A Glimpse Into My Journey

I’m Sunny. (Suyanne by birth, also called Su by loved ones).

I’m a constantly changing human, with a passion for compassion and creating safe spaces for people to reconnect with themselves. My roots blend Native Brazilian, African, and European heritage, though I like to think of myself as just a soul experiencing a material life in a human body on planet Earth.

If you're curious about how my life unfolded to bring me here, I invite you to read the full story below.

The Child Who Could Feel

From a young age, I sensed what others couldn’t see. I remember doing things that other kids didn’t — like praying over massage oils before gently rubbing them into my father’s back, or placing my hands on his head to soothe his chronic pain. I didn’t know it then, but I was already practicing intuitive healing.

My spirituality wasn’t something I was taught — it was something I felt. It pulsed through me like something ancient and familiar. But it also made me feel different. Misunderstood. At times, I thought it would be easier to let it go, to silence that part of me and just try to fit in.

I grew up in a family that wasn’t religious. Still, I was curious about all the different spiritual paths I could get my hands on, either through books or practices. I explored Christianity, Spiritism, Taoism, Umbanda, and other esoteric philosophies. I never felt truly drawn to any of them. The one place that consistently felt like home was a Buddhist temple near my house. It was the most peaceful place I knew. I remember the quiet. The softness. The stillness. Something in me recognized it as sacred.

That quiet knowing never fully left me.

A Heart for Justice, A System That Hurts

At 17, with a belief that I could help build a fairer world, I chose to study Law. I wanted to protect those without a voice, to reduce the inequality that hurt me so deeply to witness.

But as the years went by, reality hit hard. I came to see that the system was deeply broken, and so was my heart. The very laws I hoped would bring justice seemed to serve only those already in power.

During that time, I also experienced one of the greatest traumas of my life: I lost a partner to suicide. The guilt and grief were unbearable. How could I believe I was meant to help others… if I couldn’t help the person who sat beside me every day?

I nearly gave up on my degree, on my path, on myself, but that’s when I began attending psychotherapy sessions, and it saved me (quite literally). To this day, it’s one of the things I recommend to everyone I meet: therapy changed my life.

I managed to graduate in 2016, but I was crushed emotionally and spiritually, and felt mentally exhausted. I needed a change. So I decided to go on a trip to the U.S., hoping to find something… or maybe, to find myself.

A New Life, A New Path

When I arrived in the U.S., I wasn’t sure what I was looking for, but life opened a door. I joined a tech company and, not long after, became a team leader. I loved supporting my team and watching people grow. Not just professionally, but personally. That part truly lit me up.

Later, I moved into strategy, hoping to make an even bigger impact. I was proud of the work I was doing, and one of my biggest accomplishments was going back to school and earning a certification from Harvard Business School.

In 2018, I became fully vegan after trying to give up on meat for over 10 years, and it marked a deeply meaningful shift in my life. I began to reflect not just on what I was eating, but on how I was living. I started asking myself how I could contribute to more peace and love in the world, beginning with the small choices I made each day. Consuming animals and supporting that industry no longer felt aligned with my values of compassion, care, and the desire to ease suffering. Choosing this as an identity, more than a lifestyle, became a way to live in greater harmony with what I believe in.

At the same time, I also started investing and quickly made a significant amount of money. At the time, it felt like a reward for years of hard work. But by 2022, I had lost almost everything I had gained. That experience humbled me and forced me to reflect.

On the surface, things still looked successful. But inside, I was waking up. The life I had built no longer felt aligned. That quiet voice I had ignored for years began speaking louder and more clearly.

Losing that money was painful, but it cracked me open in a way that success never did. I had gained and lost, but the things that truly mattered, such as my health, my family, and the connection I had with the people I loved, remained the same. It was a quiet awakening. I began to see that no amount of external gain could replace the peace that comes from living in alignment. What I was really searching for wasn’t wealth. It was meaning, presence, and a deeper sense of purpose.

Devoting Myself to Healing Myself

The calling grew stronger with each passing day. By early 2023, I could no longer ignore it. I decided to leave corporate life and follow what I had always known deep inside. I was here to help others grow, reconnect with their inner truth, and self-heal.

In January 2023, I began offering mentoring, coaching, and energy healing. I didn’t feel fully ready. I doubted myself often. But something in me knew this was the path. To ground myself more deeply in both knowledge and confidence, I enrolled in a master’s program in Neuroscience and Behavior. It brought together the science and the soul.

Soon after, I felt a pull to seek wisdom beyond the classroom, in the world itself. I began traveling to places that carried ancient energy and sacred teachings. I explored temples in Egypt, prayed in Bali, retreated in a monastery in Thailand, and explored medicinal plants in Brazil. From exploring the landscapes of the Philippines to the amazing natural beauty of New Zealand, I let the earth and my connections teach me.

Another deeply meaningful moment for my growth was learning new ways to relate to other humans. I finally started feeling at home in my own body. The freedom to love and be loved in authentic, safe, and explorative ways changed my entire view of myself and relationships.

Each place and person left a mark on me. Each experience softened and strengthened me. And every step along the way reminded me of a truth I had always known but often forgotten: Healing is not about becoming someone new. It’s about remembering who I truly am.

A Place to Pause

After nearly two years of traveling, I chose Hawai'i as a place to pause and root. From October 2024 until January 2026, I called the sacred land home and was privileged to live in harmony with nature while experiencing deep love and care. It was not a place for movement, creativity, or productivity. It was a place for stillness and looking inward.

The beautiful relationship I nurtured there enabled me to face and question parts of my past self that were still present. It pushed me to decide whether it was time to shed the old skin or hold on to it a little longer. It was a challenging journey of questioning, realignment, and letting go. I feel grateful to have navigated this period with the love and support I had.

The Current Chapter

In January 2026, I decided to leave Hawai'i and, with it, the parts of my old self that no longer serve me. Once again, I bought a one way ticket to Thailand and began practicing slow living, nervous system awareness, presence, and stillness.

This chapter is still being written, and I cannot yet tell you where it will lead. What I can say is that meaningful things are unfolding, and I am meeting them with openness and trust.

How This Relates to My Work

I am now exploring offerings that draw on my ability to recognize patterns, cultivate awareness, and support choices made from clarity. Combined with my background in neuroscience, strategy, leadership, and experience facilitating safe spaces, this helps people understand themselves more deeply and build trust in their inner guidance.

These sessions are spaces for learning and discovery. Places where you can regulate your nervous system, meet your experience with honesty, and choose in ways that feel aligned with who you are.

From my own journey, I have learned that no one needs to be fixed. People need to be seen, held, and supported as they come home to themselves.