An Inspired Chat with Diana Onichkina of Vancouver, British Columbia

Diana Onichkina shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Diana , really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: Would YOU hire you? Why or why not?
This question honestly made me smile. For a moment I thought it was a bit silly and maybe I should choose something more serious, but then it clicked with me because it reflects such a real part of my journey.
If you had asked me this 4–5 years ago, I probably would’ve listed all the reasons not to hire me. I used to underestimate my abilities, shrink myself, and constantly make myself “not enough.” I would question every decision and feel like I didn’t have enough experience, even when I did.
Now?
I would hire myself 100%.
I’m no longer shy to acknowledge that I am a great, committed person who always acts in the best interest of the company, community, or client I’m supporting. I’m extremely professional, deeply kind, and genuinely dedicated to helping others grow. I know how to hold responsibility, I know how to lead with care, and I know the value I bring.
It took time to get here, but today, I would confidently choose myself every single time.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Diana Onichkina, and I’m a breathwork coach and the co-founder of Happy Women’s Club, a fast-growing wellness and lifestyle community in Vancouver. As a coach, I work with women and individuals seeking functional breathwork training to improve energy, focus, emotional regulation, and overall wellbeing. My breathwork programs are designed to help people reconnect with their bodies, calm their nervous systems, and live with more clarity, confidence, and balance.

Happy Women’s Club is my soul project, a community that started as a simple idea and grew into something bigger, deeper, and more meaningful than I could have ever imagined. It is a space for every kind of woman:
For the mama who gives endlessly and craves a moment to breathe.
For the student searching for her path.
For the career-driven leader chasing big dreams but looking for balance.
For the creative soul seeking inspiration and connection.
For the woman in transition, rebuilding, rediscovering, or reinventing herself.
For anyone seeking a supportive, like-minded community of women.

At Happy Women’s Club, we always say:
We are multidimensional souls, each carrying unique stories and dreams, yet we all share the same desire to grow, connect, and live this life joyfully together.
Through the club’s programs and events, our mission is to help women feel supported, empowered, and aligned with who they truly are. Separately, through my breathwork coaching, I provide tools and practices that anyone, women in particular but really anyone, can use to cultivate energy, calm, and resilience in their everyday lives.
Right now, I’m focused on expanding the community and creating experiences that support women on both a personal and collective level, while continuing to develop my breathwork programs to reach and help more people in meaningful ways. Both paths, the club and my coaching, are rooted in the same belief: when we come together with intention, transformation becomes possible.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I truly believed that people don’t change. I thought we were born with a fixed personality: a set of traits, reactions, and beliefs, and that was simply who we were meant to be forever. I believed my emotional patterns were something I just had to accept.

Only in my twenties did I realize how untrue that was.
Back then, I was extremely emotional, impatient, impulsive, and quick to blame others when things didn’t go my way. I felt chaotic inside and assumed that this was just “who I am.”

Until one day, something shifted. I woke up with a level of clarity I had never felt before and understood deeply that I didn’t want to be that “angry bird” version of myself anymore. I didn’t want to live in chaos or reaction. I wanted peace, compassion, kindness, and responsibility.
That was the moment I discovered one of the most liberating truths:
My personality creates my personal reality.

And if I don’t like the reality, I have the power to change the personality behind it.
From that day forward, I started acting from a place of choice. I chose softness over anger, awareness over reactivity, and love over ego. I chose to take responsibility for my behaviour, my energy, and my life.

And now I deeply believe, and teach that if someone truly wants to change any part of their life, they absolutely can. Transformation is not only possible; it’s available to anyone who decides to take ownership of who they want to become.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me things that success never had the power to teach. Success can make life feel beautiful, but suffering is what made me awake.

Pain showed me the parts of myself I was avoiding. The patterns I kept repeating, the emotions I wasn’t willing to face, the areas where I was giving my power away. It forced me to slow down, to look inward, and to take responsibility for my life in a way comfort never demanded.
Suffering taught me humility.
It taught me compassion, not just for others, but for myself.
It taught me what it means to be present, to be human, to be vulnerable and still keep going.
It taught me that healing rarely happens in the light; it happens in the dark moments when you decide you won’t abandon yourself again.
And most importantly, suffering taught me that everything is temporary, the pain, the confusion, the fear, and that I am stronger and more adaptable than I ever realized. That realization didn’t come from success. It came from surviving the moments I thought would break me.

Success celebrates you.
Suffering shapes you.

And I wouldn’t be who I am today without the lessons that came from the hardest seasons of my life.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
I believe that true freedom comes from self-discipline, not from doing whatever you want. Most people think freedom means indulging every impulse, avoiding responsibility, or following only their desires. But in my experience, the real freedom is the kind that brings peace, clarity, and fulfillment- comes from consciously choosing how you show up every day, even when it’s uncomfortable.

It’s about creating boundaries, honouring your energy, and taking responsibility for your life, even when it’s easier to blame, complain, or avoid. Most people resist this idea because it feels restrictive at first, but paradoxically, it’s the only path to genuine liberation.
I’ve seen it in my own life and in the women I work with: when you choose discipline over chaos, consistency over fleeting desire, and awareness over autopilot, you unlock a freedom that nothing external can ever give you.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What will you regret not doing? 
I ask myself this question often: What will I regret not doing? Life is short, and I refuse to let work, comfort, or expectations dictate my choices. Being in my 30s has made me realize how precious every moment is, watching my family grow, experiencing love, and doing things that make my soul smile.

I’m from Ukraine, and my country is going through one of the hardest periods in its history. Knowing that my loved ones live with constant danger has made me think deeply about what truly matters. I don’t want to reach the end of my life and regret not fully showing up, not living intentionally, or not prioritizing my health, my family, and the people I care about.

I have the privilege and responsibility to build a life and work that align with my values. I want to create impact, support my community, and live in a way that feels fully alive and meaningful. Life is a gift, and I intend to honour it every day.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Happy Women Summit Event photos are by Kate Art Photography
https://www.kateartphotography.ca/

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Resilience
Betting on the Brightside: Developing and Fostering Optimism

Optimism is like magic – it has the power to make the impossible a reality

Highlighter Series
What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?

There is no one path – to success or even to New York (or Kansas).

Leadership Development
Finding & Living with Purpose

Over the years we’ve had the good fortunate of speaking with thousands of successful entrepreneurs,