When I was a young woman chasing my dream of becoming an actress, my acting coach shared a piece of wisdom that has stayed with me ever since. It was simple, yet profoundly life-changing:
 

“To discover the path you are meant to follow, you must pursue your dreams. The journey may take you somewhere entirely different than where you intended to go—but it will lead you exactly where you are meant to be. The only way to find that path is to follow your dreams.”
 

That insight became a guiding principle in my life, and today, I want to share why honouring your dreams is not just meaningful—but essential to discovering who you truly are and the life you're meant to live.

The path to your best life—the life you are meant to live—is rarely straight and narrow. It's filled with twists and turns, unknowns around every corner, and obstacles that test your strength and resolve.
 

Following this path requires both resilience and trust—trust that even when the way is unclear, it is still leading you to the highest possible outcome for your life.

Chances are, the path won't take you where you originally planned. And it will be full of crossroads.
 

That's exactly how my own journey has unfolded. One dream and heart's desire has led to the next, and then the next, guiding me on a path of wonder and profound discovery—helping me uncover who I truly am and what's possible for my life.
 

When you follow your dreams, you'll inevitably come to a crossroads. And at those pivotal moments, it's essential to go inward and listen to your inner compass.
 

If you truly listen, you will not be misled.

These are the moments when it's most important to slow down, step off the racetrack, unplug from the noise and busyness of life, and ask yourself one simple question:
 

“What do I want? What do I really want?”
 

Then, without judgment, simply listen to what bubbles up from within.

That is your inner wisdom speaking. It might come as a voice, an image, a sensation, or a deep knowing. Some call it intuition—I call it the soul voice. I believe it's how God speaks to us, through our higher selves.
 

This is how you navigate your path. This is how you create a life that is aligned with who you truly are—and a life that lights you up.
 

If this message resonates with you, and you're feeling called to explore your inner wisdom more deeply, then I invite you to check out my bestselling book, Whispers of the Soul. It's filled with stories, reflections, and practical tools to help you tune into your soul voice and create a life that feels meaningful, aligned, and inspired. You can find it on Amazon or through the link below.
 

Until next time, may you continue to follow the whispers of your soul—they know the way.
 

With love and gratitude,

Anita

May is Mental Health Awareness Month—a time to shed light on the silent struggles so many face.

This conversation is deeply personal. It's inspired by a friend of mine and her brother, Peter, who tragically died by suicide. As we see mental health challenges rising like never before, it's more important than ever to break the silence, challenge the myths, and reach out with compassion and understanding.Let me tell you about Peter.Peter was 53 when he passed. He was married, had two young adult sons, a thriving career, and an active lifestyle.

What no one knew — not his family, not even his closest friends — was that Peter had been suffering from depression in silence.

At his memorial service, Peter’s younger sister spoke about depression and how common it is, particularly for men, to suffer quietly, hiding their struggles from even those closest to them. She shared information about a group called HeadsUpGuys.org, created to bring greater awareness to depression and offer support to both those suffering and their loved ones.

Although HeadsUpGuys was created primarily for men, it's a valuable resource for everyone, and I encourage you to check it out. Today, we’ll talk about some of the myths surrounding depression, especially in men, provide some truth statements to debunk those myths, and offer thoughts on how we can all boost awareness around this illness that claims far too many lives.

Let’s dive into the myths and the truths that need to be heard:According to HeadsUpGuys, here are five common myths:

Myth 1: Depression is a sign of personal weakness.

Truth: Depression is a real illness.

Myth 2: Real men are in control of their emotions and don’t let things get to them.

Truth: Real strength is facing whatever challenges arise.

Myth 3: Feeling sad or down is not manly.

Truth: Sadness is an emotion all humans feel, including men.

Myth 4: Anyone with enough willpower should be able to snap out of it.

Truth: Depression isn’t overcome by willpower alone; new skills and tools are needed to heal.

Myth 5: Men should be able to cope on their own and shouldn’t ask for help.

Truth: Reaching out for support is a sign of strength and taking control.Although these myths are focused on men, the truth statements are universal and non-binary.

Depression is a real illness.

Real strength is facing whatever challenges arise.

Sadness is an emotion all humans feel.

Healing requires learning and acquiring new skills and tools.

Asking for help is a smart, courageous act.

So, how do we beat back these myths and embrace the truth?

By having open conversations about mental health — and by sharing our personal stories.If you’ve experienced depression, anxiety, or any mental health challenge, I encourage you to share your story. You might save someone’s life simply by letting them know they’re not alone. There is someone out there, right now, going through something you’ve survived — and your story could be the hope they need.

Far more people experience mental health challenges than we realize. Yet we often hide those stories because of shame, fear, or the belief that they make us "less than."It takes courage to share.

And in sharing, you shine a light for others, break down harmful myths, and make it safer for someone else to speak up and seek help.By talking about mental health and sharing our experiences, we create a culture where it's okay to explore our feelings instead of pushing them away.

That exploration — that inward-looking journey I often talk about — is a crucial part of the healing process.

Exploring our emotions, both the good and the painful ones, leads to deeper self-understanding, which naturally leads to greater acceptance and love for ourselves.I recognize that sounds simple.

But taking that inward journey isn’t easy, especially when mental health struggles are present. It often means confronting parts of ourselves we don’t like.If it feels too hard to do alone, that’s okay. Acknowledge that — and seek professional guidance.

That’s what I did when I fell into depression in my twenties.At that time, I had just graduated university, had no job, no prospects, a mountain of student debt, and no idea how to build a meaningful life. I felt empty, lost, and like a huge disappointment.I was also carrying a lot of anger toward my stepdad, blaming him for the way I felt about myself — stupid, ugly, and worthless.

My boyfriend at the time, now my husband, saw the pain I was in. One day, he came home with a pamphlet for an Employment Assistance Program offered through his work. Because we lived together, I qualified. I called, booked an appointment, and began my healing journey — my first real step on that inward-looking path.

Therapy helped immensely, and another powerful tool I discovered — one I still use today — is journaling.I’ve shared before about Julia Cameron’s Morning Pages, and it’s worth mentioning again.

The idea is to write every morning, stream-of-consciousness style, filling three pages with whatever comes to mind. No editing. No re-reading. In fact, it’s recommended to destroy the pages after — burn them if you’d like! A beautiful ritual of letting go.

The act of writing releases emotions trapped inside. It can lighten the burden we carry.I wrote Morning Pages for years, and they played a huge role in moving me toward a happier, healthier place.

We all have stories.

We’ve all walked through dark times, to varying degrees.
And by sharing our experiences, we help break down the stigma around mental illness, raise awareness, and show others that healing is possible.If you're struggling right now, please hear me: You are not alone. You are loved. There are people who care. And you will get through this.

If you, or someone you know, is suffering from depression, I highly recommend checking out HeadsUpGuys.org.The site offers valuable tools like a self-check quiz, a stress test, suggested conversation starters, a list of symptoms to watch for, and a library of helpful articles. It’s a brilliant resource — and a wonderful place to start.Please check it out — and share it with others who might need it.As you know if you’ve been journeying with me for a while, the Joyful Journey isn’t always joyful.

Sometimes the path leads through very dark places.
Sometimes we need a guide, a friend, a hand to hold — someone to remind us we’re not alone.One thing I can say with absolute certainty:

By walking this inward path, by choosing to face ourselves with courage and love, we will eventually reach the deepest joy of all — Love itself. Love of self.

In closing:
Let’s commit to having more open conversations about mental health. Let’s share our personal stories so we can light the way for others out of the dark and into a life of joy.If you’re struggling, please reach out to someone you trust — a friend, a partner, a professional.

It takes courage to speak up — and that courage is within you.Alright, my fellow Joyful Journeyer — thank you for walking this path with me.With love and gratitude, Anita

In a busy, noisy world, it’s easy to lose touch with who you truly are. This post explores the journey of returning to your authentic self, guided by nature, inner wisdom, and soul reflection. Reconnect with what matters most and rediscover your worth, purpose, and alignment—just as you are.

Are you fully committed to the life you truly want? This post explores what it means to go “all in” with your vision, the importance of daily spiritual practice, and how to overcome the fears that hold you back. A reflective guide to aligning with your purpose, honoring self-commitments, and stepping into your highest self.