Sebastian Steinbach
"I saw how fear was running my life because I was running from it - and how much I didn’t know, even when I felt certain."
When I met Ronit in 2016, my life was falling apart. My marriage had failed. My business had failed. Despite trying hard to do everything “right,” I felt lost and afraid that I wouldn’t make it. From the outside, it looked like I should have had it all figured out: a strong education, leadership experience, financial success. People saw me as accomplished, yet inside I felt profoundly inauthentic. I didn’t know my purpose or direction and berated myself for not “doing something” with a life that seemed handed to me on a silver plate. No matter how hard I tried to fix my life, I kept repeating the same cycles without understanding why.
When Ronit invited me to join the community, I encountered something entirely new. I watched people courageously face their fears and insecurities and receive unconditional support. Others witnessed – not to judge, but to learn and hold. For the first time, honesty wasn’t punished but welcomed. I felt relief and stopped feeling so alone. I finally had a place where I could share everything and be met with care, guidance, and understanding.
By learning how neurology, psychology, and sociology interact, I began to understand why I was repeating the same patterns. I saw how early imprints – left unexamined – quietly shaped my life, and how I was unknowingly passing them on to my children. I noticed how quickly my nervous system reacted to perceived threats, and how much I was driven by old fears rather than present reality. I discovered how dependent I was on approval, how little I trusted myself, and how many distractions I employed to avoid unprocessed pain. I saw how fear was running my life because I was running from it – and how much I didn’t know, even when I felt certain.
Gradually, I began to let others in – an ongoing process. It’s still not easy for me to face uncomfortable truths right away, and I still resist. But I’ve grown more comfortable with not knowing, admitting uncertainty, asking questions, and taking things less personally. I’ve come to trust that my life is guided, not accidental, and that each of us is on a unique path of growth. What made this possible was experiencing consistent care rooted in integrity – consistently being told the truth from a place of support and commitment to my highest good.
Since beginning this work, my relationship with my children has transformed; as teenagers, they now openly share much of their lives with me – a direct result of my work with Ronit and Leap Forward. I stopped chasing money and status and found work that is fulfilling, aligned with my strengths, and allowing for balance. My relationship with my ex-wife has evolved into mutual respect and effective co-parenting. I’ve built local parenting and advocacy communities grounded in care and friendship and now enjoy deeper connections than ever before. I’ve also begun to advocate publicly for what I believe in, even when it’s uncomfortable, drawing courage from Ronit’s example and the support of my community. My relationship with my body has changed as well – I eat more consciously and prioritize regular movement.
Nearly ten years in, I’m excited to keep discovering more about myself, my purpose, and the adventure of life. I’m less afraid of mistakes and trust that I’m exactly where I need to be, with the support to course-correct when necessary. I’m becoming more and more self-expressed and fulfilled, continuing to grow – even when it sometimes doesn’t look pretty. But such is life!
