Between the Years: Becoming a Mother a Champion, and More of Myself

There is a quiet moment between Christmas and the New Year that I cherish deeply.

The world slows down.

The noise softens.

And life gently asks us to look back — not to judge, but to understand.

This year, when I pause and reflect, my heart feels full.

Not because it was easy.

But because it was true.

A Year That Changed Me: Becoming a Mother and Champion

This was the year I became a mother.

Pregnant. Giving birth. Entering motherhood.

And at the same time — staying connected to who I am.

I learned very quickly that becoming a mother and champion doesn’t ask you to shrink.

It asks you to expand.

To hold more:

• more love

• more responsibility

• more vulnerability

• more courage

And to let go of perfection.

Motherhood softened me — and strengthened me in ways I didn’t expect.

Competing, Speaking, Living — While Pregnant and Postpartum

This year, I stood on podiums and on stages while pregnant.

I became World Champion while one month pregnant.

I spoke to audiences while carrying life inside me — and later, while navigating the tender postpartum phase.

Not because I had to prove anything.

But because I was deeply aligned.

I listened to my body.

I respected my limits.

And I trusted my inner voice more than ever before.

What I learned is this:

Strength doesn’t disappear when life changes.

It simply changes its form.

Limitless Mum: A New Chapter Was Born

Out of this experience, Limitless Mum was born.

Not as a brand — but as a truth.

A reminder that:

• women don’t have to choose between ambition and motherhood

• softness and power can coexist

• limits are often inherited stories, not reality

This initiative is still growing — and so am I.

And that feels exactly right.

Follow Limitless Mum on IG @limitless_mum

Conversations That Matter: Podcasting & Connection

This year, I also launched and hosted my podcast —

inviting inspiring leaders and thought leaders from all over the world.

Each conversation reminded me why I love what I do:

• honest dialogue

• lived wisdom

• human stories behind success

Listening deeply has become one of my greatest teachers.

Entrepreneurship, Clients, and Purposeful Collaboration

Being an entrepreneur is not just about creating projects.

It’s about living your values — daily.

This year, I had the privilege to:

• coach courageous leaders

• collaborate with inspiring partners

• stand on stages and in intimate coaching spaces

• support people through fear, transition, and growth

I feel deep gratitude for my clients and collaborators —

for the trust, the openness, and the shared commitment to growth.

Working with people who are willing to step out of their comfort zone remains one of the greatest joys of my life.

Writing My Book: From Fear to Peak Flow

Another constant companion this year was my book:

From Fear to Peak Flow

Writing it has been an act of honesty.

A remembering.

A distillation of everything I’ve lived, coached, failed at, and learned.

Fear has never been my enemy.

It has always been my teacher.

This book is not just about peak performance —

it’s about living fully, consciously, and courageously.

Looking Ahead: 2026 and What’s Calling Me

As I look ahead, my heart feels excited — not rushed.

New challenges are already whispering:

• the European Championships

• swimming Gibraltar

• new stages, new conversations, new stories

Some dreams are already taking shape.

Others I’ll speak about soon.

What I know for sure is this:

I will continue to follow my Ikigai — the intersection of passion, purpose, service, and joy.

Gratitude — The Thread That Holds It All Together

I feel deeply grateful.

For my body.

For my daughter.

For the water.

For the people I get to work with.

For the stages, the silence, the courage, and the doubts.

Every part mattered.

A Few Questions to Carry With You Between the Years

Before the new year begins, I invite you to pause with these questions:

• Where did I grow this year — even if it was uncomfortable?

• What did life teach me about my strength?

• What do I want to carry forward — and what am I ready to release?

• If I trusted myself more, what would I choose next?

You don’t need all the answers.

You just need honesty.

You don’t have to become someone new in the new year.

You are allowed to become more yourself.

May the coming year meet you with courage, presence, and love —

in all the roles you live and all the dreams you dare to follow.

With deep gratitude,

Deniz

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