Polski25% of Polish women report symptoms of professional burnout, but only a few are ready to accept that the first doctor is… their own body. Iwona Mackiewicz learned this painfully: a ruptured disk immobilized her for months and forced her to leave her comfortable job in sales. Today, instead of KPIs, the indicator of success for her is calm breathing and pulse and helping women to the rhythm of “dolce vita”. In the interview, she tells how she turned pain into a signpost, and the corporate calendar into a mentorship that teaches women to feel before all the controls go red. Iwona Mackiewicz “The body always speaks first … “
When the body said “enough”
For two months I walked around with a ruptured disk, trying to prove that I could handle it. I ignored the pain, believing it was temporary. It wasn’t until eight months of intensive physiotherapy that I realized that my body had won out over my goals.
I spent 17 years in sales – a profession I truly loved. I met goals, built relationships, enjoyed the results. But my body couldn’t stand the hours in front of the computer, couldn’t stand the stress or the constant travel. Finally it said “enough” and this time I had to listen.
“The body won over the targets. It made me stop and look at my life differently.”
From tenure to your own path
Back in November, I couldn’t imagine leaving full-time employment. The full-time job offered a sense of security, the opportunity for peaceful treatment and rest. And yet, during my month-long layoff, I began to notice something important – without a corporate job , I breathed more fully.
I took a course in power astrology, and began practicing self-hypnosis to support my own spine. The results were surprising. The first clients appeared – women who knew me from Instagram. For years I had been sharing lifestyle daily life there, and now this channel became a space for something deeper.
On December 28 I gave my notice. I remember closing my computer and feeling that this was my true beginning.
“I made the decision in the last days of the year. It was my new start.”
The life of dreams begins within
The year 2022 was a turning point for me. After 11 years, I ended a relationship and lived without a permanent place for two more years.
Thanks to this, I discovered that happiness is not born from more promotions or apartments in prestigious neighborhoods. It begins inside of us – when we live in harmony with ourselves and have the courage to step outside of our comfort zone.
“Happiness starts inside of us, not in the next promotion or new apartment.”
The body as the best compass
Today I know that the body gives signals earlier than the mind. The most common? Migraines and a disturbed cycle. Women in business often ignore them until the pain takes away their strength. And it is the body that then says: “stop.”
I teach them simple practices. A few minutes of mindful breathing can restore calm in the middle of the day. In the shower, all you have to do is move the water over your body with your hand and repeat: “I am cleansing myself of the day’s emotions.” Such small rituals build a bond with your own body and make you start to really hear it.
“When the body is working properly, you want to live, act and smile.”
Work in the rhythm of your own energy
I can no longer imagine working 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. As a Human Design Projector, I work in waves. One intense block of work gives me more than a whole day in front of a computer.
Ultimately, I want to provide one-on-one mentoring for four clients, a group program for women working with their bodies, and several hypnotic sessions per month. This allows me to take care of my resources and offer deep support.
I don’t need a vacation – my work gives me a sense of freedom every day.
New home, new life
Warsaw had been my dream since I was a child, but it was Krakow that turned out to be the place where I found peace. After three weeks of searching, I found an apartment in Old Podgórze. It’s a magical neighborhood – Italian in climate, and at the same time peaceful and creative.
I still spend a few months a year in Italy, but today Krakow gives me what I’ve been looking for for years – space to live and create in the rhythm of dolce vita.
“Old Podgórze gave me a peace of mind that I didn’t find in Warsaw,” he says.
From Iwona to every reader of this article:
“Change your life with me through mentoring in the spirit of slowlife and dolce vita your path starts here “ https://travelifestory.pl
I look back today and know that the back crisis was the greatest gift I could have received. It stopped me running, forced me to listen to myself, and opened the door to a life where I truly feel like myself. I no longer need a vacation from work or an escape from everyday life.
My dolce vita is not an escape – it is a choice I make every day. I invite all women also to visit my Instagram https://www.instagram.com/travelifestory.pl/.
