Episode #106
#106 Ten Seconds to Midnight: Finding the Courage to Become Who You Were Created to Be with Tova Citrin
What happens when life cracks everything open... and the version of you that you have carefully built no longer fits who you are becoming? In this deeply honest and thought-provoking episode of Embody Your Empress , host Sarah King , founder of Empress Nation , is joined by Tova Citrin ... a technology executive, author, songwriter, speaker and spiritual creative who is living proof that you do not have to choose between the different parts of yourself. By day, Tova works in the world of technology, AI trust and safety, and global operations. By night, she is the author of the spiritual thriller Ten Seconds to Midnight and the creative force behind Aviya Sage , where she writes original music exploring healing, purpose, faith, transformation and the human experience. But Tova's journey to living authentically has not been a simple one. After experiencing serious illness in her late twenties, personal loss, professional upheaval, war, single motherhood and profound moments of spiritual awakening, Tova found herself asking some of life's biggest questions... Who am I when the things I thought defined me are taken away? What happens when we keep hiding parts of ourselves because we believe they do not fit into the life we have built? And perhaps most importantly... Do we have the courage to become who we were created to be? Sarah and Tova dive into the reality of spiritual awakening while still trying to function in the everyday world. They explore what it feels like to wear different masks in different environments, the fear of being seen for who you truly are, and the powerful moments when life forces us to stop, reassess and finally choose ourselves. Tova shares how a severe illness became the catalyst for her spiritual journey, reconnecting her with healing, energy work, Judaism and a deeper understanding of herself. She also opens up about spending years separating her professional identity from her spiritual and creative side... until a professional betrayal and unexpected career upheaval pushed her to finally bring all parts of herself into the light. After writing Ten Seconds to Midnight over many years and leaving it sitting unpublished, Tova eventually made the decision to release it into the world. She began creating music, embraced AI as part of her creative process and stepped into a far more public expression of who she truly is. This conversation is a beautiful reminder that sometimes our darkest seasons are not the end of the story. Sometimes they are the doorway. Sarah and Tova also explore the messy, uncomfortable and often unseen reality of healing. Because healing is not always beautiful. Sometimes it looks like sitting with yourself, crying, questioning everything, disappearing from the outside world for a while and allowing yourself the space to go inward. They talk about the importance of feeling without becoming consumed by the feeling... creating space for grief, regulating the nervous system and continuing to ask the bigger questions that keep us moving, growing and connected to purpose. Tova also shares how creativity has become one of her greatest forms of healing. From writing lyrics and music to transforming difficult life experiences into stories, songs and even humour, she explains how creating can transform pain into something meaningful... and perhaps even create a ripple that reaches someone who needs it most. As a woman living in Israel, Tova also offers a deeply personal perspective on resilience, community, presence and finding moments of gratitude while living through war. She shares how focusing on the present moment, allowing space for emotion and leaning on community have helped her navigate circumstances that many of us can only imagine from afar. At the heart of this episode is a powerful message... You do not need to wait until you feel fearless. You do not need to be perfect. You do not need everyone to understand you. And you do not need permission to be who you truly are. If there is a dream inside you... a book you want to write, music you want to create, a business you want to start, a conversation you want to have or a version of yourself that has been waiting quietly in the background... this episode is your reminder that there may never be a better time than now. Because your authenticity has a ripple effect. Your creativity matters. Your voice matters. And becoming more of who you are might just give someone else permission to do the same. In this episode, we explore: What happens when life forces you to question who you really are Spiritual awakening and trying to fit into the expectations of everyday life The courage to stop hiding different parts of yourself Why career success does not always mean soul alignment Navigating professional betrayal, unexpected change and starting again The dark night of the soul and the messy reality of healing How to feel your emotions without becoming completely consumed by them The importance of creating space for grief and emotional processing Creativity as a tool for healing and transformation How Tova uses AI as part of her music creation process Turning painful life experiences into art, stories and music Why one small act of creativity can create a powerful ripple effect Living with uncertainty and finding resilience in difficult circumstances Community, gratitude and presence during challenging times Letting go of perfectionism and the need to be liked by everyone Why you are already good enough while still allowing yourself to grow The courage to pursue your dreams at any age Why it is never too late to become more fully yourself About Tova Citrin Tova Citrin is a technology executive, author, songwriter and speaker living in Israel. She leads global operations in the AI trust and safety space while also embracing her passion for spirituality, storytelling, music and creative expression. She is the author of Ten Seconds to Midnight , a spiritual thriller inspired by Jewish mysticism, Kabbalah, redemption, healing and the idea that it is never too late to confront what is broken and begin again. Tova is also the creator behind Aviya Sage , where she writes and releases original music exploring healing, faith, purpose and transformation. Her work is rooted in the belief that our greatest challenges can often become the doorway to our deepest purpose... and that authenticity, creativity and courage can create a ripple far beyond what we can see. Connect with Tova Citrin Website: https://www.tovacitrin.com Book: Ten Seconds to Midnight https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H4HNP5CZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tovacitrin YouTube: Aviya Sage https://www.youtube.com/@AviyaSage You can also visit Tova's website to download the first three chapters of Ten Seconds to Midnight for free. Connect with Sarah King and Empress Nation Website: https://www.empressnation.au Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empress_nation_/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@embody.your.empress Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmpressNationSarahKing LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/empressnation/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Empress_Nation _ If this episode inspires you, please follow Embody Your Empress, leave a rating and review, and share this conversation with someone who may need the reminder that they do not have to hide who they are anymore . Because the world does not need a smaller version of you. It needs the version of you that has the courage to step forward, create, question, heal and become who you were always meant to be.
