Finding clarity in unlikely places as a digital therapist
The Unexpected Journey
As a counselling psychologist trained in India, it might seem a little ironic that I found such deep resonance with a book written by a white American woman—Elizabeth Gilbert. And yet, Eat, Pray, Love didn’t feel like a cliché. It felt like a mirror.
The yearning for self-discovery, the ache to break free from the mundane, and the desire to reignite one’s professional spark—that is a universal experience. And digital therapists? We’re not immune to it.
I wasn’t craving pizza-pray-love in the literal sense (especially now that I’ve discovered I’m gluten-intolerant!), but I was craving my own version of a professional and spiritual renewal.
The Dream of Mama Bali
Like so many others, I was drawn to the fantasy of Bali—lush green rice paddies, little art shops tucked in between sacred temples, yoga mats rolled out in candlelight.
But for me, the vision was different: I dreamed of working from a sun-drenched café, my fingers dancing on a keyboard, fueled by tropical fruit bowls and inspiration. I imagined serendipitous conversations, divine signs in crystal shops, or life-changing chats during bike rides through misty hills.
None of that happened.
I didn’t meet a soul-shifting mentor on the island. I didn’t channel any cosmic downloads during meditation. But Mama Bali- as I now fondly call it- had other plans.
A Message from the Algorithm
It happened in my familiar digital world. An Instagram ad popped up, so perfectly targeted it felt eerie. A business coach, also a digital nomad, was sharing their own Bali-origin story. They spoke my language. Their words clicked into place like puzzle pieces I didn’t know I was missing.
I didn’t meet a guide in Bali, but I found one through the algorithm. This wasn’t fate wrapped in incense—it was code and timing. But it landed just the same.
With their help, I started shaping the vision I’d been carrying for months. Ideas that had been cloudy and abstract began to solidify—into copy, design, offerings. My website became my canvas. My clarity didn’t come from a mountaintop. It came from within—nudged along by the strange wisdom of a well-placed ad.
The Takeaway
It doesn’t always take a pilgrimage to find what you’re looking for. Sometimes, inspiration arrives in unexpected forms: a late-night scroll, a random newsletter, a DM from a stranger. If you’re open and listening, even the algorithm can be a messenger.
So if you’re a therapist, a seeker, or someone rebuilding your creative energy: stay curious. Stay open. Let your own version of Bali find you—even if it wears digital clothing.