrived when my marriage fell apart, resulting in a sudden divorce that brought immense sadness, fear, and earthly challenges into my life. I recalled the teachings of that spiritual guide and set out to understand their essence. How could I channel those overwhelming emotions and real challenges for good? I sought out the teachings of Mickey Singer, traveling to his place in Florida. His wisdom helped me navigate forward, not driven by my emotions as I had previously thought, but in spite of them. Even though I had a solid business background from working at Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, and BBVA, I suddenly had to face life after dedicating myself to my family for several years, with two dependent sons. My practices shifted focus to practicality—how to be present and use my life skills in a business setting, an urgent priority in my life.
Confronting intense emotions and difficult circumstances allowed me to explore deeper and develop a newfound empathy for those experiencing loss and disorientation. Life seemed to guide me to work closely with various wise mentors at different parts of my path. My meditation journey extended beyond yoga in earlier years, working with Thomas Keating in centering prayer in Colorado for many years, reconnecting with my Mexican roots and its mysticism through Don Miguel Ruiz, author of ‘The Four Agreements’ later on, and finally, Mickey Singer, author of The Untethered Soul, whose spiritual yogic practices applied to business, enriched my understanding of life experiences.
This journey led to a commitment to well-being paired with a pragmatic economic perspective, applying well-being practices to every facet of life—from family and connections to achieving success in business. My teaching expanded, erasing divisions across different life domains. Whether mentoring middle-aged women re-entering the job market or embarking on a business venture after years of family dedication, guiding business leaders seeking fulfillment beyond success, assisting young adults navigating career decisions, or simply aiding individuals in finding more authentic joy, I deeply appreciate mentoring, teaching, and supporting my students and peers.
Whether through the classes I teach, organizing larger events like bringing The Four Agreements to the National Mortgage Association Convention, or assisting everyday business clients and mentees, I cherish the opportunity to share practical insights into well-being.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1) Resilience and perseverance have been fundamental for me. In a world full of promises for instant well-being fixes, I’ve learned that true well-being and joy require consistent daily practice. Progress is not about surface-level optimism but about understanding that practice makes us better. It’s the peace of knowing that each day, I can cultivate supportive habits and remain faithful to my commitment with as much presence and awareness as I have at any given time.
2) Kindness and compassion towards myself and others. Even as I stay as close as I can to my commitments to myself, I have found that I can fall into judgments and discouragement when I feel I could have done something better or less than perfect. Even a practice like meditation can be turned into a weapon against ourselves if we lose sight of kindness and compassion. Doing the best that we can at any given time is good. Adding criticism and unkindness never brings us to a better internal place.
3) Gratitude has brought immense joy into my life. Recognizing and appreciating the people, circumstances, and things that have shaped my journey has been transformative. It’s not about forcing gratitude but genuinely experiencing the impact we have on each other, imperfections and all—from teachers, family, and students to those I serve and those who have supported me.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
Thomas Keating (Open Mind, Open Heart – Centering Prayer), don Miguel Ruiz (The Four Agreements), and Michael Singer (The Untethered Soul) have been my direct mentors in what I call the art of living. I needed to unlearn much and re-learn how to be present, aware, and mindful. With Thomas, I would spend ten days in silence each year at his monastery, meditating for many years. He used to say, ‘Silence is God’s first language.’ Regardless of your beliefs, silence helps us calm our crazy thoughts and get in touch with the wealth we have inside. Don Miguel’s simple and transformative Toltec teachings and “Agreements” helped me let go of many false beliefs and understand that each of us has our references to life. Mickey, with his profound teachings and absolute unity in his life, allowed me to move forward during a challenging phase filled with enormous fear. He helped me in many ways, with one of the most important realizations being that work is part of our service and an enormous source of growth. This integration of many aspects of life under well-being and depth was significant. These exceptional individuals have taught me tools that most of us can use to live a “life well lived.”
Yet, I could spend hours writing lists of the people who have helped or taught me something important in my life, from my family to authors of books I have never met, my friends, professional mentors, and peers. It’s clear to me that we need each other to walk through life. Having been fortunate to learn from the best teachers in my personal life and the finest companies in my professional life, I intend to share what I have been given with the people around me.
Contact Info:
- Other: [email protected]
Image Credits
Rosy Tucker
