This morning, Facebook reminded me of who I used to be. A memory popped up — a photo of me and my dog Dolce dancing around the kitchen of our London flat. I was in a dress, smiling, twirling to music in one of my favorite spaces. The sun was streaming through the windows. I remember that moment so vividly: I felt so free, so in flow, so me.

But when I saw that photo today, something inside me cracked open.

It wasn’t just nostalgia. It was an identity crisis I didn’t see coming.

From Jet-Setting to Diaper Bags: The Contrast That Catches You Off Guard

There was a time when I traveled the world on a whim.

When I booked last-minute flights to Paris.

Attended conferences in different countries.

Met fascinating people almost every week.

Booked photoshoots just because.

Lived in homes that lit me up.

And now?

Now I live in my hometown.

I have an incredible daughter I adore.

I’m still doing work that I love.

But the day-to-day looks — and feels — so different.

And sometimes, it’s hard to reconcile those two versions of myself.

The Identity Crisis That Comes With a Beautiful Life

There’s a weird kind of grief that comes with growth.

It’s not about not being grateful. I am.

But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t sometimes miss the freedom I once had. The spontaneity. The creative energy that came from being in new environments with new people all the time.

Every decision now has a domino effect. And for any moms reading this, I know you get it.

If I wanted to go to Italy this summer… who would watch my daughter?

Could I trust someone?

Would I even enjoy it with the mental load running in the background?

Even asking those questions can make you feel selfish. Or guilty. Or ungrateful.

But here’s what I’m learning:

You’re Not Broken. You’re Becoming.

You don’t need to choose between who you were and who you are now.

You don’t need to pretend your desires disappeared the moment your circumstances changed.

Maybe your version of this identity shift isn’t motherhood.

Maybe it’s a breakup. A career pivot. A move. A loss.

Or maybe life just feels off, even if you can’t explain why.

Whatever it is — know this:

You’re not stuck.
You’re not behind.
You’re not wrong for wanting more or different or again.

You’re just in the sacred in-between.

The space between what was and what’s next.

The space where your truth is waiting to be heard — if you’re brave enough to ask yourself what you really want now.

So Ask Yourself…

✨ What do I need to feel like me again?
✨ What version of myself is asking to rise?
✨ What desires have I silenced for the sake of being “realistic”?
✨ What would designing my dream life today look like?

It might take some extra logistics.

A few uncomfortable conversations.

A willingness to believe that your desires matter just as much now — even if they take more planning than they used to.

But your dream life is still available to you

It might look different. It might feel different.

But that doesn’t make it any less magical.

You Can Hold Both

You can love your child and miss your freedom.
You can be grateful for your life and still want more for yourself.
You can be responsible and bold. Grounded and visionary.
You don’t have to sacrifice your identity to be a good parent, partner, or person.

You can hold both.
You deserve to hold both.

So if you’re in the thick of it — feeling lost, nostalgic, or unsure — let this be your invitation to reconnect with your truth.

Start small. Start honest.
But start.

Because your next-level life isn’t a thing of the past.
It’s being built right now — in every brave choice to come back home to yourself.

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If this resonated with you, I invite you to explore the free Dream Life Guide I created to help you reconnect with your desires and start designing a life that feels truly aligned — no matter what chapter you’re in. You deserve to feel lit up again. 💗