Not a Comeback, Just a Return
Slowly, Gently, I Begin Again...
The last two years have been… character-building in the truest sense.
Not always graceful, but deeply humbling.
Stretching. Realigning. Unfolding in ways I didn’t expect but needed.
And through it all, one thing has been gently calling me back:
Mindfulness and the present moment.
While I’ve kept up with my daily meditation practice (I wrote more about that here), I had drifted from my mindfulness practice. The one that grounded me, shaped my days, and eventually led me to build a business centered entirely around it.
For three years, mindfulness wasn’t just a daily practice; it was a lifeline.
In May 2022, I launched a new business rooted in mindfulness. My intention was to run it alongside my Virtual Assistant business (which I’d been building since 2017), and eventually let it become my main offering.
But reality looked different.
From May 2022 to June 2023, I had one sale. One.
Crickets.
And it felt so hard, like pushing boulders uphill.
Which made no sense, because I wasn’t new to business. I had momentum, experience, a good eye for marketing, and yet… it didn’t land. No matter how heart-led my offer was, it simply didn’t connect.
In May 2023, during a meditation, something came to light:
I had been building from fear, not just any fear, but a deep, lifelong fear of lack.
A fear that there wouldn’t be enough. That I wouldn’t be enough.
That I had to hustle and prove and push to stay afloat.
It’s a pattern I’ve been healing for years, one that’s shaped much of my adult life. But it was running the show more than I realized.
And I had unknowingly been trying to fit my vision into a mould that wasn’t mine.
And so, I paused. Not forever, just until I could root back into truth.
Not out of defeat, but reflection. Because I knew I couldn’t build something sustainable from scarcity and comparison.
I needed to choose differently.
“The self we create in response to trauma is not our true self, but a protective self.” – Dr. Nicole LePera
Now, I’m returning — not because everything is certain or mapped out, but because something true is calling me back.
Mindfulness has never left me, it’s simply been waiting for me to remember.
And ironically, it’s during this exact moment of financial unknowns, of things feeling tight and uncertain again, that I feel most called to pick it back up and share again.
Because the work never stopped. I just stopped doing it publicly.
“Healing is not linear. Expansion often feels like contraction first.”
So this isn’t a comeback. Not a rebrand.
Just… a return. A softening. A remembering.
For now? I’m trusting the slow rebuild.
Letting presence lead the way.
Letting alignment be the pace-setter.
I’m not here to add to the content overload.
As I shared on my YouTube channel:
“I want to be less part of the online noise and rather use it to contribute to my life and yours in beautiful and magical ways.”
So if things aren’t consistent or polished, trust that I’m still here. Rooting in, tending quietly, and showing up with intention.
✧ Words that are Holding Me Right Now:
This is not a breakdown — it’s a rite of passage.
“The self we create in response to trauma is not our true self, but a protective self.” – Dr. LePera
Healing is not linear. Expansion often feels like contraction first.
Your body is interpreting the uncertainty as going backwards, but in truth, you're going deeper.
Yes, the fear is valid. But what if this exact moment is the test?
Can you trust this pause, without filling it out of fear?
We can’t heal in the same conditions that made us sick.
You’re not behind. You’re in the void, the sacred in-between.
✧ Where You’ll Find Me
✨ I’m easing back into using my Mindfulness IG account @theingridmangiagalli and my blog IG account @ingrid.mangiagalli.blog but the majority of my work will be shared 👇
✨ You’ll find my long-form reflections here on Substack, my Blog - Reflector Musings, and Newsletter, 3 gentle corners of the internet where I explore my multipassionate being, life & healing.
✨ I’ll be gently building community through in-person & online Workshops and Mindfulness Circles & Retreats - so stick around.
✨ You can also follow me on Youtube - @ingridmangiagalli - I am having SO much fun there.
✧ Current Offerings
✨ Alongside my writing, we (Hubby (Dwayne) and I) offer Podcast (audio & video) + Video Editing Services. We serve creatives, coaches, and content-led brands who value freedom, soul, and quality over quantity. Because we only take on a few clients at a time, our turnaround time is incredibly reliable and spacious.
We currently have 3 spots available. If you’re a creator, podcast host, or business owner looking for editing support with care and intention, reach out here or email ingrid@ingridmangiagalli.com
✧ If You’d Like to Support My Work
✨ My writings and mindfulness work are offered through a donation-based model. This has always felt aligned, making my work more accessible while honouring the energy it takes to create and hold space.
If you feel called to support my journey, you can contribute any amount via hubby’s PayPal (Dynacor Gaming) until I finalize the platform that fits best. Your support helps sustain this work and ripple its impact further out. TY!
Because in this fast, noisy world, learning how to slow down — to be with ourselves — is a radical act. And I believe it changes everything.
✧ Let’s Stay Connected
If this resonated with you, I’d love to hear what’s been anchoring you lately.
Hit reply or leave a comment, I read every word.
Thank you for being here.
Let’s walk the slow path together; one breath, one pause at a time.
All my love,
Ings xx