Is This It!?

The Unspoken Professional Crossroads – A open letter to all those female sustainability leaders approaching 40.

As a female sustainability leader approaching midlife, you've achieved so much to be proud of. A successful career, a beautiful home, financial security (well as much as it can be these days) children, and of course your furry running companion. All this achieved with your partner in crime who’s unwavering support and love you recognise was, and still is, pivotal to it all.

You’ve embedded sustainability throughout everything you’ve come into contact with, even when it’s meant swimming against a tide of what society expects. You often think, Haven’t you got there. Where? To the place you used to daydream about when you were a kid. The place that subliminally you’ve been told was the destination you were striving for, where everyone is striving for. Rushing around from place to place, faster and faster on the understanding you’d get happiness in return.

Yet, there's a nagging feeling that something's missing isn’t there…

You’ve never juggled so many balls, checking in on mum and dad and keeping tabs on the most recent health investigation. Keeping up to date with the needs of two children as they navigate secondary school. Wondering when the last time you and your partner had some time just for the two of you. Plans with them for the next half of your life feel hazy and really need some attention. You feel like you’re just ships in the night passing over tasks and responsibilities so all the balls remain in the air, well almost. Staring at yourself in the mirror wondering where all those lines came from and those jowls that are starting to form, just like your mothers.

It can feel like you’ve got the biggest project plan running in your head, supported by the endless to do lists, the lists of lists and the lists of lists of lists. Life feels like it’s turned into one big joyless task.

And the career you once loved is stagnating, doing the same thing, over and over. You find your dealing with the same challenges in your work, just a worsening context of climate collapse. All you need to do is delve into the large vat of experience and crank out a response, almost as if you could do it on auto pilot. You can’t remember what you’re career goals are for this year, next year and certainly not in 10 years time.

Although you're still haunted by the thought of your adult children asking, "What did you do, Mom?"

It plays like a broken record in your mind as you battle sleepless nights. The enormity of the climate crisis is overwhelming, leaving you frantically trying to make progress on your important work the same way you’ve always done, by throwing more hours at it, burning that midnight oil again and again.

The days, weeks, months zip by as you stay on that hamster wheel, feeling like you’re in the movie ‘groundhog day’; sleep, work, eat, kids, repeat. Whilst you wait to pick up the kids from their sports activities at the weekend, you’re left wondering...

Is this it?

Is this what all that hard work in my 20's and 30's was for?

You’ve been working and living in your comfort zone, still dedicated to doing all you can to avert the worst of the climate crisis which is evident from the hours you spend working. This is where you think you ‘should be’ for someone with ‘your skills’. You’re not cut out for doing something else, anything more, or different, that’s for others to do. You look at the driven younger female leaders around you, at conferences or on LinkedIn, who remind you of you, before the kids, before life took over…A part of you wishes you had just 10% of the confidence you had back then. That time where you could see all the possibilities that life had to offer. That time has now passed, you tell yourself.

Or has it?

What’s next..?

1) Keep doing this for the foreseeable?

OR

2) Maybe something else?

It’s your choice, you decide.

But here's the thing: Taking no action equals a decision.

Owch! - I know, it’s a hard truth but a truth none the less…

So, what will it be then?

Here’s some food for thought...

??What if it’s not too late to make your mark on the world?

??What if you can regain the confidence you once had and have the impact you used to dream about?

The world still needs your passion, dedication, and unique perspective. The experience you've gained over the years is invaluable, and there's no substitute for the wisdom that comes with it.

But first things first... You need to get back to looking after yourself to be at your best. You can’t do one without the other. Taking time for yourself isn't selfish; it's necessary. Recharge by spending time in nature, practicing mindfulness, or simply enjoying the company of loved ones.

Do the work to reconnect with who you really are, what energises you and where you can make the best use of your strengths. And when those sleepless nights come, remind yourself that you are making a difference, even if it sometimes feels small.

Instead of dwelling on the past or letting that stuck feeling stop you taking action, take one small step in the direction you want to go towards. You don’t need to know exactly where you’re headed to start, just the general direction.

Consider embracing the possibility of stepping out of your comfort zone, even if it feels daunting. Reconnect with why you do your important work, what’s important to you about it and what aspirations you have. By doing this work you’ll not only start to feel more positive, you're setting an incredible example of resilience and courage to all those around you.

So, take a deep breath, trust in your abilities, and step boldly into this next chapter. You may find it holds new opportunities and fulfilling experiences beyond what you've ever imagined.

If you need some help to start why not take my quiz here. You’ll get instant feedback with recommendations for action you can take straight away.

The world needs you in all your glory with all your skills, insight, energy and knowledge. I know you don’t feel like it’s you I’m talking to but it is.

Yes, you can!

Yes we can, lets get to it shall we?