In this episode, I reflect on something personal, poignant, and increasingly precious: what it means to celebrate another birthday; not as a tally of years, but as an intentional pause to honour hindsight, insight, and foresight or as I call them - reflections.

As someone who’s lost people far too soon, I simply can’t buy into the anti-ageing narrative. Ageing, to me, is a gift; one I intend to honour with gratitude, self-belief, and purpose. I share stories of those who nudged me out of the shadows, helped me peel back layers of self-doubt, and opened doors to a life that feels truly mine.

With each trip around the sun, I grow more reflective. I’ve come to see that living on purpose doesn’t mean hustle; it means alignment. And celebrating your existence isn’t vanity, to me it is sacred.

Let's live more fully, tread more softly, and refuse to let fear or comparison rob us of the life in our years. Shall we?

** Key Points **

• Ageing is a gift, not a problem
• Self-belief is layered, but lasting
• Purpose is quiet, aligned, and powerful

#Introverts #PurposefulLiving #FlourishingIntroverts

*** Resources ***

Visit https://hub.flourishingintroverts.com/resourcesp for tools and resources mentioned during the podcast.

In this episode, I explore a question that’s long since intrigued me: why do some alliances flourish while others unravel?

As an open-introvert who doesn’t hate people (yes, hi, I am right here, I exist!), I’ve come to realise it’s not about being opposites but about understanding the behaviours that trigger we introverts and learning to work with, not against, our differences.

I share a variety of alliances and explore how they have helped me grow, learn and evolve, while some fizzled out due to unspoken frustrations or unmanaged differences. The game-changer? Recognising that most conflict isn’t about personality, but behaviour.

Let's reflect on how we introverts can build alliances that stretch, support, and help us evolve as individuals; without draining your precious energy.

*** Key Points ***

1. Introvert–extravert partnerships work
2. Conflict is behaviour-based
3. Shared purpose over similarity

#IntrovertExtravertAlliance #ThoughtfulCollaboration #BehaviourNotPersonality

#Introverts #Extraverts #FlourishingIntroverts

#IntrovertVoices #OppositesThatWork

*** Resources ***

Visit https://hub.flourishingintroverts.com/resourcesp for tools and resources mentioned during the podcast.

In this episode, I share the pivotal moment that changed everything for me: discovering my personality type through the MBTI framework. Far from boxing me in, it offered language, understanding, and a sense of belonging I never knew I needed. This is not about labels or excuses but about insight and responsibility for we introverts.

I further explore why knowing your type is just the starting point, not the full story. I challenge the idea of hiding behind introversion and invite you to see your personality as one piece of your self-awareness puzzle. This episode is for anyone ready to move beyond 'that's just the way I am' and step into choice, growth, and owning both strengths and struggles.

*** Key Points ***

• Personality tests aid initial understanding
• Introversion is not excuse
• Self-awareness builds choice

#PersonalityTests #Introverts #SelfAwareness

*** Resources ***

Visit https://hub.flourishingintroverts.com/resourcesp for tools and resources mentioned during the podcast.

In this episode, I delve into the pervasive issue of extraversion bias and its impact on mental health. Many introverts grapple with a world tailored to extrovert ideals, often leading to feelings of misalignment and pressure to fit in. We know that this societal preference can significantly affect someone's mental well-being, leaving we introverts feeling inadequate at various stages of our life. I share my perspective on how aligning with dominant role models who exude confidence can exacerbate conformity bias and contribute to an environment that feels oppressive.

I explore strategies for recognising these biases and avoiding 'comparison'-itis; the habit of unhealthy self-comparison that fuels anxiety. I then share why reciprocal support networks are important for maintaining our mental wellness.

*** Key Points ***

• Recognise Extraversion Bias
• Avoid 'Comparison'-itis at all costs
• Build intentional support network
  

#MentalHealth #Introverts #FlourishingIntroverts

*** Resources ***

Visit https://hub.flourishingintroverts.com/resourcesp for tools and resources mentioned during the podcast.

In this episode, I unpack the common misconceptions and mislabelling of introverts. As a leadership trainer and coach, I often encounter scepticism about my own introversion due to widespread misunderstandings that equate/conflates it with traits like shyness, social anxiety, or even arrogance.

These labels can significantly impact mental health and self-esteem, especially for those lacking resilience. Through this discussion, I aim to shed light on these myths and provide clarity around what being an introvert truly means.

Dear listener, introversion is not synonymous with negative stereotypes such as lack of ambition or antisocial behaviour.

We introverts have unique strengths including deep thinking and thoughtful listening, which are often undervalued in society's extraversion-biased lens.

By understanding these distinctions better, we empower ourselves to harness our quiet power effectively both personally and professionally, and flourish without societal constraints.

** Key Points **

⤷ Introversion is often misunderstood, mislabelled, conflated

⤷ Empower ourselves to overcome societal biases

⤷ Advocating for accuracy

#MythsAboutIntroverts #Introverts #FlourishingIntroverts

*** Resources ***

Visit https://hub.flourishingintroverts.com/resourcesp for tools and resources mentioned during the podcast.

In this episode, I explore the significance of valuing and managing energy as an introvert. Using the metaphor of 'energy beans', I illustrate how we introverts begin their day with a finite amount of energy, unlike extraverts who recharge through social interaction.

I venture into how toxic workplaces can deplete this precious resource and stress the need for mindfulness in conserving our energy without being overly frugal.

Let's be real, redefining productivity to focus on deep work over busyness can transform workplace dynamics. By setting personal boundaries and advocating for supportive environments, we create space for we introverts to flourish authentically. My hope is that you dear listener will reassess traditional management practices and embrace strategies that protect our valuable energy currency.

*** Key Points ***

• Redefine productivity around deep work.
• Set clear personal/workplace boundaries.
• Advocate for inclusive office environments.

#SelfAware #EnergyBoundaries #FlourishingIntroverts

*** Resources ***

Visit https://hub.flourishingintroverts.com/resourcesp for tools and resources mentioned during the podcast.

Emotions are part of what makes us human, and in this episode I explore the sometimes problematic relationship between emotions and the workplace.

I explore the extent to which it is acceptable to express emotions like tears or anger at work given the increasingly macho leadership styles that demand emotional suppression.

This leads me to share my perspective about low emotional intelligence among leaders and the personal costs of suppressing emotions, such as increased stress levels. Drawing from my own experiences, I share strategies for managing emotions responsibly in professional settings.

Fostering environments where it is both safe and encouraged to express emotions requires sufficient emotional intelligence and maturity.

Through reflective practices, we can determine if our feelings are genuinely ours or absorbed from others - and these practices contribute to healthier workplace dynamics.

*** Key Points ***

• Importance of emotional intelligence
• Strategies for responsible emotional regulation
• Impact of emotional contagion

#FlourishingIntroverts #Introvers #Emotions

*** Resources ***

Visit https://hub.flourishingintroverts.com/resourcesp for tools and resources mentioned during the podcast.

Say DEI and you'll be ruffling many feathers these days. In this episode I am taking a deep dive into how we can flourish in these anti-Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) times. As disappointing as it is for us to see a sudden rollback from DEI Initiatives, I suspect 'they' do not realise what a rude awakening they are in for. Very few of today's generation and switched on workforce is going to sit back and accept it.

While broligarchs are trumpeting the anti-DEI noises, thankfully many organisations big and small are finding innovative ways to sustain DEI efforts without attracting negative attention. As someone deeply involved in learning and development, I stress embedding sustainable changes into company cultures while guarding against the barriers being raised by 'the trumpeters'.

I say, let us use our frustration to fuel our advocacy for DEI, visibly and covertly, as we can.

*** Key Points ***

• Keep the DEI advocacy happening
• Reframe if we need to
• Innovate to counteract anti-DEI rollbacks

*** Resources ***

Visit https://hub.flourishingintroverts.com/resourcesp for tools and resources mentioned during the podcast.