I didn’t know any other way, and never wanted to rock a boat.

I was curious and driven, always asking questions, but I wasn’t yet asking the right ones. Especially the ones about what path felt truly aligned for me. Those felt off limits, too risky to explore. The path I was on? It felt more like a checklist—just one possible way forward, but a bit predetermined, as if I was following someone else’s script.

I worked incredibly hard to fit in, pushing myself to be great at whatever I did. I thrived on validation, constantly being told I was mature beyond my years, passionate about my work product, and a high-potential achiever. I took pride in being everywhere, doing everything, and excelling. But deep down, my body was starting to feel off, like it was trying to tell me something I wasn't ready to hear. I ignored it—after all, there was never any extra time left for me.

—but not in the healthy, passionate, "I love what I do" way. Looking back, it became more of a crutch - something I leaned on because I was really good at it & it was easier than facing what I was avoiding. One night, I remember thinking, "I can't stop now or I'll actually have to confront all of this". 

I kept piling on more—projects, responsibilities, tasks, relationships, travel—anything to stay busy, thinking that if I just kept moving, something would finally click, and I'd feel satisfied. But nothing did. I was constantly chasing the next thing, yet I still felt numb.

I kept telling myself I was on the right track - my identity was so deeply rooted in this path that I had to make it work. I felt I had no option but to go full steam ahead, even though it was clear I was going nowhere fast. 

The harder I pushed, the more disconnected I felt. I was running in circles—busy, but not moving forward in any meaningful way. I was trapped in a cycle of overfunctioning and frozen in place, unable to break free from the routine I'd built for myself.

While I was thriving externally, something deep inside was calling me to listen, grow, and evolve in a more authentic way.

Top: Wandering around Split, Croatia with Remote Year. Left: Meeting Benito the donkey in San Miguel de Allende. Right: Getting hyped about launching this business!

..everything shifted. I finally stopped running. The surprise came when I realized that what I’d been running from was getting to know myself—developing a sense of self with all the likes, dislikes, yeses, and nos. I had to create boundaries around me, to acknowledge that I was separate from the world around me.

The shift was gradual at first—finishing my MBA and reflecting on my career goals—but it wasn’t until the pandemic hit that I was forced to slow down and confront what had been brewing inside me all along.

Around this time, a book called The Artist’s Way, along with purpose coaching, found me at just the right moment. I was ready to sit down, listen, and become the student. With travel no longer an option, I was forced to confront my deeper desires for clarity and meaning. And so began my journey of self-discovery and development.

I began reviewing and processing all of my life’s experiences up to that point. For the first time, I sat in the void—the unknown—without trying to fill it with distractions. It felt like the steam was finally being let out of a pressure cooker. Slowly but surely, I began to see more clearly and notice small shifts, even in the tiniest of moments. My emotions thawed, and I started to become more embodied—more present in my own skin.