MY JOURNEY

THE TURNING POINT FOR ME...

I found myself facing a number of my own personal challenges in life.   I have always been intuitive and someone who listens to their gut, and noticed I was feeling unhappy and unsettled...something was off.  On top of working long hours, I was always keeping myself so busy with my hobby earner making cakes in my spare time, the gym, boxing, dance classes and many social activities, yet I never seemed to feel fulfilled.  My stress levels were sky high, I was feeling anxious and empty but I couldn't put a finger on why!  I tried a girly holiday away thinking it would help but it actually just highlighted even more to me that I was not ok.  My change in behavior was noticed, I wasn't being my painfully patient, people pleasing and overly considerate self.  Not long after this and 1 week before my 30th birthday my eyes were forced opened and I had what I call an awakening to life...

​

During my normal routine on this particular work day waiting for a bus, everything moved so fast as I witnessed a pedestrian be hit by and pinned under the back wheel of a bus.  Everything then seemed to move in slow motion as everyone nearby started to comprehend what had happened and the shock had hit, she was dead.  I find it hard to sit and write about this as this lady was a stranger to me, my thoughts have and forever will be with her and her close ones, knowing that their lives in that moment changed forever.  It was also in that moment that my life too changed forever...

​

I remember the thoughts and feelings that raced through my head and body in that moment like it was yesterday.  I didn't know what to do with myself.  I was due to be in a school that morning to provide counselling sessions but all I could think about was how our day would continue, but that lady's had stopped forever.  She, like any of us stood at those bus stops, had turned up to life that day like any other, with things to look forward to and a whole life ahead of her.  But just like that, it had been taken away by an accident that she never saw coming.

​

From then on, I was very awake to life. Although I always thought myself to be a very aware person, I realised that I had put myself in a box (but later came to realise that this had been conditioned into me from childhood), putting limitations on my life.  I came to questioning my life and my choices, with questions like 'is this it?', 'surely there is more to life than this!?'.  Coming from what seemed to have been like walking around and conducting my life and life decisions with blinkers on, to my blinkers being well and truly stripped from me.

​

Being a counselling therapist, I knew the benefits of therapy and how important it was for me to explore these questions and feelings.   I was also aware what type of therapy I wanted and had the absolute pleasure in working with an incredible therapist who I hold a tremendous amount of gratitude towards, as my life has just grown in richness, experience, wonder and joy since the work we did together.

​

Through therapy and self-reflection I was able to establish that the reason why all my attempts to try new things and keep myself busy was not fulfilling me, was because I was severely unfulfilled in my marriage and how I was playing a role, fulfilling others needs around me, but not my own.  I had a burning desire for change that I needed to unleash, I just had no idea how.

​

After some time (and cutting a long story short), I found the courage to end my marriage.  I later went on to sell my part-rent, part-buy apartment with the view to travel on a sabbatical from work.  However after being denied a sabbatical, I again had to follow my gut.  I was burned out and NEEDED to do me, so I proceeded by handing in my resignation and booked a 4 month trip travelling around 10 countries I had yearned to visit yet NEVER in my dreams thought I ever would.  THIS WAS THE BEST THING I EVER DID FOR MYSELF!

 

I felt the need to take time out from giving therapy to others, and apply all of the skills I was offering others to myself in a much more focused way.  This time allowed me to fulfil some of my dreams in travel, but I also chose to start a life in a new country.  I explored the hobbies I had in my life and turned them into money earning opportunities to maintain my new life i.e. connecting with my creative side through baking and decorating cakes and sharing my knowledge and experience in fitness and health after having been on a weight loss and body transformation journey myself and helping others in their journeys.  Throughout my journey and travels I found myself coaching other people to do the same for their lives, take risks, make changes and really live!

​

I now have come full circle, providing coaching and therapy again, but also now enriched with all these new experiences and having gained more knowledge and skills in life and wellness transformation coaching.  I feel fulfilled and bursting with passion and purpose to help others find their way, their path to their own joy, and come to a better understanding of who they truly are.

​

I have always been an extremely passionate and positive person, not to say I haven't had my fair share of injustices in life and battles to face, but I developed the skills and ability to look for and find the lessons in life’s challenges and understand it is through these times we build strength.  I have my wobbles like any one, we are all human, but know it is through positive thinking, positive talking and connecting with the joy that resides in every one of us that we can overcome our struggles if we are persistent and practice this daily.  

I am a firm believer that we all have the potential within us to meet and achieve our goals and aspirations, however big or small.  Belief and love in self is paramount to a happy and healthy life and relationships. So let us start looking after ourselves and loving ourselves more in MIND, BODY AND BEING!