Your Next Chapter - step into the next version of you

Jennifer Gwyn Jones knows what it feels like to keep pushing down a yearning for change. She knows how easy it is to become constrained by what you can do what you think you should do. How you can become easily stuck in “it's okay, it's going okay” land. But now Jan also knows what it feels like to break free, to be bold and brave and leave a 17-year career to strike out in a new direction that just kept on calling. If you've ever wanted to stop what you're doing now and begin something new, especially if you're currently in a corporate role, or other profession, you will get so much inspiration from this conversation. We talk about the vital role that self-compassion plays when you step out of your comfort zone, how to tap into your own internal wisdom, how to design a rich fulfilling business and life and so much more in this mini guide to courageous change.

 

 

Show Notes

 

• When you ignore the thing that’s calling you, that you’re yearning for, eventually your health suffers
• If you journal, revisit what you’ve written in the past and you will see the same cycles repeat themselves
• Even if “it’s” good, it might not be good for you
• I realised there was such a close interweaving of my identity and my work performance and that want healthy
• I’d spent too much time looking for external validation from people who had different agendas to my own
• I was living from the head up; my body was just there to walk my head around!
• Burnout gave me the space to consider “I could be a business owner – what might that look like?”
• My identify started to shift and I became open to the potential of being something other than the corporate employee
• Self-compassion did not come easily to me – I liked the idea intellectually, but was unsure of how to actually practice it. I’ve now come to understand that it’s a comfort when things don’t go as you planned
• Ask yourself in this moment, what’s most important to me?
• There are so many choices and options available to us, but there are unique “hot tracks” that show up for each of us – get curious, tune into how things feel for you
• With practice, even if fear does come up, you’ll still be able to feel the sweetness

 

 

About the speaker

 

As a Life Coach, speaker and writer, Jen has helped women all over the world break free from their “shoulds” and find ways to say YES to their yearning.

Jen helps women feeling stuck or confused in their professional or work routine find their true path and tap into the magic of life in practical and meaningful ways.  She came to Life Coaching through studies with the Martha Beck Institute and also training in Acceptance Commitment Training (ACT).  Jen’s focus on helping professionals find their magic is informed by her 17-year career in the Australian civil service and extensive studies including Bachelor degrees in Microbiology and Anthropology and a Masters in International Affairs from the Australian National University.

https://www.jengwynnjones.com/

https://www.facebook.com/JenGwynnJonesCoaching/

https://www.instagram.com/jen_gwynn_jones/

At the end of 2020 I was all tapped out creatively. I’d finally set my book free in the world, meeting a huge personal goal and I needed to allow myself time and space to just be for a while. I did have to battle a little with an inner critic who, in her inimitable judgmental way, assured me I’d disappear into obscurity if I dared to put my pen down awhile. I chose not to listen, allowed myself space to regroup and this new 10 part interview series all about change is the result several months later. It also coincides with a fresh chapter for me – a new online home that reflects my equal focus on strategy and self-worth.

 

Show Notes

• Business change comes in evolutions.

 

• Buckling under and following the “rules” to continually crank out content and stay visible is just not sustainable. Taking a creative break is often the best thing you can do, so give yourself permission to step back if you need too, especially in the weird world that COVID 19 has thrust upon us

 

• Belief buddies are vital - they can help hold you to your own promises but also provide the spark of inspiration that gets you moving again. And when you recognise that spark, that thread, follow it…

 

• So often a book can be a catalyst for growth and change, as you transform in private” – that was the case for me when I read “I thought it was just me, but it isn’t by Brene Brown in 2007.

 

• Sometimes life takes you off on a detour, but eventually you find your way back and focus once again, on becoming the person you’ve always been meant to be

 

• When the desire for change emerged again, this time to close my marketing agency, it took almost 12 months of wrangling with my inner critic to reach the point where I felt solidly anchored in both my desire to change and my sense of self-worth

 

• Sometimes the market is not ready for your message… and you might need to be patient, to evolve slowly. But the real call, the real you, will bide its time.

 

• Don’t try and convince and convert an audience that isn’t right for you and don’t try and contort yourself into a more agreeable shape.

 

• That thing you’re considering changing to, turning towards, bringing to life – is it awesome? Does it help? Those are the only two boxes you need to tick

Charlotte Maya was 39 with two small sons when she lost her husband to suicide. She had no idea Sam was so close to the edge and was utterly shell-shocked. “I had a plan, and this wasn’t it”, said Charlotte. Since that day, she has learned so much about resilience and mental health and suicide and decided to speak out and help to release the stigma. Her Next Chapter began when she hit publish on the first post on her blog, Sushi Tuesdays, six years after she lost her husband.

Show Notes

Seeing something through the lens of experience and realising you have the desire to contribute is life-changing

• If you can help just one person with the contribution you decide to make, it really is worthwhile
• How we choose to treat ourselves reflects our capacity for holding our own power
• Take good care of yourself – I dedicated Tuesdays to Charlotte – Shabbat!
• We all have losses in life - you can deal with the good and the bad, even the horrifying and still find grace
• We can out so much pressure in ourselves – choose kindness
• You can live your way into a new reality
• Your inner critic will become more vocal when you’re on the right path – she says “you’re too old, you don’t have the experience, people won’t listen to you…”. You need to recognise her, and gently out her in her place”.
• All we ever need to be in is this one moment
• There will be an after

Canadian born, with Welsh heritage, Sara Jones came to Australia as a 14-year-old. Many years later, after years of work with indigenous communities, Sara has developed a deep, reverential relationship with the land through the practise of Wayapa Wuurk, an earth connection practice that is based on ancient Indigenous wisdom that focuses on taking care of the Earth as the starting point for creating Earth Mind Body Spirit well-being. It has changed her life and the lives of all who choose to explore it.

Show Notes

 

• Our planet is a terrarium. It is the earth that sustains us, not the Universe
• A daily interaction with our environment leads to an understanding of our reciprocal relationship
• We all have hunter gatherer ancestors who lived off the land – it’s time to honour the ancient ways of those who loved successfully in harmony with the environment
• Living in cities has led to our sense of disconnection from the land, and often a sense of overwhelm that can lead to emotional paralysis. When we take time to pause, to regenerate, hope and purpose rise again
• Ethical, conscious purchasing habits can make a big difference on an individual level. It’s also important to pause and consider intergenerational wellbeing – where will your purchase go when you are no longer here?
• Wayapa Wuurk is an embodiment practise with a story heart, anchored in the Creator, sun, moon, earth, lightning, rain, wind, tree, air, land animal, water, hunter, gatherer and child (the future creator) and gratitude for all that sustains us
• My own journey out of addiction and the disconnection that results was a journey into acceptance, total personal responsibility and love
• I can now go out and share this understanding with the world

 

About Sara

 

Sara Jones wants to live in a world where Indigenous Knowledge is rightfully respected. She is the co-founder of Wayapa Wuurrk®.

 

Having worked within the Indigenous Community for over 15 years, Sara believes life could be so much better, if only we listened to the wisdom of the world’s oldest living culture. Bringing a deep respect for Aboriginal culture, Sara combines her business experience within Community, with her passion for Energy Healing, Metaphysics and any natural wellness practices. She has experienced the deep healing and wellbeing effects of Wayapa® personally so is dedicated to sharing it with others for a better world.

Together with her partner Jamie Marloo Thomas, Sara is passionate about challenging thinking and restoring connection within and between people, the Earth and Spirit.

https://wayapa.com/

What do you do when you come back from a year of travelling and realise you can no longer fit into your previous corporate life? You do the thing that’s calling you, because you know you don’t want regrets. “My inspiration began with a backpack, a handful of dreams and a vision - to bring ethical and beautifully handcrafted accessories to a global market, whilst ensuring the artisans who create them are empowered to earn a dignified and sustainable income”, explains Harjit. The result? A beautiful, ethical business fashion business for stylish women that places the artisan at the heart of the story, with each and every product handmade by the artisans who are empowered by a fair and sustainable income.

Show Notes

 

• 70-80 years of life – it’s such a tiny period of time, really
• When my Mum began to become unwell, it made me question – would I ever make my own dreams come true? When she got well, I felt I needed to make the change more than ever – I was compelled
• When my husband and I travelled for a year I felt more fluid and more purposeful than I ever had. I needed the freedom to think
• We stumbled across so many artisans and from an initial seed of an idea, an entire business eventually grew
• I could not slot back into “normal life” again - I used to be happy in a creative marketing role, but over the years it changed into a more traditional corporate role and it just didn’t fit me anymore. I felt trapped by commitment
• As I looked back, I could see the Universe was showing me signs – “this is what you love, this is what’s for you”
• I worked through self-doubt and imposter syndrome, again and again, it’s an ongoing thing
• I had so much to learn – when you work for a business, it’s all done for you, when you have to do it all for yourself, it’s hard
• I got a mentor to help me shape my ideas and a community for encouragement and support
• I have to pinch myself now, when I see how far I have come!
• It’s so good to have purpose, to be doing the things that lights me up

 

Harjit Sohotey-Khan

A wanderlust seeker, changemaker and curator of ethical fashion and homewares, Harjit empowers artisans and stylish women through conscious style at Jewelled Buddha, her online boutique specialising in unique, fair trade jewellery & accessories sourced from social good around the world.

 

https://www.jewelledbuddha.com/

When Maria started on this entrepreneurial adventure she told herself “if in 5 years’ time I can’t make it work, I can always go and get a job”. Once she realised she needed to let go of the idea of there being a formula to follow, she was able to see that she’d been going in the wrong direction, trying to build a business based on the wrong things, overriding her own intuition. This realisation freed her and the result – a beautiful, bountiful thriving business that supports her just as much as she supports her clients all around the world.  

Show Notes

 

• You need to try, you need to know you gave IT a shot
  
  
• Trust your gut, you’re the only one who knows what’s right for you
  
  
• Let go of the opinions of others – that’s tremendously freeing!
  
  
• Get a Mentor to help with emotional mastery

 

• I now know to make decisions in business and life that are based on my values – Truth, Service and more recently, Sovereignty

 

• The most important thing you can do in business is build relationships

 

• My philosophy is to become financially independent and time rich

 

 

Maria Doyle

Maria Doyle helps passionate professionals create quality learning experiences that engage, inspire and motivate their clients to create real change. It’s her life mission to take the lack-lustre courses, workshops and presentations of this world – both virtual and live – and transform them into ‘it-changed-my-life’ experiences.

Her qualifications include an MEd (TESOL), Cert IV TAA, Cert IV TESOL, CELTA, BA (Modern Languages). Maria has extensive international experience, teaching, developing and managing courses in Australia, Indonesia, Japan, the UAE, the UK, Hong Kong and Kiribati. Her areas of expertise include curriculum development, teacher training, project management, assessment and evaluation, and also language and communication skills.

https://mariadoyle.com/

“I’ve always been drawn to the environment to indigenous culture, a connection to country” Suzy tells me. “It embodies more than just living in the country. We are connected to that land and we impact the land in what we do and how we do it”. Suzy speaks with a reverential appreciation that underpins all that she has done, is doing and will do in what she describes as a mosaic, portfolio career. In one of her core next chapter focus projects, Suzy has founded Two Green Threads, a NFP that cares for the carers of our wildlife, a significant and much-needed entity.

 

Show Notes

 

• I fell into this work really. I saw wildlife hurt on the road and when I went to a country show and came across a wildlife group who rescue, rehabilitate, and release. I signed up for an orientation course on the spot.
  
  
• Within 3 months I was juggling my daytime work and caring for wildlife. It delivered a fair bit of stress but I loved it.

 

• It feels like a privilege to care for animals, you need to adopt a stillness no matter what is happening around you. You detach from the frantic spinning of the human world and experience a connection with a little being.

 

• The intense connection with the wildlife is beautiful, but there was no conversation about the demands and the personal impact of the work, a consuming and emotional experience.

 

• It took a number of years for me to be able to recognise and articulate what the problem was. It was my personal experience with my father’s mental instability, the fragility of the mind, that finally allowed me to decide to take action.

 

• Two Green Threads is a national registered charity that offers wildlife carers understanding and acknowledgment along with a respectful and neutral shared language. It encompasses podcasts, webinars, PDF downloads, and will soon have courses rolling out.

 

• Even though I could see and feel and had experienced the need, I still felt like an imposter when I addressed it. I was asking myself “is this what I am supposed to be doing? Is it simply grief distraction?”.

 

• I bought myself a set of bracelets that had the inscription “but what if I fly?”, a powerful statement to bring me back, to anchor myself if I ever felt doubt.

 

 

Suzy Nethercott-Watson

Suzy is an experienced Non-Executive Director with a strong reputation for insight, strategy and value adding and the Founder of charity, Two Green Threads. She has a vision to make a positive difference in the lives of wildlife carers at a critical point in time for wildlife conservation and natural ecosystems.

www.twogreenthreads.org

Kerry describes herself as being “born as a therapist”, with people coming to her for as long as she can recall with their emotional issues, eager for guidance. In this conversation, she shares many of her own emotional growth experiences, from navigating single parenthood, learning how to prioritise her own needs, escaping a poverty mindset, and gathering her courage to take the leap from full-time employment into the world of entrepreneurship where she now openly shares her journey with chronic illness with an almost 10,000 member strong online community, supporting her clients through their own challenges so they can mindfully thrive in their new lives.

 

Show Notes

 

• The Louise Hay program, where I became a You Can Heal Your Life trainer was a turning point for me. I knew my Mum (who had terminal cancer and passed away whilst I was in training) regretted never having had the chance to achieve what was possible for her, so I answered my own call and quit my job
  
  
• This was my first experience of trust in the universe – evidence that you will be looked after
  
  
• I see myself as a Trailblazer – there was no one who had walked the path I was on to show me the way. That was hugely challenging, but ultimately deeply rewarding.

 

• I rely on my lived experience to guide me – I am the expert on me

 

• Letting go of other people’s opinions is liberating!

 

• My diagnosis with Hashimotos, an auto-immune disease saw me physically and cognitively disabled, and my Dr told me I just had to accept this and adapt to my new normal

 

• Instead, I doubled down in helping myself, research, research, research… I changed everything, my diet, my experience of stress, my mindset. Our bodies do heal – that’s what they are designed for.

 

• Chronic illness does involve a great deal of grief – the present I had and the future I thought I would have were gone, and this is just one of the reasons why emotional support and resilience are absolutely vital

 

• I was initially afraid of being vulnerable, but when I am, my people, the ones I am here to help, know they are seen, heard and understood

 

• We can tell ourselves scary stories about what might happen in business and life – it can actually be attractive to spend time in the dark places, and even kick ourselves when we are down, but we can equally choose to talk to ourselves about the good things that can happen too

 

• Everything I have committed to in the past readied me for my next challenge

 

 

Kerry Jeffery

Kerry is a clinical hypnotherapist, counsellor and life coach who works exclusively online helping people around the world to resolve the complex emotional issues that come from being diagnosed with and living with chronic illness.

Kerry knows exactly how this feels as she lives with 4 chronic autoimmune disease myself that affect her life every day.

 

https://www.emotionalautoimmunity.com/

Marnie Downer describes herself with self-deprecating good humour as a Generation Xer with a misspent youth, a penchant for travel and a burning desire to change the sickness model in or society. Our conversation ranged far and wide from her early days as a naturopath and teacher within her industry to a new-found passion for supporting women through the menopause journey after she experienced anxiety fear and a sense of guilt and found so little full-bodied support available. Great Dames, Embrace the change one hot flush at a time is her next chapter.

 

Show Notes

 

• Starting my business was terrifying! It was easier traveling through Iraq then it was taking on this challenge.

 

• I experienced a whole lot of “I can’t do this” and then the penny dropped after about 2-3 years in business

 

• Marketing was a little scattergun at first and then I realised there is no magic, and that consistency is the key

 

• Resilience, tenacity and a commitment to your why are all vital

 

• At 48 I had a strong story, a sense of well-being, all the angst of my younger years was gone… and THEN anxiety and a sense of grief hit. I felt as though I had achieved nothing at all

 

• I went searching for answers and realised I was in perimenopause – my memory got so bad I could plan my own surprise party!

 

• I regrouped and started my next chapter because age is not a barrier to starting something new, learning something new, starting a business… whatever calls you!

 

• Continue to have purpose – don’t just mark time

 

• I’m a Great Dame, and I’m on my way to being a Grand Dame

 

 

Marnie Downer

 

Marnie is a naturopath, clinic nutritionist, herbalist and educator with a passion for supporting women as they transition through menopause. This was not always the case though! It wasn’t until she ran headlong into ‘the change’ herself that she realised that this period of life was often misunderstood, neglected or downright denied. It was at the point she decided to set about changing the way we view this process.

She is committed to helping women achieve greatness by unlocking their true potential through acts of self-care and nourishment.

Marnie believes that if you change the relationship with self, you will change the world.

 

https://marniedowner.com.au/

Karly practically vibrates with authenticity, honesty and purposeful energy and it’s impossible not to feel elevated after connecting with her. She has known both hard failure and delicious success and this allows her to share with an honesty that feels rare in the entrepreneurial space and quickly eradicates any pressure you might be feeling to “get it right, quickly” when you are in business for yourself. This is a conversation that will help you to see that next chapters are never final, that progress is always possible and that being true to yourself is your greatest gift, as that’s where impact always comes from.

 

Show Notes

 

• The external measurements of success we’re subjected too can be the biggest catalysts for doubt and a sense of unworthiness – let them go!

 

• Asking yourself, “how much is enough for you” and designing your activities around that truth sets you free

 

• No censoring of yourself, don’t hold back, your business will be sustainable when you are you

 

• A closed first can’t grasp a gift, so stay open to learning, growing and receiving

 

• If the work you are doing is not giving you a sense of purpose and meaning, remember that you get to choose the playing field where you play and it’s moveable!

 

• Don’t mistake contribution with a need for expertise, instead, just commit to showing up and serving

 

• Doubt is part of the creative process, life is the art of letting go and trusting

 

• Have you fallen prey to the idea that you need a “big following”? I don’t and I have a great business with client relationships that I am deeply committed too.

 

 

Karly Nimmo

 

Karly Nimmo is a No. 1 iTunes podcaster, with five hit shows over the past 5 years; Karlosophies, Keeping Good Company and Make Some Noise (both now wrapped), Humans Resourced and Rock Your Mic Right. She’s a serial entrepreneur, mad creator, born communicator and connector with a crazy knack for getting you to connect to your truth and see life from a different perspective.

 

Through her podcasts, retreats, events, coaching and Frequency podcasters mastermind, Karly acts as a guide to connect you back to the truth of who you really are... so that you can stop playing the role of who you think you need to be, and express who you REALLY are out into the world - even better, if that’s in the form of a podcast. Her podcasting school Radcasters has worked with over 250 podcasters since 2015.

 

Over the past decade Karly has dedicated herself to getting to know, like and trust herself. She has been a faithful student of the human spirit - her own, and those around her... and can help you find and live on your frequency.

 

www.karlynimmo.com