Coming Home to Myself

It's amazing what you can do in a year when you make a whole hearted commitment to putting your happiness first. This year I learned to reclaim my voice through expressing myself creatively. It was a year of healing my soul by realigning with my soul path. In a world where at times emotional vulnerability and self expression is not celebrated, as an artist it can feel unsafe to express and use your voice. The challenge for me this year was to create this safety within myself and to trust myself as I experiment, explore and embrace creative expression.

Sharing my human experience and my humanity has opened my eyes to a new world of possibilities. Never had I dreamed this level of growth was possible. Often we set out on a path to self, a dream, the heart's journey and we end up learning so much more than what we set out to accomplish. Not only have I been reminded of who I am, but also the importance of being open, flexible, and fluid like water and playful like the wind. What an exciting year ahead now. I wish you so much love and happiness on your personal journey of self-discovery, personal love, and self growth. It's a heroes journey. Embrace your uniqueness and the path of your heart. It's a brave and courageous journey. Sending you so much love and healing in 2025!

At the start of 2024, I chose a single word to guide me: Authenticity. It felt simple. It was a promise—a commitment to put my happiness first despite me carrying this false belief that it was selfish. I didn’t know then that this promise would lead me down a path of rediscovery and healing. I didn’t know how much pain and courage it would take to find my way back to myself.

But looking back now, I see how necessary it was. Because healing, I’ve learned, isn’t about escaping the storms of life. It’s about embracing the storm and the renewal it brings. At first, the journey was painful. Pain, I believe, is one of life’s greatest motivators. It was pain that pushed me to return home—to Sweden, where my childhood dreams were born, where the forests and coastal landscape cradled my imagination, and where I felt closest to my ancestors. This brought me a sense of belonging and identity. And back to the natural essence that I was born with.

I realised quickly I had been neglecting myself for years and this brought me a sense of grief for some time in 2024. My feelings, my voice, my worth—buried beneath layers of self-doubt and survival tactics like people pleasing and seeking approval of others. And yet, deep down, there was this whisper. This calling back to my heart. A whisper that said: “Come home. Come back to the child you once were. The one who believed in magic, who saw the world through eyes of love and wonder."

Coming home was a return to my roots, a reconnection with my ancestors, with the wisdom of nature, and with the quiet power of the land.

It was here, among the trees, rocks, the sea wind and waters of Bohuslän, that I began to heal. Back to my childhood roots. Back to my foundation. Back to my core.

Healing isn’t linear. It’s messy. It’s shedding the beliefs that no longer serve you. It’s letting go of people who dim your light, who try and outshine you, and who put you down. Healing is finding the strength to walk away, to not let in anger, but love—for yourself.

Through creating art from my authentic self, my soul, I found my voice again. Through self-expression, I rediscovered the joy of being me—raw, real, imperfect. And I learned to forgive myself for the years I zipped my lips and fell silent to avoid conflict. For years I accepted less than I deserved, and as soon as I started to use my voice did I learn who truly had my best interest at heart. Through this experience I learned our voice our light. It's like a torch that shines the light on the truth. So if using your voice makes people angry, remember it says more about them than you.

2024 taught me that I do deserve. I deserve peace. I deserve love. And most of all, I deserve to be happy. It wasn’t until I let go of the belief that putting my happiness first was selfish that I began to truly thrive. Because self-love isn’t selfish—it’s the foundation for everything. And we can only give to others and help others when our foundation with ourselves is strong. Then we can truly love. I didn't know what true love was until now.

When you nurture your own light, you illuminate the world around you. True love—real, transformative love—begins with empathy for yourself. I found love in community, in kindred souls who saw me for who I was and celebrated my growth. My soul sisters reminded me that I was never alone in this journey.

Together, we created a space where healing could happen. A space where boundaries felt like sacred invitations to honor ourselves. I feel women are natural healers and by sharing our stories with the world we can help ground men and women. To help them find their way back home to their hearts. To bring about a world of harmony with each other.

Nature became my greatest teacher. The earth showed me how to root myself in the present. The water taught me to let go. The fire reminded me that even destruction brings renewal.

And the air? It whispered, “Breathe. Trust. You are exactly where you need to be.”

Now, at the close of 2024 and the opening of 2025, I feel a sense of peace I never thought possible. I have come home to myself. And if you’re reading to this, maybe it’s your sign to make 2025 the year to come home to yourself. A sign to embrace your own journey—to trust the process, no matter how uncertain or painful it feels. You are not alone and you are welcome to lean on me and find inspiration in my journey. Often we don't realise how much freedom we have. Often it's us that stand in our own way. When we realise we have everything we need to change our lives, that is true power.

Every step this year was a stumble. In moments of doubt, a part of me pushed forward. I learned on role models and imagined what they would do in this moment. The beauty of transformation is our imagination, and the light of others who show us ways to come back to our true selves. Who do you admire? Let them guide you home.

So here is your sign to take the leap. To allow nature to calm your body and mind so the voice of your heart can be heard. Let the fire transform you, the waters cleanse you, the earth ground you, and the air wipe away your tears and guide you forward.

Put your happiness first. Choose authenticity. And never, ever stop believing in your own light. It's always there.

2024 was a journey of healing, creativity, and self-discovery. This post is a reflection of the beauty in navigating life’s storms, embracing the light within, and creating from the soul. May it remind us of our infinite worth. And inspire us to become the person we dream of being—this new year and in the years to come.

Much love, peace, and purpose to you. Keep shining. And if you have something to share, your voice deserves to be heard in the comments. Happy New Year to you! Sending you a BIG warm hug ♥︎

Lots of Love,

Annika

P.S. YouTube has been an incredibly healing platform, and for that I offer my gratitude to the creators of YouTube and the people who keep YouTube alive. I say this with deep emotion as I genuinely believe that YouTube is a platform for healing. It's been incredibly healing to use social media with the intention to reclaim your voice and inner power. A place for voices around the world to be heard. Never give up on your voice. You are wonderful and meaningful to this planet and I love you all. Hope to see you by the sea this Summer ♥︎

Every day the light gets stronger now from today until Summer Solstice!