I’ve followed every self-help theory and spiritual shortcut out there. Until they all started to feel hollow. This piece is a call to return to what’s real: presence, connection, and healing that doesn’t come wrapped in a brand.

I’ve come to realise I don’t believe in lifestyle hacks anymore... and here’s why.

You’ve read the books, watched the videos, and followed all the steps... but why does nothing ever seem to change? Maybe it’s time to stop looking for answers, and start living them.

I don’t want to bypass reality in pursuit of some illusion of enlightenment. Because real wisdom isn’t about rising above life—it’s about fully living it.

After a year of following Irene Lyon’s work and course, I found myself still searching for the practical answers I need to heal. If you’re curious about what went wrong and what I’m still trying to figure out, keep reading.

I’ve felt shame for growing up in poverty and neglect. Shame for struggling to function in a world that expects constant productivity. Shame for questioning societal norms and making unconventional choices.

Most of us go through life unaware of the hidden forces shaping our choices, relationships, and sense of self. We believe we know who we are—until life triggers us, exposing patterns we didn’t even realise we were caught in. True self-discovery isn’t about fixing what’s ‘wrong’ with us; it’s about seeing ourselves clearly, beyond the masks we’ve been taught to wear.

We've been taught to look for trauma in the past, in our parents, in our childhoods. But what if the real struggle lies in simply living in a world that doesn’t align with who we are? The deeper I dug into trauma, the more I realised that the real issue wasn’t about fixing the past—it was about surviving the present.

Healing is a journey, not a destination. It's about striving to improve our well-being, even when the odds seem stacked against us. In a world where many resist the idea of healing, we are often left to explore alternative paths, discovering that true healing encompasses body, mind, and spirit. It’s a journey fraught with challenges, but it is one worth pursuing—whether it's healing with trauma, neurodivergence, or dealing with the struggles of our daily lives.