Mika Bryony On Spirituality, Grief, and How to Create Your Dream Life

At 18 years old, Mika Bryony made a choice that changed everything. Intent on trading the security of a 9-5 for the uncertainty of full creative freedom, she abandoned her plans to go to University and instead chose to travel the world and document it online. 

What started as a childhood passion (she began vlogging at just 13!) has since evolved into an entire community of people dedicated to becoming the best version of themselves. With a core focus on self-help, spirituality, and personal development, Mika’s content has helped people all over the globe tap into their own power and start creating the life they’ve always wanted.  

Mika’s online presence is undeniable, with a unique aesthetic that blends nostalgia, kawaii, and dreamy futurism - it’s honestly giving real-life fairy. With her content spanning an entire range of arts including fashion, bevauty, and even Chinese sword dancing, she is the epitome of empowerment, proving to us that we’re capable of living out our wildest dreams.

In this exclusive interview, Mika opens up about her path from teen vlogger to self-made sensation, and the lessons she’s learned along the way. 

Mika, when did your spiritual journey begin and what inspired it? 

At 17, whilst having a hard time at school and in a season of angsty teen self-loathing, I turned to self-help books, hoping for a way out. That’s when I stumbled upon The Art of Happiness by Howard C. Cutler - I often say this book was my gateway into spirituality.

I was introduced to a Buddhist perspective on happiness and contentment and I was blown away by the deep resonance of Buddhist teachings. Buddhism didn’t feel like a religion in the way I had known growing up within a Christian environment; it felt more like philosophy - practical, tangible ideologies for cultivating peace. It allowed me to begin the journey of discovering my own sense of spirituality through diving into ancient religions, philosophers and spiritual thought leaders and embodying what resonated.

What influences would you say have had the biggest impact on your personal style? 

I was your typical Tumblr girly when I was a teen and so the natural graduation for me has been Pinterest! I can moodboard for hours and the algorithm always shows me new niche inspo that tickles my brain! 

I also feel like Harajuku subcultures are a big source of inspiration for me. I first discovered Fruits magazine (the late 90s-early 2000’s Japanese street style mag) at age 13 through a school friend's older brother. Since then I’ve always been drawn to Japan for that reason. It awakens my inner child and inspires me to experiment with my self-expression. Clothes should evoke joy and for me dress-up is an essential part of living a juicy, creatively fulfilled life.

You’ve been open online about your journey navigating grief and it’s been really inspiring to see. What advice would you give to others going through a similar experience? 

First, I just want to acknowledge how incredibly deep and complex grief is. Losing someone you love, especially to suicide, carries layers of pain, confusion, and unanswered questions that can feel impossible to navigate. I would say firstly that there's no right or wrong way to grieve. I went through so many phases and each one was just another way of processing. I’m still processing now, every day.

Embrace community and talk openly about how you’re feeling with the people who love you. One thing about loss is it inspires so much love. The biggest gift I’ve ever received was the unfathomable amount of support from my community. I now feel I have the unique gift of being able to support others in their own grief. I would also say that there comes a time where you have to give yourself permission to experience joy again. It’s important to keep a mindset of trust that grief can in fact inspire positive change and action in your life and it doesn’t define you as someone who is broken or can’t live your fullest, most beautiful life. Let loss inspire you to live more fully and fearlessly. This is all temporary and death does show you just how much there is to live for.

In an ever-overwhelming digital age, how do you balance being online with staying spiritually aligned?

I do think you can be both online and spiritually aligned. It just means being more conscious of what you’re engaging with and using social media for. Your algorithm is essentially up to you - the accounts you follow and what you share has to be curated and intentional! This way it can actually help you stay inspired, aligned and informed rather than keeping you distracted and discouraged.

What does your perfect slow morning look like? 

My ideal slow morning starts gently - no alarms, just waking up when my body feels ready. First things first: coffee, always. I take my supplements, then ease into the day with a little Duolingo (I’m on a mission to master Japanese!). Mornings are my sacred time to connect, so I’ll usually FaceTime one of my long-distance besties or my sister - nothing lifts my mood like catching up with them. And, of course, journaling is a must. It’s my way of checking in with myself, untangling my thoughts, and seeing what’s stirring in the ole noggin.

From graphic design to styling to dance, it’s obvious you’re a creative of many talents. Are there any arts you want to explore that you haven’t yet? 

That's so sweet! Honestly, I would love to learn something badass like archery. I recently completed a Chinese sword dancing short course at a university and now I’ve got a taste for weaponry haha. Also, a huge goal of mine is to speak fluent Japanese. Speaking other languages is an art and a superpower!

What top 3 tips would you give to someone wanting to create their dream life?

1. You will only attract opportunities and relationships that are truly meant for you when you stop performing and start being the most authentic version of yourself!

2. Stop to smell the roses; find a way to enjoy the present rather than constantly placing your peace in a future that hasn’t come to fruition yet. If you aren’t enjoying the journey to your goal, is it even the right goal? 

3. Lastly, find something you would do for free because you enjoy it so much and pursue that as a career!

Have you ever manifested something accidentally? Like you didn’t realize it until it actually happened? 

Maybe this is a weird take but I feel like I look at suffering or undesired outcomes as accidental manifestation. Sometimes we receive suffering as a mirror of what we need to change in order to avoid further suffering and get more of what we want. So now when bad things happen I’m already looking for what I can learn from that experience and when you discover the lesson it becomes hard not to feel like it was meant for you! This has honestly helped me reframe all the suffering in my life.

How do you recentre yourself during challenging times? 

I create space to go inward. I love journaling to process and also confiding in my besties. I think breaking my routine and changing the environment also really helps me to reset and figure out what my next move should be! 

What does the rest of 2025 look like for you? 

So I’m moving to Japan in Spring which will be the beginning of an incredible new chapter! I also plan on doing a lot of travel to nearby countries like South Korea, Thailand, and China. It’s going to be a lifelong dream fulfilled. I have a great feeling about 2025…