Why I Left City Life for the Forest: Paul’s Story of Purpose & Redefining Success – Part 1

The Digital Wellness Advantage (Ep #9)

What leaving the city, rethinking success, and designing with intention have in common – and why they matter for today’s conscious creators.

In This Episode

What happens when an international property developer reimagines success not through profit, but through permaculture?

In this honest and often vulnerable episode, Paul Vratusha, co-founder of D-Studio Consulting and Sonho de Urso, shares why he walked away from fast-paced cities like London and São Paulo to live and build slowly from a forest in Brazil.

His longtime partner and friend Matej joins the conversation to unpack lessons from Paul’s shift – from city skylines to soil, from chasing outcomes to designing with intention.

Together, they explore the intersection of nature, ego, digital work, and meaning-making in business.

Hosts & Guests

  • Paul Vratusha – Co-founder of D-Studio Consulting, retreat builder, and former international real estate strategist (featured guest).
  • Matej Železnik – Co-founder of D-Studio Consulting and host of this episode.

What You’ll Learn

  • Why “success” may be the wrong question – and what to ask instead.

  • How fear and illusion hold us back from evolving.

  • Lessons from the forest: systems thinking, interdependence, and observation.

  • What it means to brand for stillness – not just for attention.

  • The philosophy of “instrumentality” over ego.

  • How D-Studio’s values are rooted in nature, not trend cycles.

Watch the Full Conversation

Key Themes

  • Letting Go of City Metrics
    Paul reflects on his past identity as a successful developer, and how the pursuit of status, speed, and scale eventually became unsustainable, physically and emotionally.

  • Forest as Teacher
    The episode touches on how 25 years of observing land, animals, and biomes reshaped Paul’s approach to branding, architecture, and digital work alike: less control, more listening. Paul applies principles aligned with permaculture to life, business, and strategy.

  • Business as Space Creation
    Branding, marketing, and property are all about space and Paul shares how creating emotional, energetic, and ecological space is the real “deliverable” behind every project. It’s an approach echoed in how D-Studio bridges e-commerce and authenticity.

  • Redefining Success Through Instrumentality
    Rather than chasing accolades, Paul champions the idea of being a functional instrument for the world, serving, not extracting. This mirrors conversations on digital wellness through purpose.

Powerful Quotes

“Being is already done. It’s about remembering the light we already are.”

“The only formula that works 100% with nature is observation.”

“Success is not wealth or titles. It’s energy, honesty, and alignment.”

“Creating space, not just content, is what makes our digital work impactful.”

Why This Episode Matters

For entrepreneurs, brand leaders, and anyone seeking a more aligned path, this conversation is an invitation to slow down and reconsider what you’re truly building. Whether you’re scaling an agency or designing a retreat, the forest offers metaphors (and models) for more holistic success.

This is Part 1 of a three-part conversation.

Ready to Level Up?

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