When I Let Go, Lombok Found Me

The Healing Power of Simplicity, Intuition, and an Island Called Lombok

Burned out, I left everything behind—my business, my belongings, my identity—and followed a whisper of intuition to a tiny island I’d never been to. Lombok didn’t promise answers. But in its simplicity, I found what I never knew I was missing.

“Sometimes the greatest richness is found in having nothing at all.”

One day, I realized I was facing full-on burnout. Heavy, undeniable. My mentor at the time saw it before I did. He showed me the possibility of the Sahara Vision Quest. After that experience, clarity came in. Let go of everything.

I knew I needed sun, ocean, and a simple life. Then, through my friend, the message came: Lombok.

I let go of all material possessions—including my company and the project I had poured myself into for the previous three years, even though the investment hadn’t yet returned. I left with just one suitcase and enough money to survive. I didn’t know how long it would last or what was next. I simply followed my heart and my intuition.

From the moment I stepped off the plane in Mataram, Lombok felt like home.

I was in a state where I deeply craved powerful nature and simple living. And that’s exactly what Lombok offered. Its energy was stunning. Life there was stripped back: no fancy cars, no tall buildings, just humble, often bamboo houses, cows part of the traffic on the roads, and scooters as the main form of transport.

I stayed at a place connected to the Kintari Foundation, where I volunteered to teach English in local schools. Being around the children and immersed in the community was truly magical. Their days were simple—but full of freedom, lightness, and presence. And that was exactly the medicine I needed.

We ate simple food. I lived in a small, humble room. I spent my days surrounded by nature and the genuine joy of local children. That simplicity brought a deep richness, inner awareness, and a new kind of happiness and fulfillment.

Despite having so little in material terms—often just a bamboo house—people in Lombok were smiling and joyful. Children played with toys they made themselves. What they lacked in things, they made up for in something much greater: presence. Inner wealth. A quiet joy. They were truly living in the moment.

Yes, we taught them English and other subjects. But they taught us something more profound: how to be… They are in the moment, living daily, being present, and living simply. 

I stepped out of the old systems and life patterns—and never looked back.

In this simplicity, in the state of having nothing, I felt like I had a blank canvas. For the first time, it felt possible to paint my life however I wanted.

I met many people. Many became friends. Many helped me deeply without knowing it, just by being who they were.

Lombok gave me a sense of home and security. But more than that, it gave me a path forward. Not because the island had magic powers, but because I listened to the calling. I followed my intuition to exactly where I needed to be. I was supposed to be there to learn, see, and live exactly what I needed then. 

After a few months, I felt renewed. Energized. I began working again and reconnecting

with everything I was capable of.

I made a life for myself there. It felt like home. I stayed for 18 months. Everything was flowing. There was no clear reason to leave.

And yet—I felt a shift. Something inside me stirred. I didn’t know where I was supposed to go or what came next. My mind was going crazy, as it wanted to figure it out, but with no results. 

I’ve learned that the best things in our lives don’t come from the mind. They come

from the unexpected. 

And it came, one message from a friend. And boom. Guatemala calling. Time to move. The journey goes on.

The position of Director of Events Department at one of the most prestigious universities in Latin America, where events were focused on social, political, and economic topics, was something

I was totally interested in. 

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I write about how simple habits can have an extraordinary impact in my book, Simple Self-Care Activities for Women. If you hear the calling grab your copy now.