Hi, I'm Xorla.
welcome to my e-home
I've always struggled with myself essays since primary school like where does one even begin? Anyways, I'm just a girl with too many journal entries and an unhealthy obsession with FBI/Crime series. I'm sure I was a profiler in another life. In this life howevever, I'm a neuropsyc student, a recovering perfectionist, and someone who genuinely believes personal growth was never meant to be a one-size-fits-all affair. That is why I started this whole HER thing I've got going on here. A place that didn't just hand you personal growth tips, but actually guides you to make it your own. I say let's put the personal back in personal development. What say you?
If that sounds like your kind of tea, pull up a chair.
How this started...
Long story short? I started from a place of burnout and uncertainty. I had done the work. I studied hard, hard enough to graduate university as valedictorian. I carpe diem with clinical precision, read and listened to the many self-help contents, powered through my goals, and still, I felt as if I were simply following some trend and trying to build the life I want based on someone else's blueprint.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the challenge of pushing myself and feeling like I was part of something big. But the mental and physical exhaustion that came after hitting every milestone set me back a few more steps. Most of the time. I would stop creating, and shut down from the world for days, sometimes weeks to recover. Not to mention, the guilt of not being productive or hitting some blanket personal growth milestone while in this recovery phase.
After graduation, which marked my last burnout season, I set out to try something different. Something that was more aligned with the life I secretly yearned for. A more flexible and intentional life. For a go-getter and overachiever, this felt like not trying hard enough, or worse, trying to be something I'm not.
But my mental and physical health was on the floor, and in slowing down, I found something unexpected. So I started learning more and sharing insights on this other way of living on Pinterest. Before long, I was writing again, this time on LinkedIn, Substack, Medium and now my own blog.
My goal is to help other young people caught up in this performative productivity to create a more intentional life that is truly reflective of their personal goals and to improve their wellbeing.
Hence, the birth of HERPLAN. This was something I built for myself to steady me on this new intentional way of living, and once I saw the impact it has had on my mental and physical health, I convinced my introverted self into sharing it with the world.
For me, slowing down to show up as I like to call it, saved my life in a way, and I couldn't wait to share these insights despite my silly fears of putting anything online. So here we are.
HERPLAN is the framework that teaches you to slow down to recover (Heal), find small yet creative ways to show up for your goals (Execute), and take the time to get to know and understand yourself a little better as you build the life you know you could have (Reflect).
If you've ever felt like you were both trying your hardest and still not living the life you want... this is for you.
"I believe transformation that lasts comes from our ability to sit with ourselves when it's most uncomfortable."
— Xorlali Opel
A Golden Buzzer Moment
Just some fun facts
These are the details that don't belong in a bio but somehow say the most about me.
I'm an INFJ, introvert, a virgo and apparently too private for my own good. Or so I've been told.
I am multipassionate. I'm a novelist, an academic research consultant and a baby UI/UX designer. This website being one of my projects.
I am multilingual. Or at least I'm in pursuit of it. It's been an adventure and totally worth it. Most of the time.
I've never been active on mainstream social media. My writing platforms are my social media, in a way. You get it or you don't.
I take the science of personal growth a little too personal and also binge crime and medical dramas without a single ounce of guilt. At times. But I now believe both things can coexist.
I have this annoying (according to my siblings) habit of turning everything into a song. We'll be talking about something and a song with related lyrics would pop in my head. It just happens!
What I've been up to
Launching HERPLAN from scratch
Currently, I am fully in the build phase: writing the newsletter, blog posts, creating resources, and learning what it actually takes to show up consistently for something you believe in. It's been humbling and exciting in equal measure.
Deep in psychology and neuroscience
Exploring the science behind why we struggle, how we grow, and how small behaviour patterns compound into meaningful life outcomes. And sharing the interesting insights and practical tools with you.
Finding my nonfiction voice
Practising writing that is both evidence-informed and heartfelt. The goal is writing pieces that inspire and transform the lives of my readers for the better.
On my e-bookshelf
Books that are keeping me informed, creative and entertained right now.
Ready to start the
conversation?
Whether you want to read my work, work together, or just explore what this space has to offer, you are more than welcome to join me.