What if the life you really want isn’t about a master plan—but a moment of honesty?

In this personal episode, I’m pulling back the curtain and sharing something I haven’t spoken about publicly until now: I moved to Spain.

Not for a job. Not for a relationship. Not for a checklist.
I moved based on one thing—my values.

I’ll take you behind the scenes of how I made one of the biggest decisions of my life—not because it made logical sense, but because it felt deeply aligned. This isn’t just about moving abroad. It’s about reclaiming your power to choose a life that reflects who you are, even when it’s hard.

💡 This episode is for you if:

• You’re at a crossroads and craving clarity
• You’ve been choosing comfort over courage
• You’re longing for alignment—but don’t know where to start
• You want to feel more at home in your life

Whether or not Spain is in your future, this episode will remind you that you don’t need permission to choose what lights you up.

Join Me on This Journey

I’ll be sharing more of what it looks like to live in alignment—from Madrid, and from the heart. Come with me. Let’s design lives we love, starting right where we are.

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

• Download your Free Core Values Self-Audit
• Listen to Episode: Start Where You Are
• Want to work together? Learn about 1:1 coaching

📣 Let’s Stay Connected:
If this episode spoke to you, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Tag me on Instagram @daryamaeki and let me know: What would it look like to choose your values today?

Until next time, sip slow, stay soft, and remember: you don’t need permission to choose what lights you up.

If your habits only work on your best day, they’re not habits—they’re hopes. In this episode, Darya shares a design-first approach to habits so the right choice becomes the easiest choice. You’ll learn how to smooth the first 10 seconds of any routine, make evenings phone-light and sleep-friendly, keep 9 p.m. snacks in check, protect your creativity (“create before you consume”), and make walks and workouts ridiculously doable. Gentle, practical, no perfection required.

What you’ll learn

• Why setup beats “more discipline” (and how the brain follows least resistance)
  
  
• The “First 10 Seconds” method to lock in momentum
  
  
• Simple evening swaps that improve sleep (phone out, book in)
  
  
• How to defuse late-night snacking by designing the pantry/fridge
  
  
• A realistic creativity rule: one paragraph before inbox
  
  
• Tiny-move fitness: the 8-minute promise that actually sticks
  
  

Darya’s real-life example (food & energy)

• Subtle protein goal in practice: visible, grab-and-go options
  
  
• Closing-the-kitchen ritual: brew tea, prepare for tomorrow—Future-You says thanks.
  
  

Try-this-tonight (60-second challenge)

1. Pick one habit: “After ____, I’ll ____ for ____.”
   
   
   
2. Prep the first 10 seconds: place the object, charge the thing, queue the track.
   
   
   
3. Add one safeguard: phone sleeps outside the bedroom / text a friend “done.”
   
   
   

Join the conversation

• Want behind-the-scenes of Darya’s protein setup and simple meals? Hop into her Instagram broadcast this week for low-lift, real-life shares.

Share the episode

If this helped, send it to a friend who’s trying to build better routines this year. Small setups compound fast.

—
Until next time: sip slow, stay soft, and let design carry you when motivation can’t.

Do you ever feel stuck… but not exactly unhappy? Like something’s off, but you can’t name what?

In today’s episode, Darya shares the real story of a client who felt that exact way—until she found the courage to begin again. You’ll hear how one small step (taken without a perfect plan) led to clarity, confidence, and a whole new chapter of alignment.

Whether you’re questioning your career, craving change, or just feeling out of sync with your life—this episode is your reminder that you’re allowed to start over. And you don’t need to have it all figured out to begin.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why “clarity” is a result—not a prerequisite
• The power of starting before you feel ready
• How one coaching client found her passion and redesigned her life
• Journal prompts to get you unstuck
• A gentle but strategic invitation to shift into alignment

"The smallest step can lead to the biggest step of your life."

Ready to redesign your life—even if you don’t have a plan yet?
Apply for 1:1 coaching with Darya: Let's chat and see if it's a fit.

Let’s stay connected:
📸 Instagram: Join me on Instagram, where I'm your friend who loves living a life with intention, self-care is a priority, and who also gives motivation and inspiration to help you live your life by design.

💌 Newsletter: Deep encouragement, needle-moving questions, and smart strategies to help you design your dream life. You in?

Until next time, sip slow, stay soft, and remember:
Calm is a strategy—and you’re allowed to begin before you have it all figured out.