Wake Up to Your True Self (Before It’s Too Late) !
In 2019, I found myself in Shanghai hosting the World Youth Economic Forum—on paper, it was a dream come true.
But inside? I felt numb.
Something was missing. I was checking all the boxes of “success” while quietly living someone else’s life—not my own.
That year cracked something open in me. And now, five years later, I’ve returned.
This time, a different voice whispered. A story. A question.
A wake-up call:
Are you ready to wake up to your true self?
The Butterfly Dream: A 2300-Year-Old Message About Waking Up to Your True Self
There’s a famous parable by Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi, written over two millennia ago:
“I dreamt I was a butterfly, fluttering freely.
I had no awareness of being Zhuangzi.
Then I woke up—
Was I Zhuangzi dreaming I was a butterfly,
or a butterfly dreaming I was Zhuangzi?”
It wasn’t just about dreams or butterflies.
It was about identity, presence, and the terrifying possibility that…
You may still be asleep.
Signs You’re Not Living Your Life—Yet
Most of us don’t consciously choose to live in misalignment.
It just… happens.
We perform roles.
We chase “shoulds.”
We optimize calendars but neglect purpose.
Here are a few signs you haven’t yet woken up to your true self:
You feel exhausted, even when nothing is technically “wrong”
You confuse busyness with meaning
You achieve goals, but they don’t fulfill you
You perform instead of express
You’re haunted by the quiet thought: “Is this really it?”
If you see yourself here, you’re not broken.
You’re just being invited to wake up.
What It Really Means to Wake Up to Your True Self
Waking up isn’t always loud or dramatic.
Often, it starts with a quiet discomfort:
“I don’t recognize the person I’m becoming…”
To truly wake up to your true self, you’ll need to confront these 4 questions:
What do I actually want—beyond approval or status?
Who am I when no one’s watching?
What am I pretending not to know?
What if I reach the end of life and realize I betrayed myself—not others?
The answers won’t come instantly.
But asking them is how the illusion breaks.
And the butterfly stirs.
The Butterfly Doesn’t Doubt Its Wings, It Just Flies
Since 2019, I’ve helped hundreds of high-performers wake up to their true selves—
Not by adding more goals, but by shedding false identities.
Here’s what I see in people who’ve awakened:
They stop performing and start expressing
They trade guilt for grace
They move from busy to brilliant
They reconnect with a sense of wholeness—mind, body, and soul
Waking up doesn’t mean life gets easier.
It means it gets clearer.
And clarity is freedom.
If You Were the Butterfly, What Would You Do Next?
This is your moment.
A Kairos moment—divine timing.
So ask yourself:
If I trusted my wings, what would I do next?
What would I stop tolerating?
What would I finally say yes to?
Fear wants you small.
Guilt wants you stuck.
But your soul?
Your soul wants you awake.
You Don’t Need Permission to Wake Up to Your True Self
You’re the only person who will walk with you from birth to death.
So the only permission you need… is your own.
If something stirred in you—discomfort, curiosity, or a quiet yes…
Know this:
You’re not failing.
You’re waking up.
And I’m here for it.
Your friend and coach,
Carlos
