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Valeria sits down with her close friend, Aleks Malkin, to discuss the beauty and complexities of life's choices, personal growth, and the paths not taken. The episode dives deep into themes of self-reflection, hyper-independence, and the power of vulnerability, as the two friends share stories of their past, the defining moments that shaped them, and how their perspectives on life have evolved over the years.

Aleks opens up about her journey with motherhood, marriage, and the importance of allowing oneself to feel deeply, even if it means facing uncomfortable truths. Valeria shares her own experiences of contemplating the "what ifs" in life, questioning the different paths she could have taken, and the realization that some choices were necessary for her growth. They explore how childhood experiences and societal expectations have influenced their definitions of love, success, and identity, and how they’re striving to create a more authentic and fulfilling life.

Follow Aleks on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aleksmalkin/ 

Mentioned: 

Byron Katie’s The Work: https://thework.com/ 

Awareness by Anthony DeMello https://a.co/d/gfyPX0Q 

Chloe Macintosh: https://www.instagram.com/chloe_macintosh/ 

Inside Out 2: https://www.disneyplus.com/movies/inside-out-2/6MeZYf9JkFii 

Shop my look from this episode: https://liketk.it/4JhPf 

What We Talked About:

• 00:00 Intro


• 01:36 Weekend contemplation


• 03:52 What could I have done differently?


• 07:24 Taking alone time


• 12:06 Self-awareness


• 14:11 Losing yourself in being a mother


• 17:08 The 4-Question Inquiry


• 21:13 Pause and then process the situation


• 22:02 Somatic way to heal


• 26:31 You model your values


• 27:49 How to raise a daughter


• 30:46 What younger you would have wanted


• 35:10 Hyper-independence as a coping mechanism


• 39:04 Pleasure has become synonymous to shame


• 43:07 The generation that needs a lot of self-work


• 45:42 Having comfortable conversations with your parents


• 47:05 Conversation with your mom


• 52:17 Compassion and space for people


• 56:06 It’s about creating a safe environment


• 01:00:56 How do you define real friendships


• 01:02:37 Are you still working on yourself?


• 01:03:40 Back from a social media break


• 01:07:25 Allow things to come to you


• 01:14:49 How do you give advice to someone?


• 01:20:23 What’s your purpose?

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