Who Am I Beyond Being A Wife, Mom, Daughter, Sister And Friend?

A number of years ago, I found myself grappling with a question that caught me off guard: Who am I beyond all the roles I play?

I had a good life. On the outside, everything looked fine. But inside, I felt scattered, restless, and unsure of myself. I’d spent years being a wife, mom, daughter, sister, and friend—roles I deeply loved and valued—but somewhere along the way, I’d lost touch with me.

It wasn’t just stress in the traditional sense. It was a quiet, persistent ache. A feeling that something was missing. I didn’t have the language for it at the time, but now I understand what I was experiencing: existential stress.

Existential stress is a deeper kind of inner stress that arises when we begin to ask life’s bigger questions—like Who am I?, What really matters to me?, and Is this all there is? It’s the stress of feeling disconnected from your true self, even when everything on the outside seems “fine.”

Unlike the kind of stress we feel when life is busy or demanding, existential stress comes from within. It doesn’t respond to time off or a vacation. It’s not solved by managing your calendar or practicing positive thinking. It calls for something deeper.

That was true for me. I’d been so busy living from the outside in—meeting expectations, caring for others, being who I thought I should be—that I lost touch with who I actually was. I didn’t have a clear sense of what I needed to feel fulfilled. And I certainly didn’t have the tools to reconnect with myself.

Looking back, I can see that this disconnection wasn’t a failure. It was a turning point. A sacred invitation to come home to myself.

When we meet existential stress with curiosity and compassion, we discover that it’s not something to fix—it’s something to listen to.

It may be asking:

• Who am I beyond what I do for others?

• What brings me alive?

• What parts of me have I silenced or neglected?

• What am I being invited to see or shift?

These are profound questions. And they don’t have quick answers. But they are worth asking—because on the other side is a deeper peace, a renewed sense of self, and a life that feels like your own.

If you’re in this place of questioning, you’re not alone. So many of my clients arrive at this crossroads—successful, capable, and caring people who suddenly find themselves feeling lost or empty inside. They’ve done everything “right” and still feel like something essential is missing.

The good news? You’re not broken. You’re becoming the truest version of yourself with greater vitality, connection and purpose.

Existential stress can be a catalyst. A wake-up call. A sacred threshold between the life you were taught to live and the life that’s actually meant for you.

In my journey, and now in the journeys I guide others through, I’ve come to see that the way forward isn’t about abandoning your roles—it’s about expanding your sense of self. It’s about remembering who you are at your core.

That’s why I created the 4 Keys to Authentic Happiness—a soulful, science-informed path that helps people move from existential stress to clarity, confidence, and authentic happiness.

If you’re asking “Who am I?”—you’re already on the path. And there is a way forward.

If you feel called, please leave a comment below. Our community would love to hear from you!