Today’s youth face an invisible but constant pressure: the mandate of perfection, performance measured in likes, and the need to fit into the molds imposed by society. Amid this noise, movements like Hakuna have become a breath of fresh air, filling churches, public squares, and the playlists of thousands of young people . But behind the music and the massive concerts, there is something much deeper: an inner revolution that invites them to leave behind theoretical “niceness” to experience a real and transformative encounter with Jesus Christ .

In a recent episode of  Rebeldes Podcast , hosted by Fray Marcos, we spoke with two young women who live their faith openly and without reservation: Teresita and Isa Tusquets . With careers, active professional lives, and an enormous capacity for enjoyment, they shared their stories of how they went from following religious rules out of habit to discovering a living, joyful, and profoundly free faith .

The trap of perfectionism and the discovery of the inner world

Teresita, who sang before more than 1.5 million people at World Youth Day (WYD) in Lisbon, recounts how her life took a dramatic turn when she found herself living alone in Madrid at the age of 16. Despite having a solid Catholic and family upbringing, her relationship with God was limited to a “theory” and a  checklist  of obligations .

“I was living a lie: the one that you have to be perfect. It’s impossible, you’re not going to be perfect. And above all, I don’t want to be perfect because I want to be me ,” Teresita confessed during the podcast .

Despite having a vibrant social life and a promising university career, an inner emptiness was evident . It was through personal searching, silence, and Eucharistic adoration that she managed to connect with a deeper longing: to feel profoundly loved by God not for what she produces, but for who she is .

Breaking with the double life and the encounter in Tangier

Isa, a psychologist by profession, reflected on the danger of living on autopilot and leading a double life between the world and religion . For her, the turning point came during a volunteer trip to Tangier with Hakuna . There she met ordinary, joyful, and fun-loving young people who lived their faith not with the rigidity of a watchful God, but with the closeness of a merciful Father .

“I don’t invent love; I receive it,” Isa explains when addressing the myth of self-esteem and self-sufficiency .  “When you discover that you are loved for who you are, you stop trying to prove that you are enough all the time and you finally allow yourself to be cared for . ”

Keys to authentic faith in the 21st century

The conversation left on the table essential reflections for any young person (or adult) seeking to give meaning to their life beyond the superficial:

• Being rebellious means not conforming:  True rebellion today does not consist of randomly breaking rules, but in refusing to let the world live your life, reclaiming the freedom to be yourself .
• Faith is lived in community:  We need living spaces, friends with whom we can talk about God over a beer, and spiritual families that support us in suffering and joy .
• Depth versus fleeting emotion:  Weekend emotions fade quickly; theological formation, silence, and well-lived sacraments are needed to build on solid rock .
• Accepting one’s own smallness:  Abandoning toxic self-demand allows one to welcome the gaze of a God who does not judge mistakes harshly, but embraces wounds and accompanies pain with humility .