Thrive Boldly: Glow-Ups And the Brave Eagle (Disappear to Reappear)

Sometimes the most powerful glow-ups I’ve witnessed don’t look like a makeover or a hustle. Sometimes they look brutal before they are beautiful. And, sometimes they look like… vanishing.

One of my new favorite meditation teachers, Nikki Nie, ajoy-soaked yoga teacher inspired by tantra and the art of living, has a mediation on thr mid-life transformation of an eagle - this bird has the potential to live up to 80 years, but most don’t make it past 40. They have to chose: evolve bravely or die. This is because by midlife the eagle’s body begins to fail: Beak? Blunt. Talons? Weak. Wings? Heavy. And the eagle life is hard—always flying high, always on the hunt, always watching.

But a few wise eagles do something radical:

They retreat. They disappear to reappear.

They fly to mountaintops— all alone, in sacred isolation —and begin a sacred, painful transformation.

• They smash their own beaks off against the rock until they fall away.

• They tear out their own talons one by one.

• They pluck their own feathers until they are nearly bare.

Then… they wait.

And what grows back is something wild, something strong, something new.

This isn’t just about survival. It’s about rebirth.

Years ago I recall my own failing eagle moment, I was working every hour God sent in the tech-law world.High pressure. I hardly had time to pee, let alone recharge. I tell you no lies.

Then we booked a somewhat spontaneous trip to Malaysia. My husband was in between jobs so the timing was perfect. Ten days with no laptop. Just coconut rice, turquoise water, and

monkeys coming to visit me in my hut of a room. I swam, breathed, ate like a queen. I rested like it was my permanent job.

When I returned to the office, someone looked at me—really looked—and said: “Wait… Carrie? I didn’t recognize you.” I was still me… but I felt like myself again. That was my new eagle moment.

Glow-Ups Are Often Witnessed—But Rarely Understood

People see your glow-up and think, “Wow, you’ve changed!” But they don’t always see the quiet crumbling behind it.

They don’t see the beak breaking or the feathers falling. They only see the after—the light, the confidence, the wings spread wide.

But in the animal kingdom, this cycle is old wisdom. From snakes shedding their skin to caterpillars dissolving into goo, reinvention is messy. Necessary. Painful. And full of life.

So if you’re in the in-between—if you’re retreating, dissolving, becoming unrecognizable even to yourself— You’re right on time.

Three Brain Check-In

Because transformation isn’t just spiritual—it’s neurobiological.

Head Brain (Logic + Perspective):

Before: Scattered, reactive, fogged up.

After: Clear, calm, creative.

Rest is a neurological reset button.

Heart Brain (Emotion + Connection):

Before: Closed, heavy, numb.

After: Open, magnetic, tender.

Retreat reconnects us to joy and compassion.

Gut Brain (Intuition + Power):

Before: Tight, anxious, bloated from stress.

After: Steady, grounded, instinctive.

The gut is your truth-teller. It speaks louder when the world quiets.

Together, these three brains form your inner GPS. Sometimes you’ve got to hit airplane mode to let them realign.

The Glow-Up Ritual

Recipe: Glow-Up Laksa (Gut-nourishing, heart-warming, brain-boosting) A spicy, creamy Malaysian noodle soup that feels like a hug and a dance party in one bowl.

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp coconut oil

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 1-inch knob of ginger, grated

• 1 small red chili, sliced

• 1 stalk lemongrass, bruised

• 1 tsp turmeric

• 1 tsp coriander

• 1 tbsp red curry paste

• 1 can (400ml) coconut milk

• 2 cups veggie or chicken broth

• 1 tbsp tamari or fish sauce

• Juice of 1 lime

• Rice noodles

• Toppings: boiled egg, tofu/chicken, bean sprouts, fresh herbs, red onion

Instructions:

1. Sauté garlic, ginger, chili, and lemongrass in coconut oil.

2. Add turmeric, coriander, curry paste—let it bloom.

3. Stir in coconut milk + broth. Simmer 10 min.

4. Add tamari/fish sauce + lime juice. Remove lemongrass.

5. Cook noodles separately.

6. Pour broth over noodles. Load it up with toppings.

7. Inhale the steam. You’re halfway to Malaysia.

Drink Pairing: Coconut-Lime Spritz

Cooling, zesty, and completely nervous system-approved.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup coconut water

• Juice of ½ lime

• Mint leaves

• Sparkling water

• Optional: muddled raspberries or cucumber slices

Instructions:

Mix everything over ice. Sip slowly. Let your nervous system purr.

Mantra:

“Let it fall away. I’m growing something better.”

Music Pairing: Disappear to Reappear

For retreat, renewal, and slow, soulful rising.

• “Fly Like an Eagle” - Steve Miller Band

• “Nara” – alt-J

• “Myth” – Beach House

• “Everything in Its Right Place” – Radiohead

Here’s to your glow-up being less of a makeover and more of a metamorphosis.