Valentina is the founder of GrowBeyond, a soulful space where nervous system care meets everyday ritual. Her philosophy is simple yet profound: true well-being begins when we slow down and remember who we are.⁠ We invited Valentina to share her wisdom on the power of scent, sensation, and self-connection—how mindful rituals can gently rewire our days, regulate our nervous system, and root us back into presence.⁠
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Her story is one of burnout turned breakthrough, and we hope it inspires you to pause, breathe, and embrace your version of The Good Life.⁠

 

1. What inspired the creation of GrowBeyond? Was there a personal moment or experience that sparked this journey?

GrowBeyond was born at the intersection of burnout and breakthrough. Before starting GrowBeyond, I was running a fast-paced branding and marketing agency in Germany — immersed in the fast-paced world of startups. On the outside, things looked successful, but on the inside, I felt deeply disconnected and constantly in overdrive. Eventually, that led to burnout — physically, emotionally, and spiritually. That moment forced me to slow down and completely reevaluate how I was living and working. I started studying psychology, trained in somatic practices, and began to understand healing not just as a mental process — but as a felt, sensory one.

As part of that shift, I also moved back to Greece — my roots — to reconnect with a more soul-aligned pace of life. GrowBeyond became the brand I couldn’t find: a wellness space that merges science-backed tools, nervous system healing, and sensory rituals. It’s everything I’ve lived, healed, and studied — turned into offerings that help others come back to themselves too.

 

2. Your approach goes far beyond traditional self-care — how would you define what ritual means to you?

To me, ritual is how we return to ourselves in a world that constantly pulls us away. It’s not about doing something perfectly — it’s about creating simple, intentional moments that help the body feel safe. With my background in psychology and somatic work, I’ve learned that real transformation happens not just in the mind, but in the nervous system. The body remembers. And ritual gives it a new rhythm to follow.

That’s why I see ritual as a tool for emotional rewiring. Whether it’s scent, breath, or touch — when done with intention and repetition, these small acts shift how we feel, how we respond, and how we relate to ourselves.

 

3. Why do you believe scent and sensation are such powerful tools for nervous system healing?

Because they speak directly to the parts of us that words can’t reach. Scent travels instantly to the limbic system — the part of the brain responsible for emotion, memory, and survival. That means scent can create a sense of safety, calm, or comfort faster than almost anything else. It bypasses thought and touches something deeper. When paired with repetition and intention, scent becomes a powerful tool for nervous system regulation. It helps the body associate certain smells with safety and presence — which is exactly what we need when we’re anxious, overwhelmed, or triggered.

 

4. StillMind is described as “subconscious rewiring in one breath.” Can you tell us more about how it works on a physiological and emotional level?

Absolutely. The phrase comes from how quickly scent can shift the nervous system. When you inhale a grounding scent — especially while engaging your breath and body — you create a multi-sensory experience that the nervous system registers as safety. On a physiological level, scent signals the brain to relax. It can reduce cortisol, slow the heart rate, and shift us out of fight-or-flight mode. On an emotional level, this repeated pairing of scent and presence begins to rewire how we respond to stress. Instead of reacting automatically, we create a new association: scent + breath = safety.

 

5. In a world that constantly demands more, how do your tools help us feel differently without doing more?

We don’t need more — we need better ways to feel. Most of us are stuck in cycles of doing, achieving, and coping. What I’ve learned is that the body doesn’t heal through pressure — it heals through consistency and safety. The tools I create are designed to be small enough to fit into real life, but powerful enough to shift how you feel.

A 30-second pause with scent. A hand to the heart. A few mindful breaths. These aren’t “to-dos” — they’re nervous system cues. They help you come back to yourself without needing to change your whole life. That’s what makes them sustainable and transformative.

6. What role does slowness play in the way you formulate or use your products?

Slowness is at the heart of everything I create. Every product begins with the question: How can this help someone pause? I choose ingredients not just for their scent, but for how they support nervous system regulation. I handcraft each batch in Greece, where I now live, and where the slower pace of life deeply informs my creative process.

I also use my own rituals every day — not just to test them, but to live them. I make time to enjoy a quiet tea from the Greek mountains, inhale a grounding scent, and let that be enough. Slowness isn’t just a nice idea — it’s a core value.

 

7. GrowBeyond products are handcrafted in Greece. How does the energy of the land influence the brand and your creative process?

I live in Mani, in the south of Greece — a place where high mountains crash into the wild sea, where the landscape is both raw and rich, and where nature feels alive in every moment. That contrast — the rugged beauty, the stillness, the power — deeply inspires my creative process, often in ways I can’t even explain. It works on a subconscious level.

This land teaches me rhythm. It reminds me to create slowly, intentionally, and with deep presence. I use high-quality, organic ingredients, often grown locally, because I believe the energy of the land carries through everything we make. I don’t just formulate products here — I feel them into existence. Mani’s wild richness lives inside each one.

 

8. For someone new to nervous system work or ritual practice, where do you suggest they begin?

Begin small. Begin sensory. And begin exactly where you are. You don’t need any experience or background to start using rituals — you just need a willingness to pause. Some people use our tools during birth, pregnancy, or postpartum recovery. Others bring them into their business life, applying scent before meetings or transitions to stay grounded. Some use them without knowing anything about nervous system healing — they’re just drawn to the feeling of calm it creates. Even a moment — applying a grounding scent, placing a hand on your body, or taking one deep breath — can become a powerful shift.

 

9. What are your favorite times of day or specific moments to use StillMind?

My favorite ritual is how I start my day — with my morning matcha latte and the StillMind roller. I’ve built a strong association between the two, so now when I begin my day with that scent and that quiet moment, I feel grounded, clear, and ready to move from a place of calm. I also love using it before a night yoga or breathwork practice — it sets the tone for my body to soften and be fully present. And then there are those very real-life moments — when my kids are around, things get loud or overstimulating, and I just need a grounding tool. Often, I use it with my kids too — it’s become our little family ritual. That experience is actually inspiring an upcoming product… but that’s still a little surprise for now.

 

10. How do you personally return to yourself when you’re feeling overwhelmed or disconnected?

I come back through the body. Always. Sometimes it’s as simple as stepping outside and going for a grounding walk here in nature. The landscape where I live in southern Greece is so powerful — the olive trees, the sea breeze, the sound of cicadas. It brings me back into the moment, out of my head, and into my senses. Other times, I return to myself through a scent ritual, a breath, or by placing a hand on my chest. It doesn’t need to be big — it just needs to be honest.

 

11. What is one misconception people have about emotional regulation or “calming down” that you’d love to shift?

That you should be able to “calm down” just by telling yourself to. Emotional regulation isn’t a mindset problem — it’s a nervous system pattern. And so many of us weren’t taught how to feel safe in our own bodies. We try to think our way to peace, but the body doesn’t speak the language of thoughts. It responds to sensation, rhythm, safety. I wish more people knew that they’re not broken — their bodies are just doing what they learned to do. With the right tools and signals, we can shift those patterns gently. Not by force, but through consistency and compassion.

 

12. What does “The Good Life” mean to you?

To me, The Good Life means being here — fully. It means living in Greece, walking in the mountains, swimming in the wild sea, eating beautiful organic food, raising my children close to nature, and creating rituals that help others feel safe in their bodies again. It’s presence, simplicity, community, and rhythm.

And more than anything, it’s gratitude. Every day I wake up and I can’t believe I get to live this life — to be in this landscape, to raise my children this way, and to do the work I love. I don’t take a single part of it for granted.