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Monika Lewicka, the visionary founder of Empowered.travel, is redefining how we think about transformative journeys. With a deeply personal story of resilience and growth, Monika has channeled her life experiences into creating a groundbreaking platform that empowers women to navigate life transitions through intentional travel. Empowered.travel isn’t just about destinations—it’s about cultivating purpose, alignment, and connection with the world around us.

In this conversation, Monika reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped her path, from her challenging childhood to life-changing solo journeys across continents. She shares how these experiences inspired her unique approach, which blends regenerative living, Japanese psychology, and practical frameworks for healing and growth. Monika’s work emphasizes small, meaningful steps over quick fixes, creating a sustainable and accessible path to transformation.

Monika is a trailblazer in women-centered travel. Her mission goes beyond personal healing to inspire a global movement of connection, purpose, and resilience. Thank you Monika for your time, and work you do.

Can you describe a significant experience from your childhood that you believe planted the seeds for your journey into wellness and healing?

 

“A significant experience from my childhood that planted the seeds for my journey into wellness and healing was growing up as the child of a solo mother who faced immense financial and emotional struggles. Without a father figure, I experienced both profound challenges and extraordinary kindness from strangers and friends. However, my childhood was marked by significant trauma, including sexual abuse, anorexia, and clinical depression.  

Despite these hardships, I developed a fierce independence and ambition early on. This spirit drove me to embark on a transformative journey in my early twenties – traveling through Cuba on a bicycle with only a paper map, followed by hitchhiking across 15 Latin American countries, living in Nepal, and cycling through South-East Asia and China. Experiencing the world firsthand, outside the confines of books and academia, reshaped my perspective on life and humanity.  

This journey shifted my aspirations. I gave up my dream of working in the UN’s Humanitarian Department to focus on grassroots initiatives and, more importantly, my own healing and identity building. At 22, I attended my first Vipassana meditation retreat, a profound experience that paved the way for deeper self-exploration. Over time, I delved into shamanism, which brought me self-awareness but also prompted significant life changes, including the end of an eight-year relationship.  

Ultimately, the turning point in my healing journey came with the discovery of Japanese psychology. This approach allowed me to find peace and purpose in my past, reframing the challenges of my childhood as stepping stones on the path to wellness. Each of these experiences—both external and internal – has profoundly shaped my commitment to healing and supporting others, and especially women, on their journeys. “

Was there a particular moment when you felt everything ‘clicked’ and you fully embraced your calling? What triggered that realization?

 

“The moment everything clicked for me came during a relapse into depression, a challenging experience that ultimately became a turning point. Determined to start fresh, I committed to living in full alignment with my values and purpose: empowering women to reach their highest potential.  

This realization was rooted in an earlier moment of clarity, four days into a 2,000-kilometer solo cycling journey from Austria to Greece. I felt a deep calling to support women, but it wasn’t until the depression episode that I fully embraced it. I made the bold decision to quit all my jobs, including co-leading the Transformational Travel Council—a role that had meant the world to me—and focused on healing and redefining my path.  

While reading “”Ikigai””, I discovered Morita therapy, which led me to Viktor Frankl’s “”Man’s Search for Meaning””. These profound works illuminated the connection between action, purpose, and resilience, crystallizing my vision for helping women navigate life transitions. This journey of healing and discovery ultimately gave birth to empowered.travel, the platform through which I now channel my passion and purpose.”

 

How do you define healing in your own words? What does it mean to you on a personal level?

 

“Healing, to me, is a deeply integrative process that blurs the lines between the personal and professional, embodying the interconnected and interdependent nature of all aspects of life. As someone guided by a regenerative approach, I view healing as more than just recovery; it’s about renewal, transformation, and aligning with the natural cycles of life.  

At its core, healing involves three key elements: self-reflection, purpose-driven action, and the practice of mental wellness skills. Self-reflection allows us to rewrite the narratives we tell ourselves about our lives, transforming old wounds into sources of strength and wisdom. Purpose-driven action provides direction, anchoring our healing journey in meaning and intention. Meanwhile, mental wellness skills – such as coexisting with discomfort, embracing acceptance, and directing attention outward—become the tools we use to navigate life’s inevitable challenges.  

Healing also means reuniting what has been divided: the feminine and the masculine, humans and nature, the inner and the outer, and even the left and right hemispheres of the brain. It’s about finding wholeness by embracing all parts of ourselves and our environment. This regenerative perspective reminds us that healing is not linear; it mirrors nature’s cycles of growth, decay, and renewal, showing us that transformation is both possible and natural when we work with life’s rhythms.  

Japanese psychology, one of the pillars of empowered.travel, has profoundly influenced my understanding of healing. It encourages us to accept emotions without resistance and to find meaning through purposeful actions. A guiding principle I hold close is: “”Do not seek to eliminate your struggles; instead, find meaning and purpose through them, and healing will follow.”” This philosophy has taught me that healing is not about erasing pain but about finding balance, resilience, and growth within it.  

Ultimately, healing is about becoming whole – not by avoiding life’s hardships, but by transforming them into opportunities for deeper connection, growth, and renewal. It’s a journey of rediscovery, aligning with our true nature and the cycles of the world around us.”

What sets your approach apart from others in the field? What unique elements do you bring to your programming?

 

“What sets empowered.travel apart is its deeply integrative and complementary approach to healing and growth. Unlike methods that dwell on the “why” of past experiences, we focus on the “how” of moving forward. Our work is not about replacing or competing with other techniques but enhancing them by offering a practical, purpose-driven framework for transformation.  

At its heart, empowered.travel prioritizes purposeful action over analysis. We believe that healing emerges not from revisiting the past but from stepping boldly into the present and future. By cultivating gratitude, directing attention outward, and embracing service to others and the world, we enable participants to see their lives – and their role in the greater web of life – with fresh clarity and meaning. This shift creates profound alignment, allowing individuals to move through challenges with resilience and grace. We are committed to sharing a percentage of our income with an NGO dedicated to supporting women’s rights in Afghanistan.

Inspired by the Hero’s (or Heroine’s) Journey, our program blends insights from regenerative living and Japanese psychology. It guides participants through life transitions, equipping them with tools to sustain their journey while reconnecting with their purpose and the interconnectedness of all life. The emphasis on daily, small, meaningful steps – rather than promises of overnight transformation – ensures that change is sustainable and deeply rooted.”  

 

What makes this approach unique is its practicality and accessibility.

 

“It’s not a revolution or a quick fix, but a way of life that fosters fulfillment, alignment, and peace. By empowering individuals to take ownership of their growth, no matter the setbacks or emotional ebbs and flows, empowered.travel helps people not only navigate life transitions but thrive within them.  

In essence, empowered.travel invites you to reconnect with your purpose, transform your perspective, and rediscover joy and balance in the everyday.”

Why do you believe there is a growing demand for women-centered travel experiences today? What unique benefits do these types of journeys provide?

 

“The growing demand for women-centered travel experiences reflects a deeper desire for connection – both with oneself and the world around us. In today’s fast-paced, often fragmented world, many women are seeking spaces to reconnect with their true essence and the larger web of life. These journeys provide a unique opportunity for women to immerse themselves in the qualities often undervalued in modern society – such as intuition, receptivity, nurturing, and emotional intelligence.

 In our daily lives, women may neglect these aspects in favor of more outward-facing or productivity-driven traits. Travel experiences designed specifically for women offer a space to honor and reconnect with these feminine qualities in a supportive environment.

For example, women-only retreats or group travel experiences often incorporate activities like community service, nature immersion, and mindfulness practices. These not only help women explore their inner world, adopt healthier habits, and tap into their intuition, but also engage with the world in ways that foster a sense of shared responsibility and collective empowerment. 

Through these experiences, women are invited to rediscover their innate nurturing qualities, reconnect with their bodies, and embrace emotional wisdom in ways that enhance their well-being and purpose.

By engaging with one another and the world around them, women gain a deeper sense of belonging and understand their role in the interconnectedness of all things. They also realize how their individual actions can contribute to a more balanced, harmonious global community. This immersion in feminine qualities, combined with a renewed sense of purpose, can be incredibly empowering – leading to life-changing shifts in how women see themselves and their role in the world.”

 

What kinds of destinations or experiences do you prioritize in your itineraries, and how do these reflect the values of empowered.travel?

 


At empowered.travel, we don’t create traditional itineraries. Instead, we provide an empowerment framework designed to inspire self-discovery and personal growth. We believe that true empowerment arises through self-reflection, constructive action, and selflessness – being of service to others and prioritizing meaningful connections. Our approach encourages clients to take ownership of their travel plans while we guide them in making mindful choices aligned with their journey. This process allows them to cultivate awareness, discover their capabilities, and engage fully with the present moment. 

We prioritize destinations that offer transformative experiences while contributing to regenerative tourism and local well-being. These are places where tourism bolsters local economies, particularly through slow travel during shoulder seasons. We emphasize traveling mindfully by using public transportation or bicycles to minimize environmental impact. Clients are encouraged to stay at locally-owned, environmentally and socially conscious accommodations, enjoy seasonal, locally-sourced food, and connect deeply with the community and environment through community-led initiatives. This approach fosters meaningful relationships with the places they visit, moving away from checklist-driven travel and toward a more profound experience. 

Our empowerment framework follows four stages: deep rest, deep work, solo travel, and integration. 

This shows women they don’t need elaborate rituals or lengthy retreats to create change. Instead, they can focus on examining the stories they tell themselves, maintaining healthy routines, and taking small but purposeful steps toward their goals. 

Through concepts like Arugamama (acceptance), Taikiken (body knowledge), and Sunyata (emptiness), clients learn to coexist with discomfort, take constructive action, and embrace a deeper sense of belonging. This process empowers women to grow through service, reflection, and meaningful action, helping them unlock their potential and fostering authentic living in harmony with the world around them.”

What do you hope to achieve through your work in the long term? What legacy would you like to leave behind?

 

“My long-term goal is to create a world where women can achieve their highest potential without compromising their well-being. I envision a ripple effect of empowerment that extends far beyond a single sabbatical or life transition, one that inspires women to not only transform their own lives but to uplift others along the way.  

At the heart of this vision is providing women with the tools to empower themselves – tools that enable them to step into their purpose, take meaningful action in the present, and understand the interconnectedness of all things. By cultivating self-awareness, resilience, and a deeper sense of purpose, I aim to help women realize their full potential while fostering a sense of shared responsibility for the world around us, including the natural world.

Ultimately, the legacy I hope to leave behind is one of lasting empowerment. I want to create a movement where women – empowered to lead from a place of alignment, purpose, and self-care – become agents of positive change, inspiring future generations to thrive individually and collectively. It’s about planting the seeds for a future where all of us, and the planet itself, can flourish in harmony.”

 

Can you share a piece of advice for those looking to turn their personal passion for wellness into a career or calling?

 

“Turning your personal passion for wellness into a career or calling is a deeply rewarding journey, but it requires clarity, action, and a willingness to step into the unknown. A powerful place to start is by asking yourself the four questions behind Ikigai, a Japanese concept that helps uncover your true purpose in life:

  1. What do you love? – What activities or practices fill you with joy and energy?  
  2. What are you good at? – What skills or talents do you naturally excel at or have developed over time?  
  3. What does the world need? – How can your passion contribute to others’ well-being or address a need in society?  
  4. What can you be paid for? – What can you offer that people are willing to pay for, creating sustainable value in the world?

These questions form the foundation of Ikigai, which represents the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. When these elements align, you find your true purpose and direction.

Once you have answers to these questions, don’t wait for the perfect moment or full confidence before taking action. Embody these insights and start now. Confidence is built through action, not in isolation. Even small steps forward can lead to significant breakthroughs. By aligning your passion with your skills and the world’s needs, you will naturally begin to build a career that feels authentic, fulfilling, and aligned with your calling.  

Remember, the journey is as important as the destination – take action now, and trust that the path will unfold as you grow.

I am truly grateful for the opportunity to share some of our insights on living an ordinary, yet aligned and purposeful life. My hope is that this message will inspire at least one person.”

 

Thank you so much for this chance to contribute.