In today’s fast-paced world, finding moments of stillness can be challenging. That’s why, after months of work and life stress, I decided to escape to a retreat in Bali, seeking peace, rejuvenation, and a deeper connection with myself. What I didn’t expect was how transformative the experience would be—Bali offered me not just relaxation, but a renewed perspective on life.

This July I will be 57 years old, 57! No idea where the time has gone (..oh apart from a pretty full-on career in financial services, bringing up a family, all the usual helping out at clubs, helping my husband run his own business, various qualifications etc. etc.) By a somewhat happen chance my boss decided to give four of us in the opportunity to go on a coaching course. I causally said “why not?”, thinking it was a couple of days in a classroom with a bit of light essay writing. It turned out to be a fairly academic, self-led Level 7 Certificate for Senior Executive Coaching and Mentoring which took over a year to complete, including practical coaching hours. At the same time, I was taking part in quite a challenging senior development program as part of which I was provided with an executive coach.

In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it can be easy to get caught up in the fast pace of things and neglect our mental well-being. However, taking the time to reflect is crucial for maintaining good mental health. Reflecting allows us to gain insight into our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and provides an opportunity for self-discovery and personal growth.