BECOMING: A DECISION · An anthology of personal stories
INTERNATIONAL #1 AMAZON BESTSELLER
The Doorway Back to Myself
Sometimes one decision changes more than we could ever imagine.
I’m one of 20 authors sharing our personal stories in BECOMING: A DECISION, an anthology about the choices that have shaped our lives.
My chapter, The Doorway Back to Myself, is about a decision I made years ago to leave Portugal and start a new life in the UK.
At the time, I had no idea where that decision would take me, or how much it would change my life.
I just knew I needed something different.
Looking back now, I can see that leaving was about so much more than moving to another country. It was the beginning of learning who I was when I gave myself permission to live life on my own terms.
And, as I’ve discovered over the years, that’s not something we figure out once and for all.
20 Authors ◊ 20 Personal Stories ◊ Chapter 10 Sofia Reis
A BOOK ABOUT THE DECISIONS THAT CHANGE US
Different lives. Different stories. Different decisions.
These aren’t stories about people who had everything figured out. They’re about the choices we make, sometimes without knowing what comes next, and the ways those experiences shape us.
My contribution, The Doorway Back to Myself, is a personal part of my journey that I’m now sharing with a wider audience. And although it’s my story, I imagine parts of it may feel familiar to you too.
Especially if everything seems fine on the outside, but something inside you knows it’s time for a change.
THE DECISION TO LEAVE
I still remember the day I left Portugal.
I was at Lisbon airport, about to board a plane to the UK. I didn’t have everything planned out. I didn’t know exactly what my life would look like there, or whether things would work out the way I hoped.
But I remember how I felt walking towards that plane.
Free.
I’d spent years feeling restricted by expectations, by the way things were supposed to be, and by what other people considered a good or successful life. Somewhere along the way, I’d started to lose touch with what I wanted for myself.
Leaving wasn’t really about wanting to get away from Portugal. It was about needing space: space to discover who I was outside everything I’d grown up believing I should be; space to make my own decisions, get things wrong, learn and experience life differently.
I wasn’t just moving to another country. I was giving myself a chance to find my own way.
WHAT HAPPENED AFTER I LEFT?
Well, life happened.
I built a life in the UK. I got married, went through a divorce, became a mother and had to rebuild parts of my life more than once. Eventually, I returned to Portugal and created a home by the beach.
For a long time, I thought freedom was something I needed to create around me. A different country. A different environment. A life where I could make my own choices.
But I eventually realised I could change everything on the outside and still fall into familiar patterns: being the responsible one, holding things together, doing what needed to be done and trying to be strong, even when I was tired of being strong.
Freedom was also about how I was living within my life. Was I listening to myself? Was I being honest about what I needed? Was I allowing myself to make decisions that felt right for me?
I’m still learning that. I don’t think we ever reach a point where we’ve got it all figured out. But we can notice when we’re moving away from ourselves and begin to choose differently.
MAYBE YOU’LL RECOGNISE SOMETHING OF YOURSELF
What might change if you gave yourself more permission to listen?
Have you ever wondered why something doesn’t feel right, even though you have so much to be grateful for? Or found yourself going along with what’s expected because changing things might mean disappointing someone, starting over or stepping into the unknown?
My chapter isn’t about telling anyone to leave their job, relationship or country. It’s about sharing what happened when I made a decision that felt important to me, without knowing how everything would unfold, and what I’ve learned about trusting myself since.
Perhaps there’s a decision in your own life that you’ve been thinking about. Or perhaps you’re in a season where you’re questioning what you want next. Either way, I hope my story gives you something to reflect on.
WHY SHARING THIS STORY MATTERS
I wanted to share something real.
Not a polished version of my life where everything happened for a reason and somehow worked out perfectly. There were difficult decisions, uncomfortable changes and plenty of moments when I didn’t know what I was doing. There were also moments of courage, freedom, joy and discovering things about myself I might never have learned if I’d stayed where I was.
Being part of an International #1 Amazon Bestseller is something I’m genuinely proud of. But what means the most is knowing that my story might reach someone who’s questioning things they’ve always believed, or who feels they’ve outgrown a life that once made sense.
I’m not sharing my story because I have all the answers. I’m sharing it because I’ve learned through the decisions I’ve made, including the difficult ones. Maybe something in my experience will help someone see their own situation a little differently.
A SIGNED COPY, FROM ME TO YOU
Would you like a signed copy?
I have a limited number of physical copies of BECOMING: A DECISION available directly from me, and I’d love to sign one for you.
My chapter is one of 20 stories in this book, each offering a different perspective on the decisions that shape our lives. You can also leave a name if you’d like your copy dedicated.
I’ll confirm the book and postage total by email, then send you an invoice. I’ll post your signed copy once payment has been received.
Order Details
Request your copy
Books are posted from Portugal. If you’re in Tavira or nearby, we can arrange to meet, and I’ll personally deliver your copy. For posted orders, postage depends on your destination.
Price: to be confirmed. You’ll receive the total and invoice by email before payment.
LET’S TALK ABOUT IT
Podcasts, book discussions and speaking
If you host a podcast, organise community gatherings, facilitate leadership conversations or bring people together around life transitions and personal growth, I’d be happy to hear from you.
I’m open to interviews, podcast conversations, book discussions, online events and speaking invitations.
BECOMING, FOR ME, IS STILL UNFOLDING
It wasn’t one perfect decision that solved everything
But the beginning of a journey that continues to teach me how to come back to myself.
Chapter 10: The Doorway Back to Myself · Sofia Reis