Over the past decade, she had learned that fear wasn’t something to run from. In fact, every time she felt that familiar twist in her gut, whether in life or work, she knew that on the other side was something she needed to find. She’d proven it to herself over and over, so much so that even her father would often ask, “How do you go through shit and still smell like roses?” The question wasn’t sincere—more a jab than anything.

She knew the answer without missing a beat. “Because I trust myself. I know I’ll always be okay.”

And she meant it. Facing fear, for her, was like squeezing through the center of a donut—a tight, uncomfortable fit that most would avoid. But it wasn’t just about getting to the other side; it was about understanding the why behind her emotions. Each squeeze brought up new layers to explore, turning discomfort into clarity. Over time, the squeeze became easier, transforming from effort into instinct.

But what made this even more powerful was understanding that life’s highs and lows were forever intertwined. The joys, the setbacks—they only had meaning because they existed together. She knew by now that you couldn’t have one without the other; without darkness, light has no contrast. Without struggle, triumph feels empty. It was a simple truth, but letting it sink in gave her the courage to feel everything, to know that every low would give rise to something equally high. She didn’t just face emotions—they were part of the full picture, the essence of what it meant to live fully, each emotion making the next richer.

What she knew now was something many people missed—emotions aren’t something to “get over” or cross off a list. They aren’t boxes to check. They’re more like a timeline, connected, flowing into each other, looping back as needed. Like in series Loki, where timelines crisscrossed and looped in endless patterns, emotions were part of a bigger web. They weren’t meant to be ignored or controlled but felt, explored, and understood.

And somewhere along the way, she also realized that this wasn’t just a personal lesson. Society likes to keep life in neat boxes, splitting people into personal and professional, as if they’re separate. She saw right through that illusion. In a world that prizes productivity and control, emotions get written off as messy, best left at the door. But she’d come to see that ignoring them was missing the point. Emotions aren’t distractions; they’re guides, signals pointing toward growth, deeper connection, even purpose. Suppressing them cuts people off from their own paths, leaving parts of themselves unexplored.

For her, living—and leading—meant embracing it all, with no compartments. She’d stopped trying to keep her life in separate lanes. Each time she came through another “donut hole” of discomfort, she didn’t just grow; she became a more complete version of herself. That, she knew, was the real success—staying connected, fully alive, with every part of her story woven together.