Community Alchemist, Keynote Speaker,
Learning Experience Strategist, Author
What does it really mean to live a
full life?
What I never knew, until breast cancer came along
I never realized how much I was losing myself, until I was diagnosed with breast cancer. At age 37 and with two young children, I was faced with the question:
"what legacy would I want to leave behind?"
This question propelled me into an intense self-reflection phase. One where I had to learn how to fully check-in with myself. Life before the diagnosis consisted of going through the motions of being a full time mother, wife, part-find student, part-time consultant.
Going back to my dreams
I knew before getting married and having kids that I had big dreams. Dreams that got set aside as I got settled into family life. Dreams that were parked only to be revisited almost a decade after, while I was bedridden, worried and questioning:
"is this how I want my life to be?"
And that was the period of self-exploration- knowing where my full yes lies and where my heck no’s were. It was a period of setting boundaries for myself, even telling my kids, who at that time were 5 and 7, that “I am not available” that “I needed space.”
Like a lioness protecting her cubs, I too became so fierce with my newfound zest for life. Fierce in sharing what my non-negotiables are. Fierce in keeping my space, honoring my time, and preserving my energy.
Embracing Self-fullness
It was during this period in my life that I learned how to be “self-full”. I learned how to fill my cup to the brim, knew when I am depleted and knew how best to nourish my soul. It was during this period that I grew in leaps and bounds — from reconnecting with my calling, surrounding myself with people who inspire and nurture me, to saying yes to activities that feed by being.
I learned to redesign life amidst a period that is painful, challenging and uncertain. What I got out of it, is a renewed sense of who I am, where I want to be and how I want to embrace life. I realised it was not about "leaving a legacy", it was about LIVING A LEGACY.
This started my understanding of ALIGNMENT to one’s calling, the importance of finding and nurturing communities and creating the change that one’s presence can give. All these are what I infuse in the work I do and the people I connect with.
I grew as a person, as a partner, as a mom, and as an Impact instigator after such a traumatic period. At a time of difficulty, I found my greatest strength — myself.
My Life's Purpose
For me, purpose signifies my stance in life. This is how I can live in integrity with myself, with those around me and with the world. I have multiple expressions of purpose with the different initiatives that I am part of, yet the red thread with all of these initiatives is CONTRIBUTION.
I remember how as a young child, I have this image of a pebble being thrown in the pond and creating ripples. I have gravitated to this analogy throughout my life of being that pebble and causing ripples in other people's lives. My purpose is to own the energy I bring in the room with my presence, my voice, and my gifts so that I may contribute to a nurturing, impactful and connected society.
Work that has inspired me
Reading this when I was a teenager helped me give language to what I was yearning for. Powerful book to start this process of self-discovery.
Up to this day, I still practice doing my morning pages (it was decades ago that I read this book!). For those wanting to embrace and give space to their creativity, this is a must have!
Begin with an end in mind- this was one of the 7 habits that I incorporate with my strategy work. It is crucial that we learn to envision and re-imagine possibilities and start designing the pathway for change.
I read this book when I was going through chemotherapy and struggling with my energy levels. It helped me frame how I can be of service and be discerning of what I commit to engage in.
Permission to dream and to expand- this is what Playing Big and going through Tara Mohr's program have inspired me. "Let it be easy' is still a mantra that I hold closely to heart.