Today we’d like to introduce you to Puck Kroonsberg
Hi Puck, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Into the deep
Into the depths of Yourself
Breathe
I am often amazed with how 1 leap of faith can change your entire life but also how challenges that seem to break you down at first are actually an invitation for growth and expansion if you let it.
So where to start?
I took a big leap of faith 3 years ago was when I had just quit my job, came out of a burn-out and decided to go for a sabbatical to the Caribbean island Bonaire. These 3 months changed my life completely, the island and it’s people showed me that it is possible what I had been dreaming of: pure freedom, a close connection to nature and the ability to express yourself creatively and to live this way. I grew up in the Netherlands which is a well developed country and I am grateful to have been raised there, however there is a strong focus on certain social norms that always made me feel pressured somehow.
On the island I saw how creatives, (underwater) photographers, entrepreneurs, kite/wind surfers, were living their life and I dreamed of doing that too. What was only a dream back then led to giving up my entire old life in the Netherlands, selling everything and immigrating to the island 1,5 years ago.
I started freelancing around the same time that I was on the island 3 years ago and I met a business coach. I explained that I wanted to become more free but at the same time inspire others to break free as well. I started by opening up on social media about my story and why I wanted to take off masks and it led to coaching fellow youngsters 1.1 to their path and motivational speaking. I got the opportunity to give a TED Talk which I named “how a journey to self-discovery will set you free” which felt very fulfilling for me. I felt free after this talk to follow my path to Bonaire to officially move there. As my story was and still is for the world to see on Youtube.
When I told one of my best friends that I was coming back to the island, she said that a boat on the island was looking for an underwater photographer and she said “I think you can do it”. So here I went from a city girl into the ocean free diving (without oxygen) and making pictures of the underwater life as memories for the tourists. At first I couldn’t hold my breath for long but because I started doing it daily I rapidly evolved into holding my breath for 3 minutes and 33 seconds. For which I have meditations to thank for. Free diving quickly has become a huge passion of mine and I completely fell in love with the beauty of the ocean and it’s marine life. After 6 months of underwater photography I started to follow classes via a local free dive school to improve my free diving technique for my own safety. I now dive 67m horizontally in one breath-hold and 24m vertically, into the depths of the ocean. For me free diving is the ultimate underwater meditation, where time stands still and where I let go of everything. The key to free diving is relaxation & visualisation.
Currently it has been 1,5 years since I moved to Bonaire. I now help people free themselves and their brand through freelance underwater photography, modeling and content creation. My business is called: Freedom Warrior connected by nature, consciousness and well-being.
The feeling I get from creating together with people to help shine their true self is an unexplainable & magical feeling for me. It’s what gives me fulfillment and purpose.
Stay tuned. Much love,
Puck
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Well, the “breakdown” was for me when I found myself at home at the age of 23 recovering from a burn-out for a total re-integration to work again which took me 1 year. My body simply said stop with panick attacks, constantly feeling “on”, heavy pressure on my chest and not being able to sleep regular hours. I had been going on an adrenaline rush, working 50+ hours per week, irregular hours.. I was working in a beautiful five star hotel as a manager on duty and also wanted to be young and so I had an extremely busy social life on the side. I was running from myself, from my feelings, and I was on a full survival mode. The full stop my body gave me was for me the moment I called in sick from work. And once I gave into resting, I sat at home for 2 months, I was not even being able to even do groceries normally because of how overworked I was.. And so I made a promise to myself, to come back stronger than ever.
I dove into self development and started to practice guided meditations. At first it was SO uncomfortable, I was only crying and crying even more, I was finally letting myself feel. I had never done any meditations before and I was also constantly distracted by my mind that was obviously on overdrive. I realized that it was time to face why I got in this dark place so I could come out of it and make sure I’d never get back there ever again.
I had to unpack my bag of trauma’s and started to slowly heal wounds that I never thought I had to face again.
But, it wasn’t all heavy and dark, because all of this powerlessness made me also find strength in asking myself “seriously, what do you want from life and what is it about?”
I started visualising what my dream life would look like, in so much detail that I made vision board and wrote about it all the time and started to bend my limiting beliefs that were holding me back. The books I read and the podcasts I listened to inspired me, and so I started to lengthen my horizon and followed the sun, back into the light.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My business is called Freedom Warrior. It stands for inspiring people to return to their true self. I help people free their minds & their brands through visual stories:
– (Underwater) Photography
– Modeling
– Content Creation
Each story has a unique message and everyone has a message that is unique to their voice, I am just here to help remind you yourself & your freedom and help you and your brand shine. To help you free your mind I am in the process of organising gatherings, recording meditations (soon to be found in the App called Insight Timer) and podcasts about self-discovery and the freedom to live as your true authentic self and to follow your creative pursuits. My TED Talk is already on Youtube for the world to see “how a journey to self-discovery will set you free”.
This is: Freedom Warrior, be free, be you connected by nature, consciousness and well-being.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Selma business coach in 2021 when I was about to start as an entrepreneur, @wildheartabroad on instagram
My mom, my family
My closest friends that always stayed by my side through every transformation
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.instagram.com/puckkroonsberg/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freedomwarrior__/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/puck.kroonsberg
Image Credits
Israel Gil (Israelgilfilms on Instagram) > Underwater photo with the stingray
Gaby Ocean Sustainable wear
Bathing Belle (Bikini Brand)