Studying to become a trauma-informed therapist and a psychologist has held the mirror up to my need to sort my own stuff in a way that I have never done before.
All of this got me thinking deeply about vulnerability.
In the relentless pursuit of success and productivity, many women, high performing women find themselves trapped in a silent and destructive cycle. I like to call it High-Functioning Burnt Out Woman Syndrome and it’s pervasive. These women appear to have it all together while secretly battling exhaustion, both physically and mentally.
As we work towards living a life of joy, presence and calm, we often find ourselves on a quest for balance.
We seek equilibrium in our work and personal lives, striving to minimise stress and maintain a constant state of serenity.
Do all areas of your life need to be in order to attain balance? If you listen to societal expectations we’ve been led to believe that the answer is yes. But in reality, this is not only unrealistic, but sends people down the path of burnout.
Can you hold ten balls in the air? Are you a circus juggler?
Of course not. So why should you have to juggle “balance” and 10 different areas of your life at the same time?
Ever wondered why finding balance feels like a race against the clock?
Or what would happen if you shifted your mindset towards time being expansive and an opportunity to give to that which gives you meaning and fulfilment?
Have you ever felt yourself saying this? “Once I have finished XYZ then I can do something for myself?”. Don’t worry, you are not alone. A lot of women find they put themselves on the bottom of the to-do list because they prioritise the needs of everyone else first.
When it comes to balance, I see a lot of us chasing an unachievable definition of balance, believing that it's a universal formula waiting to be uncovered.
However, the truth is, balance is not a one-size-fits-all equation and I am here to dispel the myth that suggests it is this universal definition.
