Some stories arrive like a gentle stream. Others come crashing in like a wave, soaking you in the truth that life can be both unbearably hard and unimaginably beautiful.
Bethina Akeni’s journey is one of those stories.
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Bethina’s early years were a mix of cultural richness and emotional turbulence. At just eight years old, she moved to Germany — a shift that not only uprooted her from the familiar streets of Lagos but also shook her sense of identity. “I didn’t quite know where I belonged,” she reflects. That struggle with belonging would follow her through much of her early life.
Childhood, for Bethina, was marked by more than just cultural transitions. She experienced emotional rejection and violence — wounds that shaped how she saw herself and the world. “When you grow up feeling unwanted, it changes the way you trust,” she says. “It can take years to undo.”
At 20, she became a mother. Motherhood is transformative for anyone, but for Bethina, it became both a lifeline and a mirror. It showed her the depths of her resilience, but also reflected the healing she still needed. There was even a dark moment during her pregnancy when she almost gave up entirely. “Something inside me — maybe the thought of my child — pulled me back. That was the start of my real healing journey.”
Today, Bethina works as a social worker, supporting both the elderly and young people. The job has taught her that human needs are more alike than they are different. “Everyone wants to feel seen, valued, and connected,” she says.
But her work extends beyond her job description. Through her initiative, Heavenly Connect, she helps people — especially Africans — relocate to Germany and start fresh. “It’s about giving others what I wish I had when I first arrived here: guidance, empathy, and someone who understands.”
And now, she’s stepping into a new chapter — preparing to study law. It’s a dream she’s carried since childhood, now fueled by a mission to serve and advocate for her community. “Nobody could help me unless I helped myself,” she says. “That’s what I want to teach others: You have more power than you think.”
Bethina’s spiritual journey has been just as significant as her professional one. “I’ve learned that forgiveness isn’t about excusing what happened — it’s about freeing yourself,” she says. She grounds herself through self-care, reflection, and a determination to keep moving forward, no matter how slowly.
Her message to anyone feeling stuck or rejected? Your past doesn’t define you. Take one step at a time. Healing is possible.
Bethina Akeni’s life reminds us that the road from pain to purpose is rarely straight, but it is always worth walking.
If her story touched you, share it with someone who needs hope today.
From Pain to Purpose with Jordan Power: Healing, Authenticity, and the Power of Sound – Mirror Talk: Soulful Conversations
- From Pain to Purpose with Jordan Power: Healing, Authenticity, and the Power of Sound
- Passersby: The People Who Cross Our Paths and the Lessons They Leave Behind
- From Toxic Love to True Love: Chaya Garcia on Self-Healing and Choosing the Right Partner
- Nothing to Prove: Letting Go of the Pressure to Be Enough
- Andrew Greer: More Than a President—Sundays with Jimmy Carter
CONFESSIONS is now available: https://mirrortalkpodcast.com/confessions-book/
Thank you for joining me on this MIRROR TALK podcast journey. Please subscribe on any platform and remember to leave a review and rating.
Stay connected: https://linktr.ee/mirrortalkpodcast
More inspiring episodes and show notes are here: https://mirrortalkpodcast.com/podcast-episodes/
Your opinions, thoughts, suggestions, and comments are important to us. Share them here: https://mirrortalkpodcast.com/your-opinion-matters/
Support us by becoming a Patron. Please consider subscribing to one or more of our offerings at http://patreon.com/MirrorTalk
All proceeds will help improve the quality of our work and outreach, so we can serve you better.
These are some of the podcasting tools, software, and gear we use and trust — and we’ve partnered with amazing platforms to give our Mirror Talk community exclusive deals and discounts: https://mirrortalkpodcast.com/mirror-talks-recommended-podcasting-tools-exclusive-discounts/