What do you do when you finally admit you're unhappy and the world is falling apart around you? In this episode, Hélène shares the radical experiment that transformed 2020 from a year of tragedy into her most fun year yet, and how you can do the same.

During an uncertain deployment in 2020, Hélène made a bold decision: to shift from nihilism ("nothing matters, so what's the point?") to absurdism ("nothing matters, so why the fuck not?"). This philosophical pivot became the foundation for her "Year of Yes"—a transformative period where she prioritized pleasure, challenged limiting beliefs, and discovered what it truly means to lead from your own light.

Learn practical tools for holding yourself accountable to joy, including:

• Creating "honored hours" for yourself
• Shifting from lifeboat to lighthouse leadership
• Rewriting unconscious rules that don't serve you
• Curating your environment for self-expression
• Embodying your most fun self

This episode is for ambitious rebels ready to stop performing for others and start building a life that actually lights them up—even when the world feels chaotic.

Ready to dive deeper? Join Le Salon, Hélène's free community on Telegram for weekly insights, journal prompts, and bite-sized wisdom without the social media doomscroll.

Interested in working together? Check out Deeper Waters, Hélène's new program launching November 2025, or reach out directly at [email protected].

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction: Admitting Unhappiness in Uncertain Times
02:45 - Setting the Stage: The COVID Pandemic & Fresh Starts
05:30 - The Power of Unfamiliar Environments & Transformation
08:15 - From Nihilism to Absurdism: A Philosophical Shift
11:00 - The Limiting Belief: "I'm Not Fun"
14:20 - Redefining Fun on Your Own Terms
17:45 - The Lighthouse vs. Lifeboat Analogy
22:30 - Practical Tool #1: Creating Honored Hours
27:00 - Getting Support: Coaches, Therapists & Caregiver Fatigue
31:15 - Learning Something New & Moving Your Body
35:40 - Rewriting the Rules to Fit Your Life
39:20 - Curating Your Environment for Self-Expression
44:00 - Fashion as Self-Expression & Being Seen
48:30 - Embodying Your Fun Archetype (Miss Fisher Example)
52:00 - Warning: Don't Let Fun Become Achievement
55:15 - Final Reflection: Chasing What You Actually Want
57:30 - Closing & Community Invitation

Keywords

personal development, burnout recovery, pleasure activism, self-expression, COVID-19 transformation, absurdism, lighthouse leadership, self-care, nervous system regulation, authenticity, caregiver fatigue, highly sensitive person, setting boundaries, redefining success, liberation, fun, joy, honored hours, transformational retreats, embodiment, conscious living, unlearning, ambitious women, life design