5 introspective questions for self exploration and evolution

Use these questions in your journal to gather insights, gain perspective, and revisit the lessons that shaped you. Let them be a gentle indicator of your growth and evolution.

I also wrote out my own personal answers — not for comparison, but to inspire you, offer context, and show you the kind of awareness that can come from honest reflection.

1. What moment or experience this year made you realize you were stepping into a new version of yourself?

Doing markets and events for my skincare brand was the first real activation of a new version of me. In my twenties, I was deeply comfortable being behind the camera — social media, photography, content creation — all of that came naturally. But speaking to strangers or standing in front of a group? That was the part that terrified me.

I’ve always felt scared to fully put myself out there, scared to use my voice. My Gemini mind works in layers, so when someone speaks to me, I process so many thoughts at once that it takes me a moment to figure out what the “right” response is. Because of that, I used to believe I wasn’t good at conversations.

But here’s the truth: about 70% of my skincare sales this year were made in person. That’s the nature of this business — people want to feel the textures, smell the botanicals, and connect with the brand. And I realized that when I showed up physically, the community could finally see that Kaya isn’t just another faceless skincare line running ads or selling on Amazon. There is a soul behind this brand. There are intentions, care, and a real human story — things you can’t always witness behind a screen.

Similarly, my sound healing sessions stretched me even further. I had to face my fear of judgment, the feeling of not being “good enough,” and the constant dance with imposter syndrome. But the more I leaned into what made me uncomfortable, the more natural it felt. Each session softened my fear. Each moment reminded me that I wasn’t actually unprepared — I was just hiding from myself.

As I kept showing up, I realized something profound:

my timeline was shifting.

I was stepping into the version of myself that my soul had been nudging me toward for years.

2. What challenge recently cracked you open the most — and how did it transform you once you moved through it?

A few weeks ago, I went through what I can only describe as an emotional crash — a moment where everything felt heavy, confusing, and misaligned. I shared parts of it on Instagram, but I wanted to go deeper here, because I know many of us go through these moments silently.

I had just come back from Mexico feeling physically different — about 8 lbs heavier — and emotionally unprepared for the shift back into Vancouver’s cold, grey, rainy reality. My pre-trip routines no longer felt like they fit. My appetite was all over the place. My energy felt low. My body craved comfort in the form of overeating, sweets, and slowing down. And to make things harder, I found myself navigating unexpected tension with people I had always considered close friends.

It was like everything I relied on to ground me suddenly disappeared.

I started experiencing what felt like existential dread.

My thoughts grew heavy and negative: *What’s the point? What am I doing all this for?*

For someone who is usually driven, creative, and tapped into purpose, this sudden shift felt destabilizing.

I stepped away from all my businesses. I put everything on pause. I leaned into my family for support. I gave myself space because pushing through didn’t feel possible — or healthy.

But within two weeks, things began to shift again. I felt my motivation returning. My body felt lighter. I was back to my routines, working out, eating intentionally, and feeling like me again. I even launched this website and fell in love with writing again! And that transition taught me something I’ll carry forward forever:

I can trust myself to come back.

I am capable of realignment.

I can hold space for my messy seasons and still know they don’t define me.

I learned that retreating, resting, overeating, feeling guilt, crying through discomfort — it’s all part of being human. And none of it makes me weak. It actually showed me how strong and self-aware I’ve become.

My Medium Friend Called It a “Tower Moment”

When I explained what I had been feeling, my medium friend told me:

“You were having a Tower Moment.”

In tarot, The Tower represents a dramatic shake-up — a collapse of an old foundation so a new one can be built. It’s the kind of energy that forces you to pause, confront what isn’t working anymore, and shed the identities or patterns that no longer align with who you’re becoming.

A Tower Moment isn’t punishment, failure, or chaos for the sake of chaos.

It’s a divine interruption.

A redirection.

A clearing.

A catalyst for growth.

It feels uncomfortable because part of you is being dismantled — not to destroy you, but to rebuild you.

Looking back, that’s exactly what happened. That moment of depression wasn’t the end of anything. It was the breaking point before a breakthrough. It was life showing me where I was out of alignment, what needed healing, and what needed releasing.

Here’s what helped me — and what might help you too:

1. Allow yourself to pause

You don’t have to produce, perform, or “be fine” every day. Rest is a reset.

2. Be gentle with your self-talk

Heavy emotions don’t make you weak. They signal that something inside you needs attention.

3. Lean on the people you trust

Let others hold space for you. You don’t need to carry everything alone.

4. Return to small routines

A walk, a stretch, one healthy meal, a journal entry. Tiny actions create momentum.

5. Don’t shame yourself for being human

You are not expected to be perfect. You’re expected to be real.

6. Look for the meaning beneath the chaos

Tower Moments clear what you’ve outgrown. On the other side is clarity, alignment, and a stronger version of you.

If you’re going through a heavy season, please know that this isn’t your ending.

These moments don’t mean you’re lost — they mean you’re evolving. Your foundation is shifting so it can hold a bigger, more aligned version of you.

3. In your current season of life, what are you learning about your purpose, and how is it guiding the way you show up in your work?

I’m learning to give myself the same grace, compassion, and love that I so easily offer to others. It made me pause and ask myself: How can I inspire people to love themselves if I can’t love myself through my own messy seasons? It’s easy to be kind to ourselves when everything feels aligned — but real self-love shows up in the moments that feel confusing, imperfect, or heavy. That’s where it matters most.

I’m also realizing that life isn’t always about the outcome or the end goal. Everything doesn’t have to lead to a perfectly curated result. There is so much beauty in the journey itself — in the losses that humble us, the triumphs that remind us of our strength, the lessons that reshape us, and the quiet self-discoveries that help us understand who we truly are.

I want to guide others through their own personal quests — not because I have everything figured out, but because I’m walking my own path with honesty and intention. I don’t know exactly what the future holds for me, and I’m learning to be okay with that. What I do know is that everything I’m doing right now feels aligned with my purpose in one way or another. My body feels it. My intuition confirms it. And that’s enough for me to keep going.

4. What outdated identity, belief, or pattern did you have to release in order to access the level of alignment you’re feeling now?

Briefly mentioned above, it took me years to rebuild my confidence and overcome the imposter syndrome that held me back for so long. When I came out of a long-term relationship, I reached out to a medium for clarity and support. She told me that my solar plexus chakra was “mangled.”

What does that mean and why?

In energy work, the solar plexus is the center of confidence, self-worth, identity, and personal power. When it’s described as “mangled,” it usually means that this part of your energy system has been deeply impacted by past experiences — shaped by criticism, shame, or situations where your voice or worth were minimized.

Looking back, it made sense why mine felt that way. For years, I took on stories that weren’t mine:

A dad who focused more on my looks than my intelligence
Exes who belittled my passions, personality, and dreams
Classmates who made hurtful comments
People who projected their insecurities onto me

Every one of those moments programmed subtle beliefs into my subconscious:

“I’m not enough.”

“I don’t deserve success.”

“I shouldn’t shine too brightly.”

These stories slowly eroded my confidence, and eventually, I lost trust in my voice, my gifts, and my place in the world.

But here’s the turning point: I chose to release the stories that weren’t mine.

I realized I didn’t want these old narratives shaping my identity anymore. People will always have opinions — that’s human — but I didn’t want their versions of me to become obstacles to my own self-esteem or destiny. So I began the long, intentional work of rewriting my inner world.

How I Built My Confidence Back Up

I approached healing through a holistic perspective, integrating mind, body, and soul:

Mind — Rewiring the thoughts

I began practicing affirmations, journaling, meditation, and conscious reframing.

I learned to challenge intrusive beliefs and replace them with ones that felt empowering and true.

Body — Taking aligned action

Confidence grows when your actions and identity match.

I started doing things that aligned with the version of myself I wanted to step into — showing up, speaking up, learning new skills, taking risks even when I felt scared.

Soul — Loving myself unconditionally

This was the deepest layer.

I learned to accept myself fully — the messy parts, the evolving parts, the ambitious parts, all of it.

I gave myself compassion and grace, the same way I do for everyone else.

5. When you imagine your future self 1–2 years from now, what values or qualities does she/he embody — and how are you beginning to embody them today?

I truly believe I’m starting to embody the values and qualities of my future self. One of the biggest shifts for me has been creating a routine that supports all the areas of life I want to prioritize:

getting movement or exercise
doing something I love
working on one of my businesses
making time for rest and grounding

Google Calendar has become my best friend.

When I block time out, it feels like physically committing to myself — like placing my energy into a container and following through. It turns intentions into structure. And as an air sign, this has been life-changing.

Air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) are incredible at ideas, creativity, and taking spontaneous action… but we often struggle with consistency, grounding, and finishing tasks — qualities that require earth energy.

If you’re an air sign, here are some ways you can incorporate aligned action and grounding into your life:

1. Time-blocking & digital calendars

Turn your ideas into scheduled commitments. It makes your goals feel real and actionable.

2. “Anchor tasks” at the start of the day

Choose one non-negotiable task that sets the tone — a walk, meditation, or a simple routine that brings your energy into your body.

3. Break big ideas into small, doable steps

Air signs see the full vision instantly, but grounding comes from taking it piece by piece.

4. Create rituals that slow you down

Matcha, journaling, stretching, breathwork, skincare — anything that reconnects you with your physical self.

5. Build accountability

Tell a friend, your partner, or even your calendar what you plan to do. Air signs thrive with gentle structure.

6. Use visual reminders

Lists, post-its, habit trackers — these help translate mental energy into physical reality.

7. Revisit your “why” often

Air signs evolve quickly. Reconnecting with your purpose brings clarity and inspiration back into your routines.

This fall season taught me that growth isn’t always pretty, but it’s always meaningful. Every high and low shaped me into someone more aligned, more grounded, and more connected to my purpose. I realized that confidence is built through small choices — rewriting old stories, taking aligned action, and loving myself even in the messy moments.

My routines, structure, and grounding practices helped me embody the future version of myself I’ve always envisioned. And my “tower moment” wasn’t a collapse — it was a reset. A clearing. A reminder that I’m capable of coming back home to myself again and again.

If you’re moving through something similar, trust that you’re not falling apart — you’re transforming. Give yourself grace, honor your journey, and remember that every step is leading you somewhere meaningful.