In Bali, it’s not just the flora, fauna and local Balinese people that make the island special. Those who come from the West arrive either as tourists or are drawn by the spiritual atmosphere and community that has formed here and many end up staying long-term. These are people seeking distance from capitalism and “the system.” There are countless shared stories here: “I worked at a company, climbed the corporate ladder, reached a high position and then realized I want to live a different life, more free.” I do recognize my own story herein. For many, depression and illness are also part of their journey.

I find these life stories incredibly inspiring, especially seeing how months and years of introspection, emotional healing, slow living and reconnecting with the inner self can lead to a more authentic life. What society, education, people, bosses, family and expectations impose on the self can gradually be shed through inner alignment and connection with ourselves, like layers that no longer serve us. Because this is no longer about survival. This is life itself, the reason we were born and the true meaning of our existence.

We are all searching for (inner) peace and love. Humans are instinctively tuned to this from the soul. It’s the mind that keeps running the same programs – but those can be rewritten.

And here in Bali, especially in Ubud, there are countless opportunities to participate in programs that bring us closer to our true selves. Meditations, breathwork, mindfulness, yoga, ecstatic dance, kirtan (community mantra singing) : the list of communal activities is endless, with something happening every single day.

But it’s not even the programs that matter most, it’s the people and the spirit they embody: that WE can choose how to live our lives, that we can change if something doesn’t feel right, that there’s no good or bad, only acceptance and that yes, we can live the way our heart truly desires, not just trapped in an endless hamster wheel.

This is Bali’s message. That’s why this island is so extraordinary!