A number of years ago, I was in an extremely demanding job, that often required me to work sometimes up 70 hours week. To say it was exhausting was really the understatement of the century.

After doing this job for a couple of years, I was in the fast lane to seriously burning out. My body was already breaking down to the point where I eventually ended up in hospital. My whole being was protesting, screaming out, ‘no more!!!’

But that wasn’t the worst part. Because I had been working non-stop, I had become disconnected from who I was outside of work. I had become a zombie and I felt that I was in danger of losing my sense of ‘self’.

I knew I needed to make a change.

I still remember that glorious moment when I quit. We often create these epic scenarios in our head of how we would love to resign from our jobs in a blaze of glory and damn the torpedoes full steam ahead, as you tell your boss to shove their job.

Well, I kinda did that. And I’m not gonna lie to you, it felt bloody awesome and I’ve never looked back!

You see, here’s the thing right, when we become so engrossed and wedded to our job and the organisation we work for, the more we start to define ourselves by them and it becomes entwined in our own identity.

That’s why we end up having an identity crisis. We no longer know who we are because it’s been buried so far down.

Losing touch with you true self, leads a loss of purpose and to feelings of confusion, dissatisfaction, and a lack of fulfillment in both our personal and professional lives.

I know many people who end up in this situation where it gets to the point where their sense of identity had become so entwined with their jobs that it’s hard for them to differentiate where the job ends, and their true selves began.

And then it happens, they get hit by a metaphorical bus, where they no longer have that job. Maybe it’s due to health reasons, a redundancy or whatever life throws at them.

And here’s the thing, they now feel cut adrift like a boat who has lost its anchor and are at the mercy of a cruel sea.

So, if you’re feeling lost, drifting or stuck in the endless daily grind, and you’re slowly losing your sense of ‘self’, then it’s time to come home, and that means re-connecting back to the core essence of who you are — the return to self in other words.

This is one of the main reasons why people seek me out for coaching.

To ‘reconnect back to ourselves’ is a journey of introspection, self-awareness, and self-discovery to regain a sense of inner alignment, authenticity, and an understanding of who we truly are at our core.

It involves establishing a stronger connection with our thoughts, how we feel, and what we value and desire.

These critical aspects of our lives are the ones that are often neglected or suppressed due to the demands of daily life, societal expectations, or past experiences.

Losing touch with you true self, leads to feelings of confusion, dissatisfaction, and a lack of fulfillment.

So, to reconnect to the core of who you are, you need to spend some time and create a space where you can introspectively delve into the following aspects:

Becoming more conscious of our thoughts, emotions, behaviours, and patterns. It’s about understanding our strengths, weaknesses, triggers, and beliefs that influence our actions.

Practicing being present in the moment without judgment. This helps us observe our thoughts and emotions without getting carried away by them.

Embracing and expressing our genuine self, allowing us to be more honest and open in our relationships with others.

Learning to say ‘no’ to things that don’t align with our values and priorities and creating space for self-care and personal growth.

Addressing past wounds and showing ourselves kindness and understanding as we go through the process of reconnecting.

Engaging in activities that bring joy and fulfillment, even if they don’t necessarily fit conventional norms.

Reconnecting to ourselves means relying less on others’ approval and seeking validation from within.

To get back to self, is a journey but a rewarding one, nonetheless. It’s about reconnecting back to who you once were, regaining that passion and zest back into your life, whether its on a personal and/or professional level.

Re-grounding yourself leads to greater self-acceptance, improved mental and emotional well-being, and the ability to live a more purposeful, harmonious and authentic life and where things can flow as they should once again.

It’s about rediscovering the unique individual you are and nurturing that relationship with yourself, which then positively impacts how you relate to others and the world around you.

If there is only one thing you take away from this message today, then let it be this:

You’re not your job, and you’re not the organisation you work for!

Remember, no job is worth losing your sense of self over. You are far too important for that.