Your journey to feeling good about yourself and loving yourself can start with a small step.
Gehena, a wellness creator, is proof that by looking inwards and starting self-care, you can not only elevate yourself to your full potential but also inspire others to do the same.
For September’s Monthly Muse feature – where we highlight the incredible muses that spark our motivation -we spoke to Gehena about her wellness journey, the practice of journaling, as well as her experience as a content creator.
Speaking of her wellness journey, she recalls, “My wellness journey began during the COVID era, when my mental health was at an all-time low and I was stuck in a toxic job.”
“One morning, almost by chance, I tried a yin yoga class, and the calm I felt was unlike anything I had experienced in months. That small shift lit a spark. I started practicing daily, and soon got curious about other habits that could support my wellbeing: journaling, meditation, affirmations, and visualization.”
Diving further into her love for journaling, she explains that the practice allowed her to work through the negative thoughts clouding her mind and life, rebuilding her lost confidence.
She reflects, “Journaling was the tool that gave me clarity when I felt stuck. At the time, my job was draining me—I felt like I had no talent, no potential, as if I were failing at life. Putting my thoughts on paper helped me see the truth: the problem wasn’t me, it was the environment I was in. Journaling helped me build the courage to quit and step into a new role where I not only performed well, but also solved challenges I never thought I could handle.”
The positive changes her new self-care practices brought to herself also inspired Gehena to try and help others by sharing her experiences, routines, and reflections via short Instagram videos. To her surprise, there was an expanse of people who connected with her content.
She says, “The messages and responses I received encouraged me to keep going, and over time, it grew into something much bigger than just me sharing my journey—it became a community,” adding, “When I started sharing my journaling practices on Instagram, I realized how many people were looking for the same clarity as I had been. That’s when I started creating prompts and reels that could help others get started.”
Now having begun her content creation journey, Gehena, who also works a day job in leadership, strives to build a work-life balance that she not only uses to serve her own creativity but also pass on for the betterment of others.
Her experience in the corporate world has invoked a passion in her to explore mental health in the workplace, adding, “ I want to dive into work-life balance, managing burnout, and thriving in demanding roles in my future content.”
Balancing another job and work as a creator, she walks us through a day in life: “My days are usually a mix of structure and creativity. I start by checking my content calendar, creating or scheduling reels for the week, and planning stories if I have any lined up. I spend time going through brand emails—choosing to work only with those I truly resonate with—and engaging with my community by responding to comments and supporting fellow creators.
“I get to witness real transformation: people realizing their own power, creating clarity, and taking control of their lives.”
“I set aside weekends specifically for shoots, editing, and brainstorming upcoming content. I also rely heavily on batching. Once a month, I dedicate a weekend day to planning, shooting, and editing, so I can stay consistent without burning out. This structure is what allows me to show up both as a creator and a leader. And when I’m preparing for workshops, I use that time to build prompts, design exercises, and create the kind of experiences that go beyond social media.”
She also credits her workplace for allowing her to thrive in both roles, adding, “I’m fortunate to work at a company that truly values work-life balance, which makes it possible to thrive in both roles. Working remotely has been a game-changer too—it saves me hours of commute time, which I reinvest into content creation and upskilling.”
“In wellness, people connect to realness more than anything else. So, stay authentic, don’t chase trends because I think authenticity is a forever trend.”
Though she started creating regular content fairly recently, Gehena has felt the impact she’s made on people. On the most rewarding part of this journey, she shares, “Knowing that what I share genuinely helps people makes me happy. When someone messages me saying they started journaling because of a reel I posted, or they gained clarity through a prompt I shared—it’s incredibly fulfilling. My Instagram has also become a way to connect with workshop participants, and I get to witness real transformation: people realizing their own power, creating clarity, and taking control of their lives.”
She’s also proud about being able to work with brands she’s admired and purchased from for years, saying, “Seeing my work featured on the pages of brands I love is very surreal. It feels like a full-circle moment: going from customer to collaborator, from looking up to these brands to standing alongside them.”
That’s not to say this journey is without challenges, as she points out, “Finding the right audience can be challenging—people who don’t just consume content but actually engage with it.”
However, she follows a simple mantra to overcome these types of roadblocks. “In wellness, people connect to realness more than anything else. So, stay authentic, don’t chase trends because I think authenticity is a forever trend.”
With this authenticity at the centre of everything she’s done so far, it also remains part of the various plans she has for the future. Reflecting on content she wants to experiment with, she says, “Right now, I’m diving deeper into the neuroscience behind habits—specifically, how small shifts can instantly improve our mood and how the brain wires itself through consistency. I’m excited to break that down in a practical way for my audience.”
But Gehena’s penchant for connection and love for wellness isn’t contained to the online world. She also conducts journaling workshops, having expanded recently from one-hour workshops to seven-day journeys.
With a warm presence and the promise of catharsis, she invites anyone, regardless of whether they’ve been journaling regularly or never tried it before, to give it a try. She says, “Participants can really see their growth from start to finish and step into their own power.”
She adds, “My advice for anyone starting journaling is simple: don’t overthink it. You don’t need perfect handwriting, fancy notebooks, or writing skills. Just write honestly. Write what’s on your mind.”
Gehena also nurtures bigger dreams to bring long-term change to people’s lives. She says, “One dream I’m actively planning is a wellness retreat. A space where I can curate transformative experiences, bring people together in a beautiful location, and send them home with tools that continue to change their lives long after the retreat ends.”
Asked who inspires her, she names entrepreneur Emma Grede for her courage, discipline, and unshakable self-belief. And though Gehena only says she aspires to someday embody a confident leadership persona, it’s fairly clear from the dedication she’s put into her journey so far that she’s already there!
Her journey is a testament to the power of self-belief and authenticity. By sharing her story, Gehena not only empowers others to pursue wellness but reminds us all that transformation begins with a single step. Let her example inspire you to start your own journey today.
Connect with Gehena : Instagram
(Image credit to Gehena.)
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