My belly is a work of art: How I developed mental strength and learned to trust my body

About scars, inner strength, and trust in life

There are stories that we carry within us for a long time.

Because they are sensitive. Because they are profound. And at some point, we feel:

Now is the moment to share them.

This article is one such story.

My story.

This story has shaped my life. It has changed the way I view my body. It has taught me what developing mental strength really means. And it is one of the reasons why I do what I do today.

I'm Julia. Mental coach, yoga teacher, companion. And above all, a person who is deeply convinced that our bodies and minds are always on our side—even when it sometimes feels otherwise.

I believe that health is our greatest gift. And that we often only begin to truly appreciate it when it starts to falter.

Many people live with physical or mental ailments that they cannot understand. They feel that no one listens to them, that they are not taken seriously, or that they are alone with their questions. I know this feeling. And I am here to change that. To show people how they can get back in touch with their inner world.

My story

My story begins early. Very early.

In 1996, at the age of just four, I underwent emergency surgery. A ruptured appendix, several operations, an abdomen that had to heal open. Things you don't understand at that age, but which become deeply embedded in your body's memory. Since that moment, I have never known my body without a scar. It was always there and became a companion in my life.

More operations followed in 2007. Adhesions, pain, and the constant hope that things would finally settle down.

In 2013, that feeling was shaken once again. A large abscess in my abdomen, several examinations in different clinics, and again no one knew what was wrong with me. Until I could hardly walk anymore and another MRI brought clarity. Another serious operation. Months in which my life came to a standstill. And a sentence that has stuck with me: Theoretically, this could happen again at any time.

From that moment on, I lived with a subliminal fear for many years. I noticed and closely observed every twinge in my stomach, every unusual movement, every change.

Trust in my own body was no longer a matter of course.

When stress becomes visible in the body

What I didn't know at the time was that my body was reacting not only to medical causes, but also to stress.

Whenever I was under a lot of stress for a long period of time—due to high work intensity, emotional issues, or inner tension—my lower abdomen would become hard. Painful. Sensitive.

I held on tight. Internally and externally. I hardly let go.

And every time, I sought out a doctor out of fear. The worry that it could be something serious again was immediately there.

Today I know: my body was talking to me.

My nervous system was in a constant state of alarm. Tension became my default state. And this stress manifested itself exactly where my most sensitive area was: in my stomach.

At some point, I understood: my body was not my enemy. It was my early warning system.

Mental strength develops in challenging moments

I often said to myself, “I can't do this again.” And that's exactly where my journey into mental work began.

I started to intensively study mindfulness, nervous system regulation, and mental stability because I had to find a way to live with this fear. I learned to listen to my body again. I learned to recognize fears and regulate them. I learned to give myself security.

Yoga became a central part of this journey. Through gentle stretches, backbends, and conscious breathing, my stomach was able to soften again. The scars began to move. For the first time in a long time, I felt real relief.

Beyond movement, I learned to regulate my nervous system. Breathing exercises, mindfulness, and mental techniques helped me find my way out of a permanent state of alarm. I began to understand that my body was not working against me. It was communicating. And it needed security. This experience fundamentally changed my understanding of healing.

For me, healing does not mean that everything disappears or should become “like it used to be.” Healing means building a relationship with my body. Listening to it. Taking it seriously. Trusting it and giving it what it really needs.

The sixth operation and a new experience

I had long thought that the operation in 2013 would be the last. And yet it came. The sixth operation. Right at the beginning of 2026.

New adhesions had caused my intestines and organs to stick to my abdominal wall. The pain was intense. My digestion was barely functioning. My body was under constant stress.

I was uncertain because the findings of different doctors were once again contradictory. At the same time, I knew that the right course of action would be another operation. It was a completely different experience from 2013. Much of what I had feared for years did not happen. My body and mind were better prepared. The inner work of the past years carried me through.

How strong we really are

One sentence accompanied me particularly during those days:

“We only realize how strong we are when we really have to be.”

For a long time, I thought I would never be able to cope with this situation again. And then I stood there and did it. Calm, present, and clear. And with a deep, confident feeling that I would make it.

Strength showed itself quietly. In the decision to keep going. In the willingness to trust the moment.

My why

After my last operation, when the bandages were removed during a check-up, I looked at my five scars and said, “My stomach is a work of art!”

The words just came out of me. And they felt so true.

Every scar tells a story of survival. Of adaptation. Of inner strength. Of a body that has always found ways to keep going. I love every single one of my scars, which make my body perfect in its imperfection.

That's exactly what I stand for today. For inner clarity. For mental stability. For a mindful, loving, and powerful approach to yourself.

If you're here, it's perhaps because you sense that more is possible. More peace. More confidence. More connection to yourself.

From healing to performance – what top-level sport has taught me

What originally began as a way back into my body developed over time into something much bigger. Yoga was no longer just therapy, but became the center of my life. I began to understand how closely physical practice and mental strength are connected. On the mat, I tested my limits, felt my body intensely, and learned to focus my mind through conscious breathing and presence. It wasn't just exercise—it was mental training.

In the process, I realized that true performance has nothing to do with constant functioning. If you want to perform well—in sports, at work, or in everyday life—you need presence, confidence in your own abilities, and the ability to stay calm under pressure. This is exactly what I see time and again in top-level sports: successful athletes know that recovery is not a luxury, but a prerequisite for peak performance. Strength does not come from constant stress, but from the alternation between tension and conscious relaxation.

When I took the step into self-employment in 2020, I asked myself who would benefit from this understanding. It quickly became clear to me that mental strength is not only crucial in professional sports. Executives, companies, and people with responsibility for themselves, their families, or their work environment also need precisely this combination of mindfulness, body awareness, and mental clarity.

Performance and self-care are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary: those who take themselves seriously, who learn to listen to their body's signals and treat themselves with understanding, lay the foundation for lasting success.

Today I know that healing and performance go hand in hand. Because true mental strength does not come from toughness, but from awareness.

The lessons you can learn from this story

Perhaps you are at a point where your body is trying to tell you something. Maybe you feel exhausted, tense, or restless inside. If so, I want to tell you this: your body is working for you. Even if it doesn't feel that way right now.

My story has shown me one thing clearly: the body speaks softly. Long before it becomes loud. And we must learn to understand its language again.

Mental strength begins when we are willing to listen. To slow down. To accept support. And to explore new paths.

I would be delighted to accompany you on this journey. My weekly Newsletter: Community Newsletter Mindset On My Podcast: FREEDOM TO GROW My online program Mountain Mindset: https://mountain-mindset.coachy.net/lp/mountain-mindset/