Eda Ozmen

       Five years ago, I was moving through the world like a leaf in the wind…no core, no ground of being, and feeling deeply alone.  I said “yes” when I meant “no,” apologized for things that weren’t my fault, and let others make decisions for me because I didn’t trust my own judgment.  I had a sense of values in theory, but I wasn’t living them in practice.  I’ve always been sensitive and intuitive, but also idealistic, naïve – quick to conform and unsure my voice mattered.  

       I confused being needed with being loved and people-pleasing with generosity.  I mistook passivity for humility, oversharing for vulnerability, and co-dependence for connection.  I stayed in relationships that drained me because I didn’t want to seem “mean.”  Without discernment or boundaries, I constantly deferred my power, allowing others to define me, and I felt resentful.  I searched everywhere for answers in books, workshops, retreats, courses.  I had insights about healing, but it wasn’t embodied or lived.  I was numb and disconnected from my body.

       Then I found Ronit and through her, stepped into a community that changed the course of my life.  Working with Ronit is still unlike anything I have ever experienced.  She doesn’t reassure me or rescue me.  Instead, she mirrors reality with care and precision – helping me name where I’m afraid, avoiding responsibility, or outsourcing my authority – and she stays present through all my resistance, fear, and growth.  She continually invites me to learn from experience, make mistakes, take responsibility, and stay curious rather than “in the know.” 

       Through her guidance, and the community’s consistent mirrors, I began seeing myself more clearly.  The values Ronit embodies – humility, integrity, authenticity, conscious communication and co-evolution – are ones we practice together and hold each other accountable to.  I learned that I can tell the truth without blame, speak honestly even when it’s uncomfortable, and stay present and curious with discomfort.  Most importantly, I learned to take ownership of my choices and their consequences.

       This work has changed how I experience myself.  I’m less reactive, less caught in self-doubt, and more at ease with uncertainty.  I still make mistakes and don’t have my patterns, reactions, or relationships all figured out yet.  I still get caught, resist, and miss things.  What’s different now is that I’m more aware, take responsibility for my actions, and choose to learn instead of collapsing or avoiding. 

       One of the most transformative outcomes has been my relationship with my family.  In the past, I was superficial with them, constantly triggered, and uncomfortable around them.  After my fiancé passed away, I shut them out completely.  I was also in therapy for almost 7 years, and while it felt supportive at the time, it ultimately reinforced old patterns that made my family relationships worse.  Within a year of working with Ronit, long-standing issues began to heal, and today my relationship with my family is better than ever.

       While Ronit’s presence and uncompromising care have been the most healing force in my life, the community she has cultivated has made that healing possible to sustain.  Being in an environment where others share their fears, blind spots, and truths helped me see I’m not uniquely disturbed.  We are all committed to learning how to become more human, individually and together.  That shared sense of belonging changed everything for me, and I am deeply and forever grateful.