COVID, moving and relationships: Authenticity has been my wake up call
It was December 2021, the second year of COVID. I had just published my book, The Ripple Effect, and a friend came over for coffee. For nearly two years, the COVID narrative had dominated our lives, polarizing families and friendships. The mandates weren’t over yet—we were on the verge of facing the QR-code pass requirement for entering public spaces like cafes, restaurants, cinemas, theaters, and possibly even universities.
I asked my friend if she would comply with these new rules. She answered, “Of course,” explaining that she didn’t want to disrupt her life, or saw any harm in the QR code requirement. “But what about those who aren’t willing to comply with the vaccinations?” I asked. Her response was blunt: “That’s their choice, and they should accept the consequences.”
I questioned her whether she felt this perspective was selfish or short-sighted, especially given the risk of further dividing society. She was offended by my use of the word “selfish” and remarked that she found my stance on COVID too extreme any way. Without further discussion, she left abruptly. Despite my attempts to reconcile and discuss our differences, I never saw her again.
Two months before that meeting, I had already felt a strong urge to sell my house. The direction the world was heading in confirmed my research and it was unsettling: talk of a "great reset," a one-world order, increased control and surveillance, and ever-tightening rules and regulations. The COVID era became a glimpse into how easily societies might accept new controls without question.
My research revealed that the infrastructure for QR codes, apps, and the supporting technology had been in development at least a year before COVID had emerged. It seemed remarkably convenient to have it ready when the pandemic “unexpectedly” struck. Testing the public's acceptance of such measures under the guise of a health emergency has been, in hindsight, a strategic move.
In the two years since, the European Union has been diligently advancing its plans. The next step is the "digital wallet," which will consolidate personal, financial, and medical data into one system. By 2026, access to public spaces like cafes, libraries, universities, or airplanes (to name a few) will be determined by a QR code scan—no health emergency required. We’ll be asked to trust those in power to use this system ethically. Proponents argue it will create safer societies. But for those like me, it raises concerns about ethics and how easily such systems can evolve into something resembling China’s social credit scores.
This growing control was one reason I decided to sell my house and embrace flexibility. I am not under the illusion that Italy is immune to the challenges of controlled societies, but in the countryside, I can live somewhat outside the system. My vision is to create a more self-sustainable lifestyle with space for family, friends, and others to join me if needed. Life here feels healthier and more supportive, as I’ve shared in previous blogs.
The future will likely include normalized QR codes, "15-minute city" convenience living, and a blockchain-based financial system. While not everything about these changes is negative, I don’t feel the motivation behind all this is for the benefit, safety and freedom for us citizens. For ages our leadership has been based on power, control and greed. The big question, then, is humanity ready to develop leadership that is of a new kind?
I feel it is time for those who recognize the growing control of our system to step into what I call Authentic Leadership. This isn’t about activism or leading revolutions. Instead, it’s about embodying leadership through personal transformation—an inward evolution and that will push the collective transformation. We need new examples to follow that inspires us all to become more authentic.
Right now we live in a constructed system (a matrix) that thrives on division, manipulation, and disempowerment. A system based on lies and deceit. Not only do we need to see through the disempowering dynamics, we need to heal ourselves. Whatever ugliness is out there, it is part of us too. A little, seemingly innocent, lie has the same basis as a big corruptive act. Our change starts within, with the acknowledgement of how we are a fractal of the collective reality. As long as we allow little lies by pushing them aside as not a big thing, we feed the same dynamic. And the beauty is, once you see and truly feel through this and observe how it is all connected, you have (emotionally) liberated yourself from the matrix while living in it. Our transformation to free, equal and balance societies is not difficult, but it requires courage to be intimately honest with ourselves.
For years, I’ve reflected on what authenticity truly means as I was always curious why I admired those who act so true to themselves. Comparatively, I have always been sensitive to what other people think of me, and fearful of being laughed at and critisized. In the last years, I started to share my vision and opinion. At first it came out rough and unnuanced, so I can understand the reaction of my friend towards me in that time. Some of my ideas weren’t even my own. I too copied what others shared too easily. Whenever I did, I could feel it wasn’t true to my alignment, but I felt fearful of the blind trust so many have in the lies that we are told and the direction we are heading. ‘Wake up’ I screamed, ‘can’t you see what is happening?’ But it doesn’t work that way, it creates the opposite, resistance and denial.
Last year I found out that scientific research has confirmed my belief that Love (capital L) is not the only answer to our transformation as so many (spiritual and religious movements) make us believe: when we express ourselves authentically, we vibrate at a higher frequency (more radiant and truthful) than the frequency of love. Here’s why:
When we exist in the frequency of Love, we connect and unite with others, but we don’t necessarily express our unique gifts and vision. We aren’t even called to do so. That’s why Guru’s receive their status from their loving good hearted followers. Authenticity, however, requires courage and inner truth. It asks us to stand out and stay true to ourselves, regardless of others’ opinions, vision and ideas. To become authentic and true to yourself, you must learn new skills of which discernment is one. Discernment allows us to distinguish truth from deception. Discernment requires the unconditional frequency of Love otherwise we make choises and judgements based on Fear. There is so much information and misinformation that we cannot sit back and trust each other blindly while ignoring our inner intuitive signals. Discernment is needed within our personal relationships as well as within the narrative and beliefs of our societies. A helpful question is: What motivates a person? Is it pure Love or is it fear, greed or a selfish ego that needs protection?
Authentic leadership isn’t limited to traditional notions of leading groups or organizations. Each of us leads our own life, and through our actions and interactions, we influence those around us. I call this your Ripple of Impact (ROI). Becoming an authentic leader means becoming consciously aware of your ROI in all areas of life, every second of the day.
This concept of Authentic Leadership came to me as a vision in 2016. But it wasn’t until last month, supported by the tranquility of my home in Italy, that I fully grasped its significance in our times of awakening. All puzzle pieces ‘fell into’ a clear framework that hopefully will help many in their journey to liberation.
And now, as 2025 begins, I’m facing another shift in my life. I’ve decided to continue on my own. After six years, my relationship has ended. It was an incredibly difficult decision, but to strengthen my own ROI, I had to honor my values and stay true to myself. It is hard to explain the nuances in this shift beyond Love to being authentically true to myself. As an empath, I see the beautiful qualities and potential in others, and especially with an intimate partner, but focusing on potential has made me a critizing partner as well as someone who is too tolerant and accepting of behaviour beyond my own values.
Despite the uncertainty ahead, I also feel my excitement about this new year. Renovating my house remains a daunting task with the ridicously high costs they have quoted, but I’m determined to find my way to make it happen within my budget. The Business Sanctuary for Authentic Leadership will open. How soon will depend on my courage to go all in (financially) or play it safe. It will be my contemplation for the coming week.