I've been noticing on pattern emerging in my conversations with women. What started as a few whispers of confusion has become a collective rallying cry for answers: "I'm doing everything 'right', I’m eating organic, avoiding toxins, meditating daily, sleeping 8 hours, working out, intermittent fasting and I barely drink alcohol anymore so why do I still feel exhausted, stressed and lacking vitality? What am I doing wrong?”.
Does this resonate?
If it does, you are not alone. I see the increasing overwhelm and exhaustion in my friends, clients and peers. Despite their relentless pursuit of optimising every aspect of their well-being with the same precision they bring to their work, their symptoms keep coming back. They’re trying new protocols, modalities, rituals and routines intending to create health and balance yet the spark of true vitality remains elusive. There is a clear disconnect between the amount of knowledge and information they have about health and wellness and how that translates into their own embodiment of it. What then manifests on top of the exhaustion and confusion are feelings of shame, low self-worth, apathy and anxiety.
I recognise many of these patterns because I have lived them too. Like many women looking for a sustainable approach to well-being, I spent years exploring and seeking the ultimate protocols and wellness practices that could return me to optimal health. I’ve been caught in the relentless cycle of adding more supplements, elimination diets, affirmation practices, self-help books and quick-fix solutions, only to be met with another symptom of imbalance. It can feel like an exhausting game of whack-a-mole!
What I discovered through my own journey was both surprising and profound. We're not lacking information or discipline, we're missing the essential ingredient that transforms these healing practices from obligations into allies.
The Missing Piece in Your Wellness Journey
In today's wellness landscape, we're not lacking information, we're drowning in it. Every day brings new research, data, another "must-have" supplement, or the latest biohacking trend. While these tools can be valuable, they often become just another task to complete on our already overwhelming to-do list if they're not anchored to something deeper.
If your goal for greater health and well-being is to ‘be healthy’ or to ‘feel better’, I invite you to consider why.
Why do you want to be healthy? Why do you want to feel better?
Like this post so far? Subscribe to be notified about future posts
Your ‘Why’ is Your Medicine
Ancient philosophies, traditions and religions have all agreed on this fundamental human principle; Our bodies respond powerfully to purpose. When we're connected to something that brings us alive, our nervous system naturally regulates, our immune system strengthens, and our capacity for healing expands. Your ‘why’ is your purpose.
But here's what's often misunderstood about finding your ‘why’ or as I like to call it, your soul’s dream. It doesn't have to be grandiose or world-changing. Your dream might be as simple as having the energy to play with your grandchildren so that you can continue to experience the magic of child’s play. Or it might be as expansive as starting a radical movement for change so you can inspire others to live through the lens of love instead of fear. What matters is that it resonates deeply with your truth and attracts you forward like a magnetic force.
Think of your why, your soul’s dream, as your body's natural medicine.
Signs Your 'Why' Needs Deepening
Many of us have goals, ambitions and dreams, yet often they're not rooted in a deeper purpose. Our bodies have an instinctual knowing when we're not clear on our purpose, and they communicate this wisdom through subtle yet persistent signals. Learning to recognise these signals can be transformative for your well-being journey.
Here are three common patterns that suggest you might need to deepen your connection to your 'why':
You’re Stuck in the Perfection Trap
You approach your wellness routine like another project to master. Each practice is integrated and executed with precision. You’re tracking your health metrics, being strict with your food choices and committing to your exercise plans. You even have notifications set throughout the day reminding you to take deep breaths, hydrate and repeat positive affirmations. You’re following the advice of all the expert practitioners yet somehow you’re feeling more depleted and less vital than before. If this sounds like you, welcome to the club!
You're Blocked by Patterns of Resistance
Despite your best intentions and knowledge, you find yourself subtly sabotaging your well-being practices. You know what you "should" do but can't seem to follow through consistently. Despite having all the information, you find yourself making choices that don't align with your goals. You make excuses, blame something or someone else and default to unsupportive self-soothing methods that keep you stuck in your familiar patterns. You don't know why part of you is blocking your desire for change. Sound familiar? Yes, me too!
You're Caught in the Depletion Cycle
You find yourself constantly starting and stopping health practices, swept up in cycles of motivation and resignation. One minute you're on a new protocol high and the next you're feeling unmotivated and searching for the next best thing. The initial excitement of a new program fades quickly once you realise it's unsustainable, leaving you feeling like something must be wrong with your willpower.
The practice of daily movement, meditation and mindful nutrition feel like obligations rather than nourishment. What should feel vitalising begins to feel like another burden; More things on your to-do list that you can’t complete that add to the cycle of never feeling like you’ve done enough. Is this you? I’ve felt this too.
Please know, these aren't signs of failure! They're invitations to go deeper. To explore where you’re out of alignment so you can reclaim your health in a sustainable, enjoyable and deeply fulfilling way.
A Somatic Approach to Finding Your 'Why'
I've explored many different practices to unearth my soul’s dream over the years and often tell my stories in my newsletters and on Instagram. In the beginning, when I felt truly lost and disconnected, I tried to logic my way to discovery. I'd take enneagram and human design quizzes, ask friends for their opinions, trace back to my childhood to try and recall any old dreams that matched my personality and my gifts. Whilst there's nothing inherently wrong with any of these exploratory approaches, they didn't reveal to me what my body already knew.
Our bodies hold a deeper wisdom than our analytical minds could ever access. When we bypass mental analysis and drop into somatic awareness, we tap into an ancient knowing that transcends logic and connects us directly to our truth. Instead of forcing the answers through rational thinking, try these embodied explorations to allow your soul's dream to emerge:
Experience your aliveness
Give yourself at least 5 minutes. Close your eyes and allow yourself to remember:
A moment when time seemed to stop because you were so engaged in something meaningful
An experience that made you feel alive, vibrant and fully expressed
A time when you felt completely aligned with a sense of purpose
Visualise what you want
Give yourself at least 5 minutes. Find a quiet moment to connect with your body and experience:
What sensations arise when I imagine living my deepest truth?
How does my body posture change when I visualise myself living connected to my purpose?
What does it feel like to fully embody this vision?
Where do I feel expansion or contraction when considering different possibilities?
Explore your impact
Give yourself at least 5 minutes. Consider deeply from your heart space how you feel when you imagine your dream's impact on others:
How do I want my energy to impact others?
What community and collective values feel most important to me?
What contribution am I uniquely designed to make?
For each practice, notice the sensations in your body as you recall each moment. What patterns emerge? Who are you surrounded by? What are you creating? Who is benefiting?
What Surfaces is Your Unique Medicine
Your dream might be:
Creating art that moves people's hearts
Building a business that transforms your industry
Raising children who feel deeply secure in their worth
Writing the book that's been stirring in your soul
Starting a movement for change in your community
Or it might be something completely different. What matters is that it resonates with your truth and has the strength to guide you through any and all of life's challenges.
An Invitation to Dream Bigger
As you sit with these words, notice what stirs in your body. What dreams have you been keeping small? What vision wants to emerge through you?
Remember, your well-being isn't just about you. When you connect to and live from your deepest purpose, you naturally inspire others to do the same. Your vitality becomes a gift to the world.
If you're feeling called to explore this deeper, I invite you to begin this journey of discovery.
Sometimes having a guide to help you uncover and stay connected to your soul's dream can make all the difference. Together, we can help you find and follow your unique 'why' so you can keep taking the next steps on your wellness journey toward lasting vitality.
Book a complimentary call with me or dive straight into a 1:1 session where we’ll:
Explore what's really holding you back from experiencing vibrant wellbeing
Uncover the first steps toward finding your unique 'why'
Begin to transform your relationship with your well-being practices so they shift from obligation and overwhelm to aligned inspiration
About Farah Winning: As a certified holistic wellness practitioner specialising in the foundational principles for life-long health and harmony, I support women in finding sustainable approaches that empower them to experience lifelong health & vitality.
Comments