Some conversations shape us in subtle but transformative ways...
This week, a client reached out for a chat. Having "survived" the past four years despite the odds, he acknowledged his mental and emotional fatigue. He felt lost and scared. I shared a 2020 Lift As We Rise webinar/podcast re: the state of mental health - one which, unknown to me at the time, would shift my approach from one-and-done strategy consulting to enabling success.
Over my career, I have observed that even the most accomplished leaders and athletes go through phases of deep vulnerability. Global statistics report that 49% of entrepreneurs suffer from at least one form of mental health challenge during their careers. Researchers at San Francisco University found that founders of start-up business are driven by the "no pain, no gain" theory and are twice as likely to experience depression, be admitted for psychiatric disorders or have suicidal thoughts and six times more likely to have ADHD. Digitisation and virtual reality are likely to increase mental health risks - the World Health Organisation warns of this.
Everything in life has a trade-off. As South Africans, we are damn proud of our resilience - the "just get on with it" culture can become a hard armour and beneath, unhealthy consequences can fester - physically our health slides, mentally our motivation slips, emotionally we become disconnected or dissociate, relationally/socially we stop showing up, and financially, we are less abundant. This attracts negative experiences and situations, because we become hyper-alert to danger, the cortisol rises and stress modulators short circuit, compromising decision-making and judgement. In SA, one in three people will be challenged with a mental health disorder.
Wherever you are at at this point in 2024, become aware or more aware of what the inner voice is saying. There are plenty reasons and valid distractions to ignore it, postpone it, hoping that it will go away. That is denying yourself the chance to thrive. Rise above the resistance, take action, then success will come. When you've done that, lift others around you because only then, can we thrive sustainably.
Success is a feeling. Own it, nurture it and invest in growing it. Switch it on and make it shine bright.
StratAstute Consulting offers Resilience Success coaching for decision-makers, professionals and rising stars in business, sports and healthcare. Our coaching programmes include optional resilience analysis and evaluations. Let's Talk.
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