I was 30 when I thought I was having a heart attack.
Tight chest, racing thoughts, shallow breath, when the paramedic turned up, I was scared and overwhelmed. He told me it wasn’t my heart. It was anxiety. My nervous system had finally said, “Enough.”
At the time, I was working in a high pressure role, managing big events, big personalities, and even bigger expectations, especially the ones I put on myself. I was addicted to being busy, high-functioning, and on top of everything. I wore it like a badge of honour.
But underneath the surface, I was brittle. On edge. And slowly disconnecting from myself.
Now, 17 years later, I look back on that season with deep compassion for my younger self. At 47, I still live a full life but I live it very differently. That panicked, anxious state? It feels like a distant memory. Not because I’ve escaped pressure, but because I’ve learned how to manage my nervous system and return to presence. Often. Deliberately.
It didn’t happen by accident. I designed practices into my days, weeks and months to slow down.
- Morning rituals of exercise, meditation and journalling.
- Breathing rituals between meetings.
- Blank space in my calendar I fiercely protect.
- A dream team that mentor me and support me physically, mentally and emotionally.
- Deep rest, not just sleep. Scheduled quarterly and annually.
- Movement that brings me into my body, not just workouts to get out of my head.
These micro resets are now my leadership edge. Without them, I’d still be chasing calm. Now I carry it with me.
We teach this work and will be bringing it to the August 18th in person event:
One of the topics we will dive deep into is how to lead with calm power in chaotic environments. It’s not a bonus skill. It’s essential in today’s climate of chronic stress, tech fatigue and emotional overwhelm.
If you’ve been holding it all together for too long… maybe it’s time to stop holding. Maybe it’s time to reset.
