Self-discovery – Kayla MacArthur

October 3, 2023

A Gift in the Dark: Lessons on Self-Love & Personal Power

“What if you are powerful, even when you’re not creating or expressing? What if your power is never ‘off’—there are simply times when it isn’t visible to the world?” As I let these questions sink in, my entire body exhaled—a breath I didn’t know I was holding.These are the kind of questions that make your shoulders drop and your thoughts stop. The kind that shake up your world to the point where it will never be the same again. In the span of seconds, I was anchored and buoyed by a new truth. The puzzle pieces of self-understanding rearranged and clicked into place. And I felt free. Throughout my journey...

August 30, 2023

The Unconventional Truth About Having it All

Explore, Reinvent

What does it mean to “have it all?” In my world, I believe having it all has less to do with accomplishing more and everything to do with how fully we’re showing up as our true selves. Having it all is not a juggling act. It’s not committing to everything and everyone under the sun and then trying to figure out the most efficient and productive way to balance it all out. {Most of the time, having it all is about taking things OFF your plate}. In my world, in order to show up as our true selves, we must get crystal clear on what we value and what’s most...

October 29, 2022

The Call Back Home

Explore, Reinvent

Feet sinking into sand. Sticky air. Heat kissing my face and arms. The sound of waves galloping to shore. Foamy fingers. Bubbles popping as the ocean calls herself home. Birds whistling. Palms rustling. Driftwood everywhere. The sharp scent of smoke. Salt and ash on my tongue. And the foul bowels of low tide. I am here, in my body, tasting every sense, one at a time. My phone is untouched in my backpack. There is no podcast playing. There is no book in my hands. There is just me and the ocean, her heartbeat thumping rhythmically with mine. As a collective, we are losing the experience of presence. The devices...

May 23, 2022

Whispers on the Wind

Reinvent

As I usher in my 33rd year of life, I am facing a new set of blank pages. Ryan’s manuscript is complete. We sent it off in the middle of the night, with tiredness clinging to our eyelids and exhaustion blurring the pages. We let it go to the darkness; to the ethers of the internet. Its fate now rests with our editor, and the same faith that trusts springtime buds will bloom and snow will blanket the earth in winter. I feel like a weight has been lifted, but I also feel an emptiness. This project has colored my time for the better part of a year. It has...

May 21, 2021

What a Bad Surfer Taught Me About Hitting Home Runs

Create, Explore, Reinvent

I learned something new this week: Ryan is pretty bad at surfing. Most days around 5pm, we close our computers and head down to the beach. While Ryan typically surfs in the gray dawn of morning, on Tuesday, he decided to bring his board. Knowing how fond he is of the sport, I was excited to witness him catch a wave. I mean, he’s surfed in Portugal, Australia, and Peru; he had a business training professional athletes; and he was a YES to Sayulita FOR surfing! He must be good, right?! After picking out an empty spot on the sand, I unfolded my chair, sat down, and scanned the horizon for...

May 5, 2021

Living Nomadically: Is it For You or Not?

Explore

Living a nomadic lifestyle is not a constant state of wonder all the time. You may see the magical moments on social media, and while the highs and happy feelings are VERY real, there’s also the spaces in between where things aren’t as pretty as the pictures. Last week, I went LIVE on Facebook to share some of the low points Ryan and I have experienced while living and working in Mexico. If you’re personally considering a nomadic lifestyle, these are challenges to consider. *Before I share, it’s important for me to acknowledge my privilege. My intention is to share my personal experience, however, in no way can these challenges...

November 6, 2020

When You’re Not Creating What You Want…

Create

I thought relocating to Tulum would create exponential growth in my business. Turns out, I was wrong.The truth is: I’ve received “no” after “no” since being here, and it’s been disheartening to say the least. Last Thursday, when I had the chance to be coached by one of my mentors, this is what I brought to her. And what I discovered was quite intriguing… When we took a look at what has been behind the “no’s,” I realized that many of the people I’ve been in conversation with have not been crystal clear on the vision of what they want to create in their lives. Therefore, why invest a significant...

September 8, 2020

Butterflies & Spirit Whispers: How I’m Using Travel & Relationship for Growth

Create, Explore, Reinvent

On Saturday, I was biking to the Chedraui when I saw a giant butterfly trembling in the street. I pulled over to scoop up paper wings in my palms. I knew death was near and I couldn’t bear for this magnificent creature to be torn to shreds by the bustle of life. I carried her to the forest, where I laid her to rest and thanked her for blessing the world with beauty, if only for a little while. The next morning, I saw the same kind of butterfly, not once, but twice, on my ride to the playa. Giant wings shimmered iridescent blue and brown as they floated, very much...

June 17, 2020

The Three Gods

Create, Explore

One sunny morning in Canggu when Mark and I were waiting for his surf instructor, a Balinese woman appeared in the open space next to us and began blessing her storefront with the day’s offerings. She laid out colorful woven baskets, filled with flowers, incense, and bits of rice. Curls of smoke danced through the air and tickled our noses. As she bowed her head in silence, I wondered what she was praying about. When she opened her eyes, she dipped a small bristled brush in holy water and sprinkled each offering three times. Mark turned to me and said: “She does it in threes. Once for each of...

April 11, 2020

On Becoming Her

Explore, Reinvent

Towards the end of my trip, I was walking to the Green Window for breakfast when a little Balinese man slowed his motorbike and came to a full stop in front of me. He greeted me warmly, like we were old friends. He said: “You love your life. You love your life so much. I see it here.” {Pointing to my third eye}. “You are wide open. Your heart is wide, wide open.” Taken aback by his astute reflection, goosebumps prickled on my skin. Why, yes. I did love my life.And my heart was more open than the sky. If only my new friend could see me two weeks later—home...