What if I told you your manifestations are struggling to land because your environment is out of alignment with your spirit? I have come to believe that where you live quietly shapes who you become. It affects your mental health, your motivation, and your sense of possibility.
In 2016, one of my biggest dreams came true. I left my hometown. I went to college in the city, and something in me woke up. I was surrounded by like minded people, and I started to thrive. I sharpened my journalism skills, fell in love with photography, and learned how to network with confidence. For the first time, I felt aligned with my environment and I performed better because of it.
After graduating, I packed up my little Honda Civic and drove eight hours from Virginia to Atlanta. I remember crying, not out of fear, but relief. I knew I was stepping into a new chapter of my life.
Atlanta changed me. Internally, it was rags to riches. I went from shy to self assured, from hesitant to bold. Life felt cinematic. Manifestation felt effortless because I was inspired. On day one, I wrote in my journal that I would make a name for myself in the city and that I would meet my husband there. Almost everything on my vision board came true. Love, travel, financial growth, and my own office space.
I even went viral with my first YouTube video called ten Things to Know About Living in Atlanta. At the time, I thought it was performing well because I was sharing insider tips. Years later, I realized it was the story that resonated. I represented proof that someone could come from very little, move to a big city, and build a life they once only imagined.
Later, after returning to Virginia for a period, my husband and I decided to start fresh again. We packed up and drove twenty hours to Houston Texas. On paper, it made sense. Affordability, family oriented neighborhoods, opportunity. I never imagined myself living in Texas, but I believed a new beginning was what I needed.
At first, it was fine. Houston is cultural, diverse, and welcoming. But slowly, something shifted.
I did not look forward to anything.
There was no park I was excited to walk through. No restaurant I craved returning to. No sense of anticipation pulling me out of the house. And over time, that lack of connection began to affect everything. My finances, my creativity, my mental health. Beyond postpartum changes, I felt myself dimming.
That is when the realization hit me. My life always blossomed when I had something to look forward to.
When I was inspired, I worked harder without forcing it. I showed up differently. My confidence grew, my discipline sharpened, and opportunities followed. Inspiration gave my ambition somewhere to land.
Living in a place that does not inspire you can quietly drain you. It shows up in your energy, your appearance, and your spirit. You can work endlessly and network nonstop, but when your environment does not feed you, stagnation can still settle in.
For me, it was not depression. It was disconnection.
I realized how much I needed a life that made me want to step outside. A place with spaces that felt familiar, routines that brought joy, and environments that sparked curiosity. When you have that, you feel rich in ways that have nothing to do with money.
You only get one life. And sometimes, choosing yourself looks like choosing a place that makes you feel alive again.
Leave a Reply