From Burnout to Rebirth: How I Regenerated My Heart and Found My True Purpose
After 20 years in corporate and advertising, in 2019, my heart collapsed. I found myself at the lowest point of my life—depressed, sad, and with no hope for the future. It was the year before the pandemic, but I already felt crushed, drained of life.
As an Aries, known for resilience and fire, I had never imagined myself lying in bed, contemplating ending it all. Even having two kids and being the breadwinner of my family didn’t give me the will to stand up and keep going.
I had always seen myself as a creative person. My name, Iris, means rainbow in my native language, Portuguese. So you can imagine how disconnected I felt from my core essence. I no longer felt human—I felt like a machine, running on autopilot. My feelings and my heart had been ignored for too long.
When I was younger, I was always a happy person—I dressed in color, laughed every day, and had friends at work. I had achieved the top of my career, coming from a simple family in Brazil and working my way up to New York City—the capital of the world. Yet, when I looked in the mirror, this is what I saw:
A dark wardrobe, pale skin, and a mind obsessed with saving enough money for retirement.
A creative spirit, trapped in a cycle of exhaustion and emptiness.
A woman who had always believed in working with her heart first—now completely disconnected from it.
Some people call this burnout. But I think I had gone beyond that point.
Growing up, I was never encouraged to fail. I was always pushed to keep going, ignore my feelings, and persist—so that’s what I did.
One day, after a shower, I looked into the mirror and saw my 16-year-old self—the girl who had chosen a creative career because she wanted to do what she loved for free. And yet, here I was, a slave to my own life.
I was born to create, to innovate, to bring beauty into the world—and yet, I had never felt farther from that purpose.
Then, the pandemic arrived.
For the first time in years, I had time to think. To step out of the matrix and decide what to do with my life.
I realized I needed a massive shift, a rebirth. I would challenge the old beliefs I grew up with—the ones that told me, “Do what I say, not what I do.” I could no longer live a life of contradiction.
So, I started my own regeneration journey.
I went deep into my wounds, my past, my desires. I did for myself what I had spent years doing for brands—a complete, deep assessment of who I was and what I truly wanted.
As I reflect on my journey now, I can say that I am a Regenerative Heart.
It hasn’t been an easy journey—especially in a world where money speaks louder than anything. But if you’re feeling lost, disconnected, or trapped in a life that doesn’t reflect your true self, here are some key reflections from my journey that might help you too:
What is a Regenerative Heart?
A regenerative heart is more than a metaphor—it’s a way of living and leading that focuses on restoration, alignment, and long-term well-being. It’s the opposite of an extractive or transactional mindset, where we take and use until we are empty. Instead, a regenerative heart is about giving back more than we take—to ourselves, our communities, and the world.
A regenerative heart:
Seeks harmony between personal well-being and collective impact.
Acts with conscious intention, ensuring that decisions align with a greater good.
Embraces resilience, adapting to challenges while maintaining integrity.
Creates space for renewal, recognizing that true strength comes from cycles of rest, growth, and evolution.
The Science of Regeneration: More than Just a Metaphor
Regeneration is not just a biological process; it is a psychological and systemic one as well.
In nature, regeneration happens when ecosystems restore and renew themselves—forests regrow, cells repair, and rivers cleanse.
In psychology, self-determination theory suggests that human flourishing depends on autonomy, meaningful relationships, and mastery.
In leadership, the Barrett Model shows that personal and organizational well-being thrive when values are aligned with long-term impact.
A regenerative heart embraces these principles, ensuring that growth is sustainable, actions are intentional, and change is life-giving rather than depleting.
How to Cultivate a Regenerative Heart
1. Restore: Connect with Your Core Purpose
Before we can regenerate the world around us, we must first restore our own sense of meaning.
Ask yourself: What impact do I want to have?
Reflect on past experiences that have shaped you.
Engage in purpose-driven decision-making that considers long-term well-being rather than immediate rewards.
2. Align: Live with Integrity and Authenticity
Alignment means ensuring that our values, actions, and impact are in sync. When we operate from a place of authenticity, we create a ripple effect of trust and transformation.
Use tools like the PurposeAlign™ Blueprint to clarify your guiding principles.
Foster conscious relationships that uplift and empower others.
Commit to win-win-win solutions that benefit people, society, and nature.
3. Regenerate: Lead with Compassion and Systemic Awareness
A regenerative heart is deeply empathetic—it understands that healing is not just personal but collective. Leaders with a regenerative mindset create environments where people, ideas, and ecosystems thrive.
Implement regenerative leadership models, focusing on collaboration over competition.
Recognize that true success is measured not just in profits but in impact.
Cultivate resilience by allowing space for rest, reflection, and renewal.
4. Sustain: Adapt, Evolve, and Continue the Cycle
Sustainability is not about maintaining the status quo—it’s about adapting, learning, and evolving in alignment with deeper wisdom.
Regularly reassess your actions to ensure they remain regenerative.
Practice AdaptiveReset™ strategies to stay aligned with your evolving vision.
Inspire others to cultivate their own regenerative hearts, creating a network of conscious changemakers.
A Heart That Regenerates, A Life That Thrives
The world is at a critical turning point—climate crises, social inequalities, and mental health challenges demand new approaches to leadership and living. A regenerative heart is not just an individual trait but a collective movement toward a future where growth is restorative, actions are aligned with higher purpose, and success is measured by the well-being we create.
By leading with a regenerative heart, we transform not only ourselves but the world around us.
