From the Blog
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Sumberkima Hill: How a Dream Between Friends Became a Thoughtfully Built Community
I thought I knew what to expect before arriving at Sumberkima Hill. After months of visiting retreat venues across Bali, it takes a lot to stand out. This one does.
Not just because of how it looks, but because of how it's been built. What started as a simple idea between friends has grown into a place where community, sustainability, and intention shape every decision.
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What's Stirring
Without even realising it, I posted two pieces of content on Instagram this week that are closely linked.
This Reel touches on something that's been showing up in my life for the past fifteen years: walking away from things that looked right but didn't feel right.
Making choices that didn't make sense to people around me.
Hearing opinions from people who had never had to make those kinds of decisions themselves.
Then I shared this carousel about the lies we tell ourselves as women in the wellness industry, and I realized how closely the two are connected.
Those internal voices that follow us for years aren't just fed by our own insecurities and self-doubt. They're amplified by the voices we hear from the outside, creating a loud blur that becomes pretty much impossible to ignore.
I'll do it when things calm down.
I need to figure everything out first.
I'm not ready yet.
Someone else is already doing it.
I can't charge this much.
I can't bring it all together by myself.
These are some of my intrusive thoughts.
Some of them might sound familiar to you too, or you might have your own version.
The main issue with these subtle but persistent thoughts is that they all sound reasonable.
Unless our instinct is strong enough to override them, we end up in a constant state of pause where nothing really moves.
And it's not always the big, obvious decisions that derail us.
Sometimes it's small adjustments.
Tweaking something because it might land better.
Holding back an idea because it might not be received well.
Delaying a decision because you're waiting for more certainty.
And before you realize it, you're no longer building something that fully feels like yours, because too many external voices have quietly taken up space.
And as brutal as it might sound, here is a reminder that not every opinion deserves access to your process.
Not every piece of advice is relevant to where you are or what you're trying to build.
In this space especially, where everyone seems to have a formula, a strategy, or a "better way" of doing things, it becomes very easy to lose your own voice without even noticing.
Trusting yourself doesn't mean ignoring everything around you but being very clear about what you take in, what you leave out, and why.
A place worth supporting
Before I share this week's Retreat Radar, I want to flag that this one's different.
It's not a retreat I'm promoting. It's a fundraising appeal for the School of Unified Healing in Ubud, one of my favourite spaces in Bali.
I've spent countless hours there, and I've watched them support thousands of people who wouldn't otherwise have access to these practices.
They're facing an unexpected financial crisis right now, and I want to use this space to help.
Retreat Radar
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School of Unified Healing
Ubud, Bali
The School of Unified Healing is a nonprofit, self-sustaining social enterprise that provides access to over 3,600 classes each year and has supported over 9,000 people. Their model makes it possible for students to learn, heal, and grow regardless of their financial circumstances.
They're currently under financial pressure and have seven days to raise £9,000 to secure the next step forward. If you've ever visited the school or want to support an organization doing genuine work in this space, please consider donating.
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