As a little girl, I was endlessly fascinated by human behavior, psychology, astrology, and was the observant kid who dreamt of having a psychology practice. Later, I realized that my interests were both a great escape from a chaotic childhood and a way of trying to understand.

As I got older, traumas left their marks, and I drifted away from my authentic self. I chose a career that was excellent at masking the pain—and I became brilliant at hiding it. I had a well-paid corporate job, traveled the world, worked with some of the world’s most luxurious brands, and mingled with celebrities. Everything looked more than great on the outside.

After years of living unintentionally—fueled by late workdays, suppressed feelings, and very poor self-care—I hit rock bottom. I couldn’t fake it anymore. I was burnt out and completely disconnected from myself. Change was needed, and continuing on as usual was not an option.

We’re human before anything else, designed to shift gears — to speed up or slow down as life calls for it. Reconnecting with ourselves is simply remembering who we are.

Our stories might not be the same, but we all share threads — perhaps it’s the feeling of being stuck or not good enough. A sense of not being yourself, or that life is rushing by and there’s more out there for you. Or maybe it’s a loneliness that lingers, a need to be in control, or the constant exhaustion that doesn’t dissipate no matter how much sleep you get. I could go on.

Many of the choices we make and the beliefs we hold don’t truly align with who we are—they’re strategies shaped by experiences and influences from our past. Even our most counterproductive habits can feel comfortable in the moment, but that doesn’t mean they represent who we were born to be. We’ve just become very good at repeating them.

If you’re still with me at this point, you’re probably ready to leave something behind.