From survival to identity to power.
This is not just a blog. This is a space for rebuilding, redefining, and becoming.
You don’t find yourself. You become.
There was a time when survival was the only thing that mattered. Now, this space is about what comes after.
About identity. About transformation. About choosing who you become next.
Choose your path
Survival
Raw experiences, endurance, and what it really takes to keep going.
Identity
Rebuilding who you are beyond expectations and labels.
Power
Growth, confidence, and creating your life on your terms.
Lifestyle
Aesthetic, nature, rituals, and the small things that shape you.
What helped me rebuild
Some of the things here aren’t just objects. They are tied to moments, phases, and small shifts that made a difference.
This section contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission.
About
Violet Shroom is a personal space built through transformation. From an ex homeless and transgender person.
Not perfect. Not finished. But real.
This is where survival turns into identity — and identity into power.
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May 30, 2026In previous centuries, religion played a very important role in people’s lives. This happened because people, throughout history and by their nature, look for a connection with something greater than themselves. Something that gives meaning.
Slowly, religion started to lose its popularity and materialism became dominant.
The extreme consumerism of recent years made people more attached to material things.
A large part of the population lost its moral compass, resulting in people functioning like airplanes without a pilot in the cockpit.
The result is less socialization (even though on the internet we have social media) and more unhappiness and mental illnesses.
The lack of a sense of purpose and meaning increases our unhappiness.
In this article we will discuss why having a purpose that is not exclusively about yourself (spiritual health) is important for a balanced life.
First, I should clarify that everything I write on this blog is opinion based on my personal experiences. I do not have any professional or academic connection to mental health.
According to the McKinsey Health Institute:
“Spiritual health encompasses having meaning in one’s life, a sense of connection to something larger than oneself, and a sense of purpose. Finding this meaning is associated with strong mental, social, and physical health.”
https://www.mckinsey.com/mhi/our-insights/in-search-of-self-and-something-bigger-a-spiritual-health-exploration
This of course does not mean that spiritual health is necessarily defined as believing in an organized religion.
Spirituality is believing in a purpose greater than yourself and in some higher power.
A purpose does not need to be something grand. We do not need to change the world or become famous. It can be helping the community, creating art, protecting animals, helping people who face difficulties, or trying to leave the world a little better than we found it. What matters is having something that goes beyond the narrow limits of ourselves and gives us a reason to keep going.
From my personal experience, when I was homeless in Greece, this spiritual part of myself helped me cope with difficulties and remain mentally healthy and balanced.
Even though I do not believe in any religion, my belief in a higher power, in energies, and most importantly in the community and the good sides of human beings, helped me get back on my feet again.
Now I work. I live in the house that I rent and I try as much as I can to contribute positively to society.
That is why I created this blog, as an effort to offer a piece of information or two to my fellow human beings. [...]
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May 27, 2026The “Monk mode” is something that has been promoted in recent years in self-help coach circles and it can be summarized in the idea that “for someone to succeed, they must remove themselves from every distraction and focus only on their goals.”
This, of course, is something especially problematic as advice.
Let’s see below why it is problematic.
-It is advice that is not for everyone. People who work and have families cannot simply “isolate themselves.” This will create financial and family problems for them.
-It is anti-social advice. Humans are social beings and evolve through society.
As a trans woman and former homeless person, I learned that the biggest advantage is a large and strong support system.
Meaning the people you socialize with.
Even real monks socialize together with other monks. So this is a distortion of monasticism.
-It is a purely materialistic approach and ignores the fact that a human being is also spirit.
It is an approach that increases attachments and the shallowness of the person who follows this advice.
-It increases the risk of developing psychological and physical problems.
As I mentioned above, humans have not evolved to be alone. Loneliness is one of the main indicators that increase the risk of premature death from poor physical health, from suicide, or from poor mental health that leads a person to not take care of themselves.
It would be good not to follow every nonsense that gets uploaded on social media and instead to be there for our fellow human beings. And through giving, we will benefit as well. [...]
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May 12, 2026When I was sleeping in a homeless shelter, my first goal was to find a job.
Even though deep down, I didn’t like that idea.
I even did volunteer work for NGOs so I could network and have some sense of normalcy in my life.
Still, the idea of working for someone else for the rest of my life never seemed particularly appealing to me.
But I’m also a realist.
Changing your life and no longer depending on a job takes planning and preparation.
If you’re unemployed right now, don’t even think about trying to live off anything other than a job.
Get a job.
If you’re already working, you should know that it will take years and require sacrifices to achieve it.
Don’t listen to the bs from life coaches and people trying to sell “easy solutions.”
There are no easy solutions.
Everything requires the corresponding investment.
– You can invest money.
– You can invest time.
– If you invest less money, you’ll invest more time.
The first step
First, you need to figure out what genuinely interests you and make sure there’s actually an audience for it.
If people don’t want it and you can’t sell it, then find something else that interests you.
Then invest in it
You may need:
– A website
–Tools (if we’re talking about crafts or physical products)
– Social media accounts
– Brand building
– Marketing
– Time and consistency
After that, whatever you create will need time to build an audience.
Don’t quit too early
Once you see that you’ve stabilized in the market and you’re consistently making:
– Your salary
– Plus your brands expenses
for a reasonable period of time, then you can start thinking about leaving your job.
Anything faster than that is irrational and irresponsible. [...]
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April 23, 2026The harsh reality of the self help industry
Why many self help tips doesn’t work?
Self-help often sounds simple.
Do this. Think like this.
Follow this routine.
And it comes with proof.
-Someone who made it says: Look how I MADE it.
-An influencer who built something.
-Some bro or sis who “figured it out”.
So in first glance it sounds convincing. “If something worked for them and they made it, probably will work for me.
”But there’s a catch“.
You’re often looking at at one good outcome out of many failures.
For every person one advice worked , there are many who tried it with poor results.
Same effort different outcome.
Not because they didn’t try hard enough. But because reality is more complex.
Things like Timing , Environment, Opportunities, personality, psychology, luck, are some variables of the equation.
What worked for one person might be the exact combination of the above variables and yet, it is presented as “the formula for success“.
That’s where self-help becomes misleading. Not because it’s false.
But because it’s incomplete.
In Hustle culture it gets even worse.
It turns personal success (what ever that means)into one-cut advice.
Like one path it’s repeatable for everyone.
But success stories are not instructions.
They are unique outcomes. And outcomes don’t tell you how many others failed.
So instead of asking: “What worked for them?”
Ask: “What works for me in my reality?”
Less copying.
More understanding.
More awareness.
Not every success story is a blueprint.
Sometimes, it’s just an exception that got attention and got viral because it happened to work once.
If this resonates Follow us on Instagram [...]
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April 21, 2026Most self-help advice pushes one idea:avoid stress, stay positive, protect your peace.
Sounds good—but it’s incomplete
Avoiding stress is like never lifting weights.
If you never challenge your muscles, they’ll never grow.They stay weak, soft, and fragile.
The same thing happens to your mind.
When you constantly avoid stressful situations, your stress threshold drops.Things that used to feel manageable start to feel overwhelming.Your mind doesn’t become calmer—it becomes more sensitive.
Resilience doesn’t come from comfort.It comes from exposure.
Just like muscles grow through resistance, your mental strength grows when you face difficulty—not when you escape it.
But here’s the part most people also miss:
More is not better.
In the gym, lifting too much weight leads to injury.In life, too much stress leads to burnout.
So it is not about glorify suffering.
The goal is progressive overload. Just like in the gym
Small, everyday challenges.Followed by recovery.Then repetition.
That’s how you build real resilience.
Not by avoiding life—but by training for it.
Let yourself being exposed to situations and the everyday stress. And then let go.
That’s the balance most people ignore.
If this resonates
Follow VioletShroom on Instagram for less mumbo jumbo and, more reality. [...]
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April 19, 2026The city hasn’t always been just a place I move through.
At different points in my life, it meant very different things — sometimes survival in the most literal sense (as a homeless), and later, long days working outside in the middle of constant noise, movement, and unpredictability.
So you have to eliminate as many variables as you can
What I noticed over time is that the city doesn’t slow down for anyone. It doesn’t become easier. You just learn how to exist inside it differently.
At some point, I stopped thinking in terms of escaping it and started focusing on something simpler: how to function in it without getting overwhelmed by it.
This is what I’ve slowly built for myself — a set of small things to make my life easier and happier, keep my mind clear, and make the day more positive to move through.
The Reality of City Life
City life isn’t difficult because of just one problem.
It’s difficult because of many small ones adding up:
constant noise and stimulation
physical fatigue from being outside
mental distraction and overload
small inconveniences that break your flow
Individually they’re manageable. Together they drain you.
So instead of trying to “fix the external factors”, I focus on reducing friction in my own mind
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What Actually Worked for Me to Move Through the Day
Power Bank — Removing Uncertainty
One of the most underrated stress sources is uncertainty.
A dead phone doesn’t just stop communication — it interrupts everything you rely on during the day.
If the battery goes down, you have no way to communicate with the people you know.
Having a power bank means you remove that thought completely. It stops being something you monitor in the background.
You can see below an example of a reliable power bank:
view here
Earbuds — Controlling Input
The city is always “on”. Even when nothing is happening, there is noise, movement, and stimulation.
Earbuds create a layer of control over that environment. Sometimes it’s music, sometimes it’s silence with noise canceling, but the effect is the same: less input when you don’t need it.
Note: Turn them off in places with a high crime rate. In those places, you need to hear everything.
view here
Sunglasses — Reducing Physical Load
This is not about appearance.
Long exposure to light, especially when you’re outside for hours, creates fatigue that you don’t always notice immediately.
Also, the sun ages your skin around your eyes where the skin barrier is thinner.
Sunglasses are life-saving.
view here
Crossbody Bag — Removing Physical Friction
Small things in pockets become a big problem during the day.
A simple bag centralizes everything. You don’t think about where things are anymore — they just have a place.
Also, these bags are safer than backpacks.
view here
Water Bottle — Water is Life Energy
Even small interruptions break rhythm.
Having water with you removes the need to constantly stop or adjust your flow just for something basic.
view here
Sunscreen SPF 50+ — Daily Protection
Regardless of whether it is summer or winter, you need to protect your skin from UV radiation.
You need sunscreen that stays on your skin for as many hours as possible.
view here
The Real Shift
Over time, I realized something simple:
Surviving and thriving in the city is not about making the city easier.
It’s about becoming less affected by the friction inside it.
Most of what drains you during the day isn’t one big event — it’s constant small interruptions in attention, comfort, and control.
Final Thought
I don’t try to control the city.
I just try to move through it in a way that doesn’t drain me.
That’s the shift — from reacting to everything… to simply functioning within it. [...]
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April 18, 2026 Creating a gothic feminine bedroom aesthetic is about blending dark elegance with soft, personal expression. This style combines rich textures, moody color palettes, and carefully chosen decor to transform any space into a mysterious yet inviting retreat.
From black velvet bedding and vintage-inspired mirrors to candlelit corners and subtle spiritual elements, a gothic bedroom captures both strength and softness. Whether you’re redesigning your entire space or adding a few statement pieces, embracing a dark feminine aesthetic allows you to create a room that feels deeply intentional and visually captivating.
If you’re looking for gothic feminine bedroom aesthetic ideas, focus on layering details that enhance both atmosphere and identity. Think moody lighting, dark wall art, and cozy textiles that create depth without overwhelming the space. Incorporating elements like crystals, incense, or antique-style decor can add a subtle spiritual touch while maintaining a cohesive look. These gothic bedroom ideas are not only visually striking but also practical, helping you design a space that reflects your personality while staying functional, comfortable, and effortlessly aesthetic.
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April 18, 2026 We’ve always been told that spirituality is about “fitting in” —being soft-spoken, calm, and traditional.
But what if your soul is louder? What if you’re a misfit?
In”Hard core Zen,” Brad Warner makes a point that most spiritual books are afraid to make.
One of the most powerful moments in the book is when he describes his own journey of isolation: being rejected by the conservatives for not having the appearance the manners and the looks they expected from him, but then—as his true personality began to form—being rejected by the punk scene too.This is one of the greatest spiritual tests. A big part of the book is about the Spiritual Side of “Not Belonging”.Most people think being “Punk” or “Zen” is about joining a club. Warner argues it’s actually about Self-Sovereignty.
Even “rebellious” groups like the punk scene can become dogmatic short sighted and judgmental like cults. [...]
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Why Spiritual Health Is Important for Human Well-Being
In previous centuries, religion played a very important role in people's lives. This happened because people, throughout history and by
Why “monk mode” is a terrible advice.
The "Monk mode" is something that has been promoted in recent years in self-help coach circles and it can be
How to Leave Your 9 to 5 Job. A no BS approach
When I was sleeping in a homeless shelter, my first goal was to find a job. Even though deep down,
Self help/hustle culture and survivorship bias.
The harsh reality of the self help industry Why many self help tips doesn't work? Self-help often sounds simple. Do
Self-help industry forgot to tell you this about stress
Most self-help advice pushes one idea:avoid stress, stay positive, protect your peace. Sounds good—but it’s incomplete Read More
City Survival Guide, Without Losing Your Zen
The city hasn’t always been just a place I move through. At different points in my life, it meant very
Gothic feminine bedroom aesthetic ideas . ( A must have collection)
Creating a gothic feminine bedroom aesthetic is about blending dark elegance with soft, personal expression. This style combines rich textures,
Hard Core zen by Brad Warner. Book review
We’ve always been told that spirituality is about "fitting in" —being soft-spoken, calm, and traditional. But what if your soul