SO BUSY BEING BUSY
You know how some professionals are so busy working and mentoring others, but often find it hard to take their own advice?
Well I was one of those, and I wore my ‘busy’ like the proverbial badge of honour.
Living and working on four continents, I’d been completely dedicated to my career for 20 years as a corporate Human Resources professional, making sure everyone else was happy, psychologically safe and motivated to shine at work while quietly neglecting my own needs.
In hindsight, I was a high performer who was constantly looking for more career accolades to validate my sense of self-worth, drowning in overwhelm on some days and completely bored on others, while navigating some really toxic relationships on the side.
I also had poor boundaries – sending emails at all hours and staying late because ‘it was quieter’ in the office by then.
I was a perfectionist and a definitive people-pleaser, saying YES to every request because I was in HR – and HR must always serve, right?!
And while I’d always followed a ‘healthy lifestyle’ that looked great on the outside, I was frequently unwell and chronically depressed.
I landed up reaching burnout twice because I ignored all the warning signs from my body and my little voice that whispered: “Something feels off”.
As the years went by and my health continued to decline, I’d simply pushed my thoughts to one side and repeatedly told myself: “It’s fine, I’m fine, it’s all good”.
Until the day it wasn’t.
As I sat exhausted and sobbing in my doctor’s office (again!), I finally understood the reality of what I’d been ignoring for all those years:
I simply wasn’t living in integrity with myself, and my life absolutely had to change.
SHAKING UP MY OWN KALEIDOSCOPE
Given that this was at a time when burnout wasn’t spoken about quite as freely as it is now, I kept ‘schtum’ and started doing some research.
I unearthed mind-blowing data about individual and organisational burnout, toxic environments, the convergence of neuroscience, dietary and lifestyle factors, and the impact of circadian and ultradian rhythms, amongst many others.
Like shaking up a kaleidoscope forms a new image for us to look at, I decided I had to shake things up for myself and create a brand new vision of ME from all the ‘broken bits and pieces’ of my work and life.
In doing so, I discovered how much I’d been sabotaging myself and how I’d (unknowingly) been complicit in both my episodes of burnout, which shook me to my very core.
When I finally took responsibility for myself and stopped ‘trying to do it all’, I was able to make different choices for myself and my life.
A simple yet profoundly important decision.
We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.
WHAT ELSE SETS ME BUZZING?
An awakened consciousness is emerging. I’m all about unlearning, tuning in to the expansive power of self-awareness and mindfully creating our own reality.
Conventional belief systems are being powerfully challenged and all the old paradigms are crumbling, which means we thrive even more when we can be agile and responsive in this new VUCA** world.
Some of the official facts: Together with my University Certification in Executive and Management Coaching, I have a Post-Graduate Diploma in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s Degree of Arts in Anthropology.
I have trained in Emotional Agility, am an internationally recognised Master PSYCH-K® Facilitator and was one of the first coaches in the world to have been accredited in Burnout Awareness from The Burnout Academy in the UK in June 2024.
Some of the fun facts: My ancestry is part South African, British and Greek. I love really, really corny jokes, have multiple sets of Angel cards, and after living for nearly 40 years as a very dedicated vegetarian, switched over to a zero carb carnivore lifestyle in March 2019.
My. Best. Decision. Ever!
I am wholly excited by the innate intelligence of the human body, regenerative agriculture, holistic systems, sacred geometry, the interconnectedness of all things and quantum physics.
I adore photography, kaleidoscopes (naturally), animals, travel and scuba diving, and while I’m partial to artful design, mood lighting and music, I find my ultimate peace in the deep stillness of the African bushveld.
PS Nature is the new nightclub. Visit @witchy.natural.me on Insta to see some of my amateur nature photos 🌿
**The term VUCA originally described the Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity of situations. Harvard Business School suggests today’s world calls for Vision, Understanding, Courage and Adaptability.
I much prefer the latter interpretation, don’t you?
I am guided at all times by my values – to choose accountability, be open to learning, to hold integrity, embrace freedom and inspire trust.
I subscribe to and uphold the codes of ethics and conduct of the coaching profession as covered by COMENSA and the ICF as well as The PSYCH-K® Centre International.
If you’d like to connect, click here or on the ‘Leading Edge Empowerment’ button below to schedule your complimentary 30-minute Discovery Call.
You’ll discover some opportunities you may not have recognised, get some valuable insight into what’s getting in the way of your peace, and perhaps a little reminder of your MOJO too.
And if it looks like we’re good travel partners, I’ll be happy to share how I can support you in a tailored coaching programme.
DISCLAIMER
PLEASE NOTE: All results are examples of individual achievements and are not guaranteed. You are advised to apply this work within the boundaries of your own personal development, as it is not a substitute for professional medical treatment but a complement to it. It does not constitute medical, financial, spiritual, health or legal advice; you are required to take ownership for your needs and seek appropriate assistance as necessary. Proper medical exams and diagnostic evaluations by your physician are an important aspect for all wellbeing objectives.