From a young age, we’re taught to aim for a certain life path: to grow up, move out, get our own place, and settle down with the “happily ever after.” It’s like a scene from a Hallmark movie—waking up in our cosy home, with family around, and a warm coffee in hand, looking out over a serene view.

Who doesn’t want that?

But as life unfolds, we discover it’s not so simple. The path is filled with twists and turns no one prepared us for.

To “build a life” means responsibility, commitment, and, often, surprising moments or signing up for things we’re not fully aware of.

And before we know it, we’re living a boxed-in life.

We wake up in one box we’re paying off, travel to another box (or just a room these days? ) to work eight hours, then return to the first box, day in and day out. It’s no surprise we feel trapped.

This is the culture we were taught —the “boxing culture”—where we stack up boxes in our minds and around our lives, hoping they’ll protect us or make us feel secure, worthy, or more loveable. 

But do they?

For me, the one of biggest shifts came with travel. I realized there’s a way of living where you don’t need to work decades to pay off debt just to finally start living—if you’re lucky.

After years spent chasing the “right” job, the “right” home, and wanting to fit in, I hit a breaking point.

I was tired of being trapped by expectations. So I said, “Enough!” and chose to live differently.

I packed up, left for Asia, and learned to live without boxes – no excess possessions, no attachments, just a suitcase and a heart open to adventure. Investing in experiences rather than things freed me.

I learned how to unbox my life. Literally! Unboxing outside in and inside out. And I don’t regret a thing.

What I learned was that these boxes aren’t just around us—they’re in our heads.

It’s not wrong to want a nice home or stable life, but let’s not lose sight of the most important element: the human experience. 

Our relationships, our memories, our purpose—these are what make life meaningful, yet they’re also the things we can’t control.

So instead of boxing everything in, we need to learn to flow in life with ease, confidence, and certainty – reachable within and available to us at any point we need it.

So, let’s unbox ourselves. Let go of the need to judge or control, and instead, follow the inspiration when it comes.

Trust in the flow of life, learn to trust yourself.

After all, life is a dance between order and spontaneity. The real mastery comes from letting yourself find joy in that dance.

With love,

MartinaK