4 months, 5 big shifts ⭐

There’s something really powerful about pausing and looking back — not to dwell, but to gently acknowledge the shifts that have happened. The first few months of 2025 have brought a mix of intensity, clarity, healing, and honest confrontation with myself. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been necessary. I want to share a few realizations that shifted my mindset, my choices, and my energy.

1. My Body Talks to Me — and I Finally Started Listening

This year, I stopped ignoring the signals my body was screaming at me. When I felt tension, fatigue, discomfort — I acted. I got my blood work done. I went for sonography (belly, breasts). I booked that urologist appointment after a stubborn bladder infection wouldn’t go away.
The biggest shift?
I stopped being angry at my body. It’s not betraying me — it’s trying to guide me. It tells me to slow down, to look deeper, to care.
If you’re in pain or discomfort — don’t push through. Listen. Respond. Your body is not your enemy.

2. I Used to Mold My Whole Life Around Romantic Relationships — Never Again

I used to abandon myself in relationships.
I’d adapt to their needs, live their life, put my goals on the back burner to make them happy — and then the relationship would still end. Every. Single. Time.
Through therapy, I realized this stemmed from my childhood trauma. I confused love with self-sacrifice.
I’ve put myself first. Because nobody else will. People are focused on their own priorities — and that’s not wrong. But it means you have to be your own number one.
Love yourself loud. Love yourself first. The right people won’t need you to shrink to fit in their lives. Read that again.

3. Don’t Force Yourself to Fit Into a Job That Doesn’t Fit You

I had a stable job. No vacation for months. I hit burnout.
Then I tried a corporate gig — big name, big promise. I quit after 2 weeks. My soul couldn’t handle it. Sitting on pointless calls all day, doing things I didn’t care about… it was like slow internal death.
I lied to myself thinking it would work.
But here’s the truth: if you’re not doing something that lights you up, you’re dimming your own magic.
Yes, maybe your salary will be smaller for a while. But your spirit will shine. And that glow is priceless.

4. I Stopped Caring What People Think — Truly

I used to question every post, every sentence, every picture — afraid of how it would be received.
Now? I record what I love. I post what I align with. I don’t do it for content. I live my life, and content is a byproduct.
I do things for me. And it feels amazing.
And when good feedback comes? It feels like a sweet cherry on top — not the whole cake.

5. Not Everyone Will Be Happy For You — And That’s Okay

Unfortunately, not everyone around you will be rooting for you. Jealousy exists. Comparison poisons. But you know what? That doesn’t have to be your energy.
I’ve supported other jewelry makers even though I’m one myself. I chose inspiration over competition.
I bought a beautiful necklace from a fellow artist as a goodbye gift to myself when I left a job — not because I had to, but because I wanted to create good energy and keep our shared creativity alive.
Life isn’t a race. It’s a garden.
And what you plant in others’ lives — kindness, support, good vibes — that’s what will grow in yours too.

So, what am I doing now?

I’m taking care of myself. My body, my mind, my inner peace. I’m choosing alignment over appearance, truth over comfort, and creativity over conformity.

Because life is too short to live it for someone else.
Do it for you. Every. Time.
XO Zuzi 💋