Istanbul – deep transforming vibe

The transnational background I was born with has proven to be one of my greatest personal influences. While it triggered some inner conflict others might not experience, it opened my head and heart to different aspects of life and different approaches to it. My biography is a testament to my borderless inner world.

Istanbul never ceases to amaze me with its huge diversity of people, nationalities, interests and characters. It’s always fully engaging, while also having darkness and light! While some areas at certain times can cause fear, others are breath-taking and charming! Coming from structured Germany, Istanbul taught me to become more adaptive. If you don’t bend, you’ll break!

Thus, Istanbul, where I lived between the ages of 24 and 41, can be seen as one of the biggest transformers in my life. There, emotional intelligence and empathy are a must-have for leadership and relationships with others. People are more emotional than mind-driven.

In this culture and environment, I noticed for the first time in my life that I had surrounded myself with an extremely protective shell, not letting people in, or even close – keeping them at the surface. However, over time, the society I now lived in taught me to connect and share my heart with so many great people, friends and relationships that I am now very grateful for. They played a big role in my integration and learning phase within the culture of my roots, also helped me connect with my inner self and, accordingly, open up, step by step, into the outer world. I am extremely grateful for that learning, which has enriched my life experience and made it more joyful. As it’s always possible to dive deeper, I am continuing my learning curve in diverse aspects and relationships in my life.