My first life was that of a successful career and a beautiful family, but one that I did not know how to enjoy.
I grew up in an immigrant family and at a young age took on the role of taking care of everyone. I learned how to smooth out issues at home, how to get things done at school, and slowly edit myself piece by piece for what others wanted. I was doing the “right” things and was always being the “good” person. I graduated from a top medical school and established myself as a kind and thoughtful physician in the community. But I felt exhausted, uneasy. I was always worried, constantly judging myself, never present. Joy was fleeting. True laughter was rare.
In 2021, something stirred in me.
How was I supposed to raise my children into strong, confident, and resilient humans when I did not feel this way myself?
I knew something needed to change
And so, my own journey of self-discovery and transformation started. I began paying attention to myself and started uncovering where I was caging myself. I began undoing a lot of what I was doing— perfectionism, people pleasing, avoiding discomfort. I began letting go of self-judgement and self-doubt. My relationship with myself transformed, and with all of those around me
Disclaimer: The outcomes described in the above text are based on Sonja’s personal experience and may not be typical. Individual results may vary.