InnerViews: Catching Up with Veronica Leynes

The Inner-Views series catches up with previously-interviewed VGB diarists,
honoring shift, change, becoming, and the will to continue— journals in tow.

TEN years ago I interviewed Veronica Leynes for the Journals + Journeys series.
Her determination to cultivate herself body, mind and spirit, honing her resiliency
and honoring herself as a woman who’s becoming, shifting, and yes— fighting— these
were and continue to be admirable qualities in her as a person and as a VGB diarist.
Here, I catch up with Veronica, now a seasoned trainer who’s had her first fight in the ring,
to make another marker in her journey as a sojourner and VGB diarist.

What’s happened? 

I’ve experienced so many lifetimes since we last spoke.
I’m finally arriving at a place where I feel comfortable simply being.

What’s changed?

Honestly, nothing has changed—I’ve always been this way. I've been a leader since
I was young, ambitious, and aware of my uniqueness. The only difference now is that I no
longer rely on opposition to move forward. I’ve cleared away expectations, perceptions,
and projections from my space. I’m unfazed by the stigma or isolation that comes with
breaking cycles, and I no longer feel guilty about how I move or the pace of my progress.
It’s simpler now.

What have you realized? 

I’m not here to make anyone feel comfortable.
Staying in a constant state of healing isn’t essential and can become its own trap.
It’s perfectly fine to be done and simply move on.

What have you done?
I run a small business and have built a community dedicated to changing
the narrative of health and wellness to one that is realistic, fun, healthy, and sustainable.
I’m bringing a dream to life, transforming it from an idea into something tangible.
I work as a strength coach and also fight and compete in martial arts.

What have you created?

I’ve created a space where I can play, create, and live in my truth
as my most authentic self, allowing me to help others do the same.
I’ve brought to life a business and lifestyle that I’ve been
actively building for the past 20 years.

What’s been the most significant change in yourself since our first interview?
Those early interviews felt like affirmations, hopes, and dreams for the person I’ve become.
I’ve spent enough time in the trenches, gathering insights and living through experiences,
to put theory into action. What was once practice has now simply become my way of life.

What have you had to remember?

I am enough. Every experience I’ve had was purposeful,
and everything I’ve done has been with intention.
There’s no surprise in the outcome because the work
was always in alignment with my path.

What have you decided?

Either you've done the work or you haven’t. I refuse to engage in a narrative
that keeps repeating cycles of lies and abuse. I am not here to shield them from their
lessons, nor will I interfere with their karma. I'm at peace with being the catalyst
for their tower moments. When the time comes, life will hold you accountable—
you either reap the rewards or start over and sow again.

What’s a life season you had to give a name?

I’m currently in the season of "Not Doing Too Much", haha
–it’s so easy to pile on everything and the kitchen sink.
I don’t have to constantly be exhausted or in a rush.
More is definitely not more. Everything will get done in its
own time, and it’s perfectly okay to rest. 

How has your approach to journaling changed since we last spoke?
The early Vagabroad journal prompts helped me start meaningful conversations with myself, encouraging me to reflect from a new perspective and explore deeper layers.  I needed to journal daily to develop discipline by staying consistent with a practice. This helped me recognize and establish new habits and affirmations until they became second nature. 

Now that I can maintain an ongoing dialogue with myself and stay in a creative flow, I occasionally jot down notes, thoughts, or paragraphs, taking time to expand on ideas and explore new ones.

What is fighting?

Fighting is the purest form of human expression.
The art of war is primal, technical, creative, strategic, and instinctual—
it's as natural as it is spiritual. It's both physical and intangible.
is straightforward—you either win or lose. You survive to fight another day,
or you don’t. There’s no middle ground when it comes to achieving real results.
When the moment of truth arrives, you either have the answers and succeed,
or you don’t and fail. You are, or you aren’t, the person you need to be to emerge victorious.  

My perspective on fighting needed to shift because it had been shaped by social media,
and nothing on the internet is truly real. This life is not glamorous or easy
—it’s meant to be challenging. I’m only just beginning to scratch the surface and have
so much more to learn. But I’m deeply grateful for the lessons I’ve learned so far.

Have you had to “fight for your life” in some capacity?
I’ve always seen my journey as life or death—either I win, or I don’t survive.
Winning represented freedom, it represented life. There was no choice but to win,
by any means necessary. Living according to the narrative handed down to me felt
like a death sentence. Knowing who I am now and what I’ve learned,
I can’t imagine living a life shaped by someone else’s expectations.

What did loss teach you?

Loss has taught me surrender—the practice of releasing control
and placing trust in a higher power or spiritual force.
It’s not about giving up, but about surrendering your will, desires,
needs, expectations, and timeline to something greater.

What have you gained?
I’ve gained discernment and the courage to face what matters.
There are many things we overlook every day that are actual acts of war.
It’s easier to ignore the words and social cues, but we can no longer let them slide.
There is a cost to ignoring them.

What did you lose?

To grow, you must leave behind what’s familiar—there are countless versions of myself I had to let go of to become more. You can’t cling to outdated beliefs, conditioning, or narratives, expecting them to lead you where you want to go. Like a trail of bodies left behind on the way to a summit, they remind us of the risks and sacrifices of reaching difficult heights.

If the people, places, or things in your life aren’t aligned with your path, you have to be willing to move on. Growth always comes at a cost.

"If you want to take the island, you must burn the boats."

Being true to yourself and following your own path is always worth it. Nothing compares to the freedom that comes from releasing the dead weight.

What is endurance?

Endurance is the capacity to endure hardship and stress,
particularly the inner strength required to do so. It’s the ability to keep going,
especially in tough times. However, endurance can be a double-edged sword
when you stay in places that no longer serve you.

What prepared you? 

I've unintentionally intimidated people my entire life.
I grew up surrounded by a family filled with resentment and misunderstanding,
friends who secretly hated me, bosses who felt threatened by me, and strangers who
just didn't like me—likely because I'm gifted, different, and unique.
In a way, I was conditioned for this.

When did you know it was time?

I’ve always been firm in my convictions and ready to act on them. I’ve been working toward these moments my whole life, knowing that one day I would reach a place where I could live in peace.

What healed you?

Voicing my truth in therapy and hearing it validated by a professional helped me see that the trauma and abuse I endured were real and abnormal. I learned the right language to describe those experiences and tools to express myself. Letting go of my family’s secrets, I realized I won’t be punished for being honest and can live freely. I practiced setting and maintaining boundaries, facing conflict, and sharing my true feelings. I’m letting go of the guilt and shame attached to others’ actions and accepting that it’s not my duty to save them. Whatever comes, comes.

What has it meant for you to step into your new day?

I trust myself completely. I have unwavering confidence in my abilities and instincts.
It’s about embodying what I’ve learned, putting theory into action, and simply being.

What have you written?
Chapters-Memoirs-Letters-Testimony

How has your spirituality shifted or grown since we last spoke?
Now that I've moved beyond the conditioned beliefs from the church, I understand that true faith is different from what I was taught; my spirituality and beliefs have become simpler. I trust that I have everything I need to succeed and fulfill my purpose. I embrace my calling and the role I play in the lives of others. I move through life as a living prayer, embodying love and beauty. This is God.

Are there any things you held to be true or real or absolute at the
time of our first interview that you have since released as lies?
You don’t need to suffer to achieve success, and just because your path
doesn’t follow “traditional” norms doesn’t make it wrong.
There’s no single right way to do things. We don’t have to live in extremes—
though there are times when it’s appropriate. Much of the discomfort you feel comes
from others’ projections. What we’re told to want is often misleading.
In reality, it can be that simple, and you’re doing just fine.

Have you noticed the difference between journaling
life events versus journaling the new testaments, books of revelation?
Parallels exist everywhere. As above, so below.
History continually echoes scripture and significant social and
life events in cyclical, predictable patterns. Life offers us spaces to
practice and absorb the lessons needed to become autonomous and free.

How do you honor history?
I honor history by staying present. I draw guidance, inspiration, motivation, and wisdom from my ancestry, but I don’t carry the burdens they had to bear—I refuse to be someone frozen in the past, unable to move forward.

What does privacy and nurturing your interior world mean to you?
Hold your joys close. They are precious, special moments, people, rituals, words, and more. Not everything needs to be shared. If something is meaningful and essential to you, you’re the only one who needs to know it. Create a space where you can exist without the pressure of being observed.

What’s been most difficult to come to terms with about the society we live in?

As a Filipino woman, I have been fetishized, groomed, and oppressed.
I’ve seen, heard, and experienced a wide range of these symptoms without
realizing it was oppression until someone recently pointed it out, which was deeply
triggering. I’ve invested so much time and energy learning how to exist outside
the pressures of society and those who, knowingly or unknowingly,
continue to perpetuate these dynamics.

Living in your power and truth will inevitably trigger others.
Learning that their reactions are theirs to own, and not taking them on,
has been challenging, but with practice and time, it has become easier.

Social media has become more of a staple in our lives since we last spoke. 
What are your general sentiments on its pervasiveness and our “reliance” on it?
Social media is no longer the essential tool we once believed it to be.
It serves as entertainment and a way to connect with an audience, but it isn’t real.
The return on investment isn’t as significant as many think. While it can be part of
a larger strategy, it shouldn’t be the sole means of making a living or staying connected.
Real magic happens in face-to-face interactions and physical communities.
Without discernment and strong boundaries,
social media—and those skilled at using it—can take advantage of you.

To what do you feel you’ve been led to bear witness?

You shouldn’t freely give away the answers to the test.
Not everyone wants or needs saving. Sometimes, just being there—
walking the path together—is enough.

Life’s cycles are always unfolding around us, and no matter where you are,
it’s all beautiful. There’s a rhythm to life. Like a symphony, each instrument plays its role,
coming together to form a song. There’s an introduction, a pre-chorus, a chorus,
a bridge, and an outro—moments of calm, build-up, repetition, and conclusion.
You can be an audience member, sometimes even the conductor.
Watching all these stories unfold around me has been one of the
most beautiful things to experience. It’s all evidence that you’re alive.
It all matters, and it’s all okay. Humanity is Art.

Describe or define having to fight your old self to become the new.

“No one will know the violence it took to become this gentle.”

I won’t sugarcoat it—while rewarding, this process is exhausting, uncomfortable, and intense. Undoing decades of conditioning to reprogram karmic and generational patterns is a relentless journey. Breaking cycles and rewriting inherited narratives as the first in your generation demands incredible strength.

Challenges come in waves, testing your resolve. But the triumph of overcoming what once seemed impossible is unparalleled. Just as muscles grow through resistance and training, resilience is forged in the heat of battle.

To win this war, you must understand your enemy—acknowledge the nature of your struggles and build a practice that supports the life you’re striving for. Cultivating self-awareness and arming yourself with the tools for meaningful change are essential steps forward.

We must accept the indifferent nature of the world—evolution, growth, and survival are unbothered by your emotions, identity, or circumstances. The only path to your destination is through the challenges. And when you arrive, you’ll understand that the journey never truly ends. The goalposts will shift, and you will be called to adapt, grow, and press on.

Even as the battle evolves, it remains a war, and its significance is no less profound.

Who are you?

These days, “no one knows me” has taken on an entirely new meaning. The only constant is how much I’m changing- hourly, weekly, yearly. While some foundational principles and standards remain, I have no desire to stay stagnant. I embrace the challenges and changes because they mean growth—they make room for new perspectives, opportunities, creativity, and fun.

I am the ruler of myself—I hold mastery and command over every corner of my mind, the deepest reaches of my soul, and the most precious parts of my heart. I am playful, lighthearted, and fun, embodying the best of those who came before me. I am the realization of prayers and dreams fulfilled. I live fully in the most joyful, passionate, leisurely, and loving energy. Everything gets done, and the way I do it is perfect and divinely guided. What I’ve built is here to stay—it’s mine by birthright.

I love myself. I love all of me. I am grateful for who I am. I will continue to evolve and love myself whole-ly.

I am Veronica Elle Leynes.

Do you feel you’ve apprehended your significance?
Even though you are chosen, given a purpose, and placed on a path,
nothing will move if you don’t. You need to seek, ask questions,
and go through trial and error to discover. He doesn’t move unless you do.
To deepen that relationship, you must take those steps forward.

Are you living your purpose?
Absolutely, without a doubt—I know who I am and that I’m fulfilling my purpose on every level.

What is journeying soulfully?
Living and moving with intention—on mission, with purpose, and fully present.
You are a living prayer and testament, the truest form of self-expression.