Kirsty Akaal shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Kirsty, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What are you chasing, and what would happen if you stopped?
Nothing anymore. Though I spent my life chasing… chasing success, answers, approval. The chase had a kind of frantic energy to it, as if happiness was always one step ahead of me. No matter what I achieved, the finish line was never reached. It felt like there always had to be more more more.
Six years ago, I began a healing journey that led me to a path that was more about surrender than chasing. I laid down the belief that I had to strive and grasp to find what I was seeking. And in that stopping, something unexpected arrived: stillness. In the absence of chasing, I discovered I already had access to what I was longing for, presence, connection, wholeness. Now, instead of running toward the next thing, I can actually be here for this moment. Life feels less like a race and more like a riverflowing, unfolding, carrying me exactly where I need to go.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Kirsty Akaal is a modern-day medicine woman, speaker, and somatic guide working at the intersection of trauma, healing, and authentic leadership. After 15 years leading transformational work with Fortune 500 companies, she underwent a 6-year spiritual initiation in Mexico. Today, she bridges ancient wisdom and corporate insight to help leaders, teams, and changemakers regulate their nervous systems, speak their truth, and embody their fullest, most fearless selves.
Currently working on a new documentary and book.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that has served its purpose is the part that had to be busy all the time, a workaholic, always “on,” never stopping, never fully feeling or being present. It was a coping mechanism that carried me through seasons where survival and achievement felt essential.
Now, I can work differently. I don’t need to grind 14-hour days, seven days a week. I can move through life more gently, more present, more connected, to myself, to others, and to the work that truly matters. Releasing that old pattern creates space for balance, creativity, and a deeper sense of alignment.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
The defining wounds of my life have been the secrets and shame I carried, those parts of myself I felt I couldn’t show, the stories I thought would make me unworthy or unlovable. For years, they felt heavy, isolating, and impossible to face. I learned that our secrets make us sick if we don´t do the inner work to release that shame & when I shared my secret on a TEDx stage. I realized that those very wounds held the medicine I was meant to share & it set me free.
Through a 30-year journey of unraveling, witnessing, and integrating my own pain, those experiences have now become my message. The shame became wisdom, the secrecy became insight, and the broken parts of my story became a map for others navigating their own journeys. My work, coaching, speaking, holding space at retreats, is rooted in the deep understanding that those wounds are now the gift I bring to the world.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
I believe that everything we move through, every joy, every heartbreak, every challenge, has purpose, even when we can’t see it in the moment. I believe our souls choose certain experiences as part of our journey, and that nothing is wasted. The pain, the shame, the struggles, they’re not random. They are invitations to grow, to awaken, and to remember the truth of who we really are.
What I know for sure is that I’ve lived this. Again and again, what once felt like my deepest wound eventually revealed itself as the exact medicine I needed. With time and perspective, it’s like looking through the rearview mirror, you begin to see it all through a different lens. And while I can’t prove it, I trust it with every part of me, life is always working for us, even in the moments we feel most lost.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
If I laid down my name, my role, and everything I possess, what would remain is simply me—and I like who I am. There was a time when titles, success, and recognition defined me. I was in the top 100 of 120,000 realtors worldwide, chasing awards and accomplishments as if they were the proof of my worth. I became a workaholic, eventually burning out, but at the time those achievements felt like everything. They mattered deeply then, and that shaped me.
But today, what matters is very different. I love who I am without the labels. I cherish the closeness of my community and clients, the stillness and quiet I find in meditation, and the practices that bring me home to myself. Stripped of everything external, what would remain is presence, connection, and a deep peace in simply being me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kirstyakaal.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kirstyakaal/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstyakaal/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kirstyakaal/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kirstyakaal
Image Credits
https://www.instagram.com/michellevdijk/
the professional ones are all with her. xx
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
