Souls in Captivity, Are You in the Right Place?

A Reflection on Inner and Outer Alignment

sometimes I watch Deadly 60 with my son—a program about some of the world's most dangerous animals. As we watched, I found myself reflecting on how every animal has specific environmental and climatic conditions it needs in order to survive, or even thrive.

A polar bear wouldn’t last long in Africa, nor would a crocodile thrive in Iceland.

Imagine asking a fish to live outside the ocean—what would it say?

This made me wonder about human beings. What kind of "environment" do we need—not just to survive, but to live fully and meaningfully? What are the conditions necessary for us to feel aligned, at peace, and inspired by our lives?

We often hear people say things like, “Despite the hardships, they lived a long life.” But I find myself questioning: what was the quality of that life? I could live to be 100, but how would those years feel? Was I merely surviving, or truly living?

Life is about quality first, and quantity second. I'd rather live fewer years filled with richness and authenticity than a century marked by disconnection and suffering.

Of course, humans are incredibly adaptable. We can survive in harsh climates, through chronic illness, emotional pain, or long-term misalignment. But what are the long-term costs of this kind of survival? And what happens to our inner world when we keep pushing through conditions that quietly erode our joy and well-being?

So many of us live far from our birthplaces. I read countless posts on social media about coping with homesickness, disconnection, and the effort to belong in unfamiliar cultures. But how do we truly create a meaningful life in places where we feel out of sync, or where our souls feel undernourished? What takes priority—adaptation or authenticity?

As dynamic beings, our needs and desires evolve. Who we were five years ago may have thrived in a particular environment or relationship, but the version of ourselves that exists now might feel constrained, depleted, or unfulfilled. Sometimes, all it takes is a few adjustments. Other times, our soul is calling for a deeper transformation—a new environment, a new rhythm, a new truth.

One of the greatest challenges we face is the ripple effect this realisation can have on our relationships. When our needs change, but those closest to us remain the same, tensions can arise. Misunderstandings, disappointments, and even separations are often born from these growing pains.

When we approach life with a closed mind and heart, we tend to take others’ changes personally. We may become defensive, even arrogant, instead of opening to deeper understanding.

And when we deny our own truth—staying in circumstances that no longer reflect who we are—we risk becoming anxious, depressed, and deeply disconnected from ourselves. Our vitality fades, and we begin to lose our joy, creativity, and sense of purpose.

At times, inner change requires immense sacrifice and willpower. If we’re already exhausted, living in survival mode, even thinking about change can feel overwhelming. And in survival mode, there is little space left for love, connection, and possibility.

That’s why internal and external alignment is so crucial. Finding our place in the world is not just about our inner state, but about our connection to everything—the land, the people, the food, the language, the weather, the water. All of it matters.

It’s not always easy to know where we truly belong, or where our energy can be most powerfully expressed.

But I deeply admire those who keep searching—with courage, clarity, and heart—for the place that feels like home.

So let me leave you with a question that may stir something within:

Are you in the right place?