In this episode, I open up about a wave of loneliness that hit me hard last Saturday. It was one of those moments where everything felt heavy, and suddenly, all I could see was what I didn't have anymore. If you’ve been through a similar feeling, especially after returning home from life abroad, you’re not alone. Instead of trying to fix or push the feeling away, I chose to sit with it. To spend time with it. And in doing so, I discovered something surprising: beneath the loneliness, what I was truly missing was fun and playfulness. I share how loneliness has a way of lying to us, making the past seem better than it was, disconnecting us from our vision for the future, and making everything we do have feel invisible. But when we stop resisting and start listening, there’s something to learn. This episode is your gentle reminder that your emotions aren’t your enemies, they’re messengers. And maybe, just maybe, your loneliness isn’t about what you’ve lost… but about what you’re being called to create. 🎧 Tune in if: You’re feeling disconnected or misunderstood since coming home Loneliness has been weighing heavy lately You need a reminder that you’re not behind, just in a moment of pause 🔗 Join Reignite Your Spark (6 weeks group program) : Here (https://stan.store/the_returner_support/p/the-returner-support--reignite-your-spark-group-) 🔗Book Your First 1:1 Coaching Appointment (the first one is free) : Here (https://stan.store/the_returner_support/p/book-a-consult-call-) 🔗 Join the 20 days challenge Rise Up : Here (https://stan.store/the_returner_support/p/the-returner-support-in-your-pocket) 🔗Grab the Ebook Deep Dive : Here (https://stan.store/the_returner_support/p/deep-dive-ebook-) 📩 Sign up for the Sunday Self Care Newsletter : Here (https://stats.sender.net/forms/eZ6VkE/view) 📩 Let’s connect on Instagram: @the_returner_support (https://www.instagram.com/the_returner_support) Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Leaving a place, and the people we love, always comes with a wave of emotions. In this episode, I share what it was like to say goodbye to my host family in the U.S., the sadness that came with it, and the patterns I noticed in myself as I navigated the days after. I talk about: The stories we tell ourselves when we leave someone or someplace we care about How I allowed myself to feel the heaviness and what helped me get grounded again The little shift that made me start appreciating my day without forcing it A pattern I’ve seen in myself: clinging to sadness or even resenting the new place I’m in An invitation for you to get curious about how you handle the first few days after a goodbye If you’re in the middle of a transition, or holding the weight of a recent goodbye, this episode is a reminder that your emotions have wisdom to share, and that beauty is still around you, waiting to be noticed. Want personalized support for your return journey? 🔗Book a free 30-minute clarity call here: Here (https://stan.store/the_returner_support/p/book-a-consult-call-) 🔗 Join the 20 days challenge Rise Up : Here (https://stan.store/the_returner_support/p/the-returner-support-in-your-pocket) 🔗Grab the Ebook Deep Dive : Here (https://stan.store/the_returner_support/p/deep-dive-ebook-) Follow me on Instagram for daily insights and support: @The returner support (?) Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Have you ever gone back to a place you once lived, only to feel like old versions of yourself suddenly show up again? In this episode, I share what I discovered while revisiting a place from my past, and how that experience can mirror what you might feel when you return somewhere familiar after years away. We’ll talk about: Why younger versions of you might resurface when you revisit old environments The hidden beliefs and patterns that can come alive again (like people-pleasing or proving your worth) How to use these moments of discomfort as an opportunity for deeper self-awareness and growth If you’ve ever wondered why going back to a familiar place feels so different than you expected, this episode will give you perspective, and remind you that these experiences can actually strengthen your relationship with yourself. Want personalized support for your return journey? 🔗 Book a free 30-minute clarity call : Here (https://stan.store/the_returner_support/p/book-a-consult-call-) 🔗Grab the Ebook Deep Dive : Here (https://stan.store/the_returner_support/p/deep-dive-ebook-) Follow me on Instagram for daily insights and support: @The returner support (?) Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

It’s hard to believe this is the 50th episode of the podcast, almost one year since I started! In this special episode, I’m diving into a topic that so many returnees feel but rarely put words to: why it can feel like our time abroad was just a dream once we’re back home. I explore two key themes: grief and integration. I share my very first day back home after two years abroad, what I felt, how I coped, and why it was so overwhelming. To draw a parallel, I open up about the grief I felt when I lost my ex, and the similarities between grieving a person and grieving a life chapter. I talk about the importance of acknowledging what you’re grieving, your life abroad, the version of yourself you used to be, and why clinging to the past is a natural reaction. Then, I shift to integration, the process of weaving your time abroad into your life now. I explore: The fact that most people’s baseline state is “fine.” Okay. Nothing bad, but not really alive either. What if instead, you made aliveness your baseline Why feeling all your emotions (not bypassing the hard ones) is the gateway to joy, excitement, and presence. A simple tip to start integrating aliveness into your daily life. This episode is for you if you’ve ever looked back on your time abroad and wondered if it was real, if you’ve struggled to find meaning back home, or if you want to carry that sense of aliveness with you into this next chapter. Want personalized support for your return journey? 🔗Book a free 30-minute clarity call here: Here (https://stan.store/the_returner_support/p/book-a-consult-call-) 🔗 Join the 20 days challenge Rise Up : Here (https://stan.store/the_returner_support/p/the-returner-support-in-your-pocket) 🔗Grab the Ebook Deep Dive : Here (https://stan.store/the_returner_support/p/deep-dive-ebook-) 🔗Find me on Substack : Here (https://anaisruel.substack.com/) Follow me on Instagram for daily insights and support: @The returner support (?) Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

If you’ve been telling yourself, “I don’t know what I want for my life,” or you feel lost about what to do after your time abroad, this episode is for you. We’ve been taught to ask the wrong questions, society often frames it all around career: What job will you do? Which degree will you choose? But if you don’t have that answer, it doesn’t mean you’re lost. In this conversation, I share my own story from when I first returned home. I had a plan, but I still felt unsure and kept looking at what others had done to find inspiration. What I really needed to do was pause and ask: What do I already know about myself and my desires? Who is the version of me that lives the life I want? How does she think, act, and make decisions? We’ll explore how to shift from chasing job titles or certifications to becoming a match for your ideal vision of life, whether that’s more travel, more connection, or a deeper sense of purpose. You’ll also hear practical examples (including from relationships) and why the better question isn’t “What did you do after your time abroad?” but “What was your process to figure it out?” By the end, you’ll walk away with a new approach to designing your life after living abroad: Get clear on what you already know about yourself. Imagine your ideal life and the version of you who’s living it. Learn from people who are thriving, not just what they did, but how they became who they are. It’s time to stop asking “What should I do?” and start asking “Who do I need to become?” Want personalized support for your return journey? Book a free 30-minute clarity call here: Here (https://stan.store/the_returner_support/p/book-a-consult-call-) 🔗Grab the Ebook Deep Dive : Here (https://stan.store/the_returner_support/p/deep-dive-ebook-) Follow me on Instagram for daily insights and support: @The returner support (?) Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

We need to have a different conversation. In this episode, I share why I'm done with the typical advice people give when you've come back from living abroad: keep yourself busy, plan your next trip, stay positive. These tips may come from good intentions, but they miss the heart of the experience. I dive into a Facebook post from someone who’s been home for 10 months. She’s happy to see her family, she has a job… but she doesn’t like who she’s becoming. And I share what the comments said and why, despite being well-meaning, they fall short. This episode is about what no one teaches us: ➡️ How to validate what we feel ➡️ How to ask ourselves what we actually need ➡️ How to not try to fix the feeling, but to feel it I tell my own story, what it felt like when I returned the first time, how even people who cared about me gave me quick solutions instead of just sitting with my emotions. I share what I learned from crisis response training: that healing doesn’t come from being fixed, it comes from being heard. We also explore: The grief no one talks about when you return home Why “I don’t like who I’m becoming” is a sign you’re shaming yourself What really changed when you were abroad (it’s not just the country, it was your mindset) Why trying to “go back” to who you were abroad doesn’t work, and what to do instead This isn’t about recreating the past. It’s about evolving. It’s about using what you lived abroad as a map, not a destination. Want personalized support for your return journey? Book a free 30-minute clarity call here: Here (https://stan.store/the_returner_support/p/book-a-consult-call-) 🔗 Register to the Newsletter : Here (https://the-returner-support.kit.com/6de3343cc5) 🔗Grab the Ebook Deep Dive : Here (https://stan.store/the_returner_support/p/deep-dive-ebook-) Follow me on Instagram for daily insights and support: @The returner support (?) Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

This episode is for the ones who came back home after living abroad, and now feel stuck, confused, disconnected… or like something magical got left behind. But what if you’re not stuck? What if you're just repeating a story you unconsciously decided a long time ago? In this raw and honest episode, I’m inviting you to zoom out and realize: You get to decide how your return feels. How it looks. How it moves. How it evolves. I share how I unknowingly created limiting stories when I returned to my country, like “home means responsibilities,” “I have to go back to school,” or “my family only gets me when I’m far away.” These stories shaped how I showed up… until I chose to change them. Here’s the breakthrough: 💡 The story you’re telling yourself is what’s keeping you stuck. From dating apps to family relationships, I show how the same patterns play out in different areas of life, and how rewriting the story changes everything. You’ll learn: Why “home” doesn’t have to mean “the end of freedom” How putting “abroad” on a pedestal keeps you disconnected from the magic you already have What really happens when you stop shaming parts of yourself to fit in How to shift from “I don’t belong” to “I get to belong on my terms” The ripple effect of healing your relationship with your country, and how it transforms your relationships with love, money, family, career… I’ll also walk you through the powerful truth that how you handle your return is how you handle every transition in life. This episode will challenge you. Empower you. And remind you: ✨ You are the magic. Not the place. Want personalized support for your return journey? Book a free 30-minute clarity call here: Here (https://stan.store/the_returner_support/p/book-a-consult-call-) 🔗 Join the 20 days challenge Rise Up : Here (https://stan.store/the_returner_support/p/the-returner-support-in-your-pocket) 🔗Grab the Ebook Deep Dive : Here (https://stan.store/the_returner_support/p/deep-dive-ebook-) Follow me on Instagram for daily insights and support: @The returner support (?) Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this episode, I open up about a recent spiral I experienced after coming back to the U.S., and the big realization that came with it: I was outsourcing my emotional validation instead of truly sitting with myself. If you’ve returned home after living abroad and feel disconnected, stuck in the past, or constantly comparing life now to life then... this episode is for you. Here’s what we explore together: The subtle difference between spending time with yourself vs. being with yourself Why we often rush to share big emotions with others before processing them internally How “I was happier abroad” becomes a self-fulfilling loop that keeps us stuck A short guided visualization to connect with the version of you who already has what you want Why treating your return differently is key to creating a different reality The power of reacting in unpredictable, soul-aligned ways instead of old patterns This episode is an invitation to slow down, feel more deeply, and get curious about what’s truly underneath the emotions you’ve been experiencing since being back. Let’s start creating your next chapter, one that’s not just a repeat of the past, but rooted in your present truth. 🎧 Tune in and share with a friend who might need this reminder too. Want personalized support for your return journey? Book a free 30-minute clarity call here: Here (https://stan.store/the_returner_support/p/book-a-consult-call-) 🔗 Join the 20 days challenge Rise Up : Here (https://stan.store/the_returner_support/p/the-returner-support-in-your-pocket) 🔗Grab the Ebook Deep Dive : Here (https://stan.store/the_returner_support/p/deep-dive-ebook-) Follow me on Instagram for daily insights and support: @The returner support (?) Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this raw and honest episode, I share what’s been unfolding since I returned to the US, and how, within just one week, this transition has already become a mirror for deeper healing. I open up about the triggers that have resurfaced, especially around people-pleasing, usefulness, and the belief that I need to earn love and belonging. I realized I’ve placed my experience in the US, and even my host family, on a pedestal. But what happens when that pedestal starts to crumble? Using the exact method I applied when I returned to my home country, I’m approaching this move with curiosity, self-awareness, and compassion. I walk you through how I lean into discomfort instead of avoiding it, and the powerful insights that emerge when I do. One of the biggest questions I’m sitting with right now is: 👉 If I stop performing or being “useful,” will I still be accepted and loved? I also share a simple practice that helps me reconnect with my body and emotions, allowing me to stay grounded and meet what’s really there, beyond the patterns. This episode is for anyone who’s navigating a transition, facing old wounds in new places, or wondering how to show up authentically without fear of losing connection. Want personalized support for your return journey? Book a free 30-minute clarity call here: Here (https://stan.store/the_returner_support/p/book-a-consult-call-) 🔗 Join the 20 days challenge Rise Up : Here (https://stan.store/the_returner_support/p/the-returner-support-in-your-pocket) 🔗Grab the Ebook Deep Dive : Here (https://stan.store/the_returner_support/p/deep-dive-ebook-) Follow me on Instagram for daily insights and support: @The returner support (?) Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this episode, I’m joined by Grace Grossman, yogi mentor, writer, and someone who has spent most of her life moving between cultures. Born in the UK with a German father, Grace has lived in Germany, Spain, and the UK, always flowing between the three, learning something new about herself in each place. We dive into what it means to form an identity when your life spans multiple cultures. Grace doesn’t call it an identity crisis, for her, it’s a self-discovery journey. From feeling deeply relaxed and in flow in Spain, to embracing her boundaries and directness in Germany, she reminds us that each country brings out something that was already within us. In this conversation, we explore: The nuances of identity when you’ve lived abroad and never fully fit into just one box The feeling of returning home and realizing you’ve changed, even if nothing around you has The fine line between expanding through travel vs. escaping through it Why labels can feel limiting, and how we can choose who we want to be Grace’s reflection that home is within you, no matter where you are This episode is a reminder that your identity isn’t something you “find” in one place, it’s something you consciously choose and grow into over time. A grounding, thoughtful listen for anyone navigating life between countries, or just trying to make peace with all the parts of themselves. Find more about Grace : On Substack : here (https://substack.com/@gracegrossmann?r=21fjw4&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=profile) On Instagram : here (https://www.instagram.com/healinghearts_hubwithgrace/) Her book ''Chill Out and Cheer Up'' : Here (https://www.amazon.com/Chill-Out-Cheer-Up-Ten-Step/dp/B08RYLFYD2/ref=cm_cr_arp_mb_bdcrb_top?ie=UTF8&fbclid=PAQ0xDSwLXPD5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABpwXchQWRRdpA1mvnLHFfAxR0Ezv7W8IcFnsLNbgDpd3BGRMToI2xClq69_Ci_aem_lcECb9i-aGvWCECVgxv_FA) Want personalized support for your return journey? Book a free 30-minute clarity call with me: Here (https://stan.store/the_returner_support/p/book-a-consult-call-) 🔗 Join the 20 days challenge Rise Up : Here (https://stan.store/the_returner_support/p/the-returner-support-in-your-pocket) 🔗Grab the Ebook Deep Dive : Here (https://stan.store/the_returner_support/p/deep-dive-ebook-) Follow me on Instagram for daily insights and support: @The returner support (?) Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.