Rewrite the Rules You Were Raised With

Dunia’s story is deeply personal—and yet, it touches something universal. Raised in Lebanon during war, in a culture that upheld silence and shame as virtues—especially for women—she learned early on that her voice didn’t matter. That her worth had to be proven. That following the rules was the only way to belong.

But deep inside, Dunia knew: “I will get out. I will be free.”

And she kept that promise to herself.

Her journey from cultural conditioning to personal freedom reminds us that we all inherit invisible scripts—beliefs about who we’re supposed to be, what we’re allowed to want, and how we’re expected to live.

And most of us reach a point when we realise: those scripts don’t fit anymore.

[Read Dunia's full story] - 5 min read

[Watch Dunia's interview] - 22 mins watch

🌀 What Dunia’s Story Teaches Us All

Here are five powerful lessons from Dunia’s journey—and how you might apply them to your own life:

1. You Can Love Where You Come From—And Still Choose Something Different

Dunia didn’t walk away from her culture in anger. She walked away in clarity. She honoured where she came from and honoured the truth that her soul was calling her to something else.

🔍 Reflect: Are there beliefs or traditions you've outgrown but still follow out of habit or guilt? What would it look like to bless them—and then let them go?

2. Shame and Silence Are Inherited. So Is Courage.

The message Dunia heard over and over was, “Don’t speak up. Don’t stand out.”

But she also carried a seed of quiet courage. Even as a child, she knew her life could be different.

📝 Try This: Journal about a moment when you felt silenced or small. Then write a letter to your younger self from the version of you who knows your worth now.

3. Self-Worth Isn’t Earned—It’s Remembered

Dunia spent years thinking she had to prove she was good enough—by being perfect, selfless, or silent. But healing came when she realised her worth was never up for debate. It was always there.

🧠 Reframe: The next time you catch yourself thinking “I’m not enough,” ask: Would I say this to a child I loved? If not, don’t say it to yourself.

4. Changing Your Story Doesn’t Mean You Failed the Old One

There’s grief in leaving behind the version of life you were supposed to live. But there’s also liberation. Dunia didn’t fail her culture—she freed herself from its limits.

🌱 Consider: What version of yourself are you ready to outgrow? What are you making space for?

5. Your Story Can Set Others Free

Today, Dunia helps other women reconnect with their power. Her healing became a gift—not just to herself, but to her community. When we speak our truth, we give others permission to do the same.

💬 Share: What’s one truth about yourself that you’ve been afraid to say out loud—but that could help someone else feel less alone?

✨ Final Thought

You don’t have to escape a war zone to understand what it’s like to feel trapped.

You don’t have to leave your country to know what it means to leave behind a version of yourself.

We all carry beliefs we didn’t choose.

We all reach turning points where we can choose again.

And like Dunia, we all have the power to rewrite the rules—and write a story that feels like home.