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Ep 7: She Left Everything. Twice. Here's What She Learned || Behnaz Sahaf
This one's personal.
This week I sat down with the most requested guest amongst my friends - my mum (Behnaz). She grew up in a small town in Iran, lived through the Islamic Revolution and the Iran-Iraq War, became a doctor, raised two kids, and then immigrated to Australia with no job, limited English, and no family around her. She did it once. Then she went back to Iran and did it all over again.
It took her eight years to get her fellowship as a GP in Australia. She started from scratch twice, at an age when most people are thinking about slowing down.
This conversation covers resilience, identity, what it means to be authentic, and why she believes life is far simpler than we make it.
One of the most honest, emotional episodes I've recorded. I hope it stays with you.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Your why has to be bigger than the goal. Title and status won't carry you through hard seasons. Purpose will.
- Failure only exists when you're attached to one outcome. Reframe the setback as part of the path.
- Support systems are everything. Accepting help is a strength, not a weakness.
- You can start over at any age. She began her Australian registration when her peers back home were retiring.
- Authenticity is about values, not status. She never wanted the car or the clothes. She'd rather give the money away.
Help without expecting anything back. The thing she's most proud of is help no one even knew she gave. - Don't judge your past self by your present wisdom. You did the best you could with what you had.
- Life is simple. Be a good person. Do your best. That's enough.
TIME STAMPS:
00:00 - Introduction
02:52 - Growing up through the Islamic Revolution and the Iran-Iraq War
05:33 - Leaving Iran, studying medicine, and immigrating to Australia
09:41 - Starting over, a master's degree without knowing how to use a computer
17:05 - What people misunderstand about her
21:26 - The season of life that almost broke her
25:28 - Her relationship with failure and why she reframed everything
33:06 - Was there a time you were worried about me but said nothing?
40:41 - Her advice for anyone who feels lost right now
43:37 - Where she sees her future going
CONNECT WITH MAHDIEH
INSTAGRAM — https://www.instagram.com/mahdieh.rassafiani/
FOLLOW YOUR NEXT STEP PODCAST
INSTAGRAM — https://www.instagram.com/yournextstep.pod/
TIKTOK — https://www.tiktok.com/@yournextstep.pod
YOUTUBE — https://www.youtube.com/@YourNextStepPodcast
View all episodes
By Mahdieh RassafianiThis one's personal.
This week I sat down with the most requested guest amongst my friends - my mum (Behnaz). She grew up in a small town in Iran, lived through the Islamic Revolution and the Iran-Iraq War, became a doctor, raised two kids, and then immigrated to Australia with no job, limited English, and no family around her. She did it once. Then she went back to Iran and did it all over again.
It took her eight years to get her fellowship as a GP in Australia. She started from scratch twice, at an age when most people are thinking about slowing down.
This conversation covers resilience, identity, what it means to be authentic, and why she believes life is far simpler than we make it.
One of the most honest, emotional episodes I've recorded. I hope it stays with you.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Your why has to be bigger than the goal. Title and status won't carry you through hard seasons. Purpose will.
- Failure only exists when you're attached to one outcome. Reframe the setback as part of the path.
- Support systems are everything. Accepting help is a strength, not a weakness.
- You can start over at any age. She began her Australian registration when her peers back home were retiring.
- Authenticity is about values, not status. She never wanted the car or the clothes. She'd rather give the money away.
Help without expecting anything back. The thing she's most proud of is help no one even knew she gave. - Don't judge your past self by your present wisdom. You did the best you could with what you had.
- Life is simple. Be a good person. Do your best. That's enough.
TIME STAMPS:
00:00 - Introduction
02:52 - Growing up through the Islamic Revolution and the Iran-Iraq War
05:33 - Leaving Iran, studying medicine, and immigrating to Australia
09:41 - Starting over, a master's degree without knowing how to use a computer
17:05 - What people misunderstand about her
21:26 - The season of life that almost broke her
25:28 - Her relationship with failure and why she reframed everything
33:06 - Was there a time you were worried about me but said nothing?
40:41 - Her advice for anyone who feels lost right now
43:37 - Where she sees her future going
CONNECT WITH MAHDIEH
INSTAGRAM — https://www.instagram.com/mahdieh.rassafiani/
FOLLOW YOUR NEXT STEP PODCAST
INSTAGRAM — https://www.instagram.com/yournextstep.pod/
TIKTOK — https://www.tiktok.com/@yournextstep.pod
YOUTUBE — https://www.youtube.com/@YourNextStepPodcast