From Wake-Up Call to Finding Balance

In life and work, the signs gradually speak to you, until you ignore them and they call out to you loudly. You might think something like: "What? Me? Never!", even when you sweep your stress and worries under the rug.

I received a wake-up call when I was diagnosed with a tiny benign brain tumor.

But even with that notice, it took me several years to fully understand the toll my stress had taken on my lovely brain.

The Domino Effect of Personal Life on Work

I don't want to sound alarmist and say the same will happen to you if you don't relax right now. However, personal life is a domino effect that impacts how we function at work, and listening to others' real experiences is a powerful way to raise awareness.

I started experiencing symptoms 5 years before truly understanding what was happening to my body. Back then, I didn't even comprehend how my actions had harmed myself to that extent. And I felt guilty, helpless, and lonely.

Before you could even explain your situation, the doctor attributed it to stress. Not just one doctor, but several.

When the Signs Become Impossible to Ignore

My initial response? Blah! Stress? Me? Ha!

Interestingly, a year later, I was diagnosed with sleep epilepsy. It was also harmless but a direct result of stress.

"The only thing you have to do is sleep well, eat a balanced diet, and avoid stressing yourself." -My doctor advised.

Here, I realized I had been putting a lot of pressure on myself. Yes, because I decided that starting a business, getting married, moving to a new country, living in a new language, and feeling lonely AF all within 5 months was an excellent idea that wouldn't come at a cost to my health. ????

But my thought process was like this:

HOW DO I AVOID STRESSING MYSELF, DOCTOR?!

I didn't say it out loud, of course. I just smiled.

Finding Balance and Embracing the Journey

Hard work? Absolutely. A packed agenda and 12-14 hour workdays? The epitome of self-worth. Constant anxiety on Sundays? Hating Monday mornings? Hating every morning? H*ll yeah.

Even my dreams had to be worked on relentlessly. Achieving each and every one of my goals, a fancier title, fancier clients, fancier heels? Give 'em all.

But this behavior had been going on for years.

It all started when I was 19, and I thought that the only way to achieve my dreams was to focus on them 24/7 a day. Literally. Morning, afternoon, night. That's the only way.

That's crap. I was only hurting myself, over and over again. It was addictive, and ADDICTS do not like to admit they have a problem... Until the problem hits them hard... and they have to put in the work to look at themselves and understand what they have done to themselves.

But guilt is not your friend, forgiveness is.

And accepting that we all will fail in some area of life is essential. That's when we understand our lessons and pivot. I realized that I could live a fulfilling life without being a slave to my ambition. I can achieve my dreams without sacrificing my health.

It's simple;

1. Eat better food
2. Have a more balanced diet
3. Sleep better (that's a work in progress for me)

My weekends now feel like they last 5 days (even though I do work some weekends). I just became aware. I started noticing patterns, changing behaviors, and creating new ones. It's an ongoing process.

It might sound simple, but it has been almost 3 years of coaching now (and most importantly, 2 wake-up calls).

Final thoughts

I still don't have it all figured out. Don't you even think that. But I'm having fun while I put in the work... and enjoying the journey. It's true what they say, life is a journey, not a destination.

Or at least, that's what I've found.

I hope you can identify your own signals.

Have a beautiful life, stranger.

______________________________

You've read until the end. You rock!

I appreciate that. Gracias.

Isa :)