When I started working with Julie, I was in a very bad place – burnt out, anxious, lost, with no idea what to do next. I was so unhappy and had a constant tightness in my throat. I felt overwhelmed and thought about work 24/7. I had no capacity for anything outside work, including my family. I was constantly stressed. Not long after, I was signed off work with stress. Whilst I knew there were issues at work, I also knew deep down I needed to change my mindset, that I had lost my way and that the answer was in me, not in just walking away from the job. I wanted to be able to make decisions about my life and work from a place of calm clarity, not from a place of panic and stress.
Three months later, after working through the programme with Julie, I feel so much happier – grounded, more confident and centred in myself. I have much deeper self-knowledge, I am calmer, lighter and so much stronger. This is exactly what I needed in terms of learning how to manage stress, access my calm logical brain, understand myself and make decisions from this place of strength, clarity and peace. I have learned so much about myself and what I need to be fulfilled and now have effective tools for managing life’s ups and downs. This programme has brought me strength, hope and clarity.
In terms of work, this means that I no longer feel stressed and anxious. I approach problems that arise with a clear mind and a calm nervous system. I am more focused and can solve problems faster and without panicking. When managing challenging work relationships, I don’t get irritated and reactive the way I used to, instead I am able to stay calm and address the situation without the emotional load. It means I don’t get drained anymore and have more energy and time to focus on the parts of work I enjoy and do best. It also means I don’t bring the weight of work home with me anymore.
Increasing productivity was not my aim in doing this programme but as a by-product I find that because I am not so emotionally activated, I am much more productive. Who knew that by slowing down, calming my nervous system and disconnecting my worth from my work, that I could achieve more!
In terms of family relationships, I am no longer distant, irritated, snappy and negative, unable to spend quality time with my husband and children because my head was full of work 24/7. Now I rarely think about work at all when I am not there, and if I do, it passes quickly and does not steal away my precious family time. My children have commented that I seem much happier and am more fun to be with. I am present for them and can help them through their challenges as well, whereas previously, I was so consumed by thoughts of work that I had no capacity for their needs.
Prior to the programme, I was full of harsh, negative self-judgement. In effect, I was bullying myself, and as a result I was very unhappy, with low self esteem and confidence. By practicing self-compassion and being kind to myself, acknowledging that it’s okay to make mistakes or need a break, I am much less self-critical. This means I am also less critical of others and of circumstances, seeing challenges as a gift means life is so much more enjoyable and peaceful.
I have gone from feeling lost and disconnected from myself to having a deeper understanding of personal strengths and weaknesses and feeling empowered to use them for growth. By identifying my soul type, I can now make decisions about my career and my future life from a solid foundation. My career aspirations are now something I would never have imagined before!
I can honestly say it has been life changing, not only in work but for my general mental health and for the quality of my relationships with my husband, children and wider family. This is a new way of operating in the world that brings positive benefits to myself and those around me.
Claire D | Management, UK
