Of intermittent fasting and your Ikigai
Hi Reader,
These are the things on my mind lately.
My next solo camping date
Adult ADHD, bulletproof coffee and intermittent Fasting
Finding Ikigai in career fulfilment
1️⃣ First, camping update. 🏕️
I went on 2 camping trips within the last 2 weeks, and I’m going again next Monday.
The first one was just me with 3 kids, without Adam. It. Was. Chaos. I had my parents and siblings to support, but most of the tent prep and handling was just on me. 🥵
Here's a fun video of me folding up the tent.
Someone was always hungry, someone peed in their pants all the time, and someone was constantly scratching - either from the jungle heat or tropical mosquitoes or the emotional chaos of the unknown in the wilderness, who knows.
But I do know the hardest was from not sleeping being woken up every 30 minutes by the kids asking..
“Is that you Mama? Can I touch your leg?” 👶🏻 (Yes, it’s me. No, you can’t, but if it helps you to sleep past the 32 minute cycle you're currently on, then by all means.)
“It’s so dark, I cannot see.” 🌚 (It’s 2am in the jungle, of course you can’t see.)
“I cannot wait until it’s morning time.” 🌞 (Me too, kid, Me too.)
In other words, ZERO. SLEEP.
Would I do it again? 100% yes.
Why? There's something about being in nature that helps me lower my mama-bear mode when with the kids, and it's a good feeling.
Plus, the view at night is hauntingly beautiful.
No filter, no flash, no fancy gadget other than a good old iPhone 14 Pro and a steady hand
2️⃣ Next, adult ADHD, bulletproof coffee and intermittent fasting. ☕️
I have been wondering if I’ve got adult ADHD for years now. The signs are there, but I put it down to personality traits. It’s hard to explain on the outside, but the term high-functioning speaks to me.
.. I don’t miss appointments because I check my calendar 17 times a day, and look at the clock every chance I got.
.. I am extremely well prepared for occasions because I check my bag every 10 minutes for car keys, access card, Airpods, etc.
.. I struggle SO MUCH with driving yet never got into accidents (touch wood!) because I drive in complete silence to stay 💯 on the road - Is it just me but all the cars seem to move TOWARDS me when I’m changing lane??!?
I’m still looking into ADHD as an adult, and will probably share if I got into it further.
On bulletproof coffee and intermittent fasting, I simply remember a time in 2020 when I was consistent with that and they helped me stay focused. So I'm leaning into that for now.
3️⃣ Finding IKIGAI. 💫
Quick Google says Ikigai means “a reason to live”. In other words, it's your reason for being. Through my coaching with Bev, I discovered that my Ikigai is hands down “to help people see”. I’ve always had this gift of “seeing” since young, and now as a life coach, I’m helping others to do the same.
Few nights ago, Adam and I were talking about his Ikigai before bed. He came up with some fluffy words, but I knew it wasn’t that.
Then out of nowhere, I said his Ikigai is “to make people move.” His whole reason for being on this Earth is to move people.
As he reflected back his life and career, that really seemed to be the theme.
I asked him playfully, how does it feel to be clear of his Ikigai.
“It’s big. I mean, to know that my strength and purpose is to make people move.. But to really see it, it all suddenly makes sense.”
(I'm paraphrasing, it was 1am in the morning)
I told him to remember this feeling. Because this feeling is what keeps me going in MY own Ikigai, which is to help people see.
In that spur of a moment, I just helped him see his own life's purpose.
Now on to you, Reader.
I’m not going to ask you what’s your Ikigai. If you know it, great. If you’re still looking for it, also great. The hint? Look for it in your career history, and fond childhood experiences. Success leaves clues.
But I do know being clear of your Ikigai is truly enlightening. Ask me as someone who changed career more times in the last 7 years than a child could change their mind. 🤷🏻♀️
To end this email, I have a random-but-unrelated question for you.
Why do you follow me? Either on Instagram or on this email list.
Asking because as much as helping people see (life coaching) keeps me awake at 1am in bed, I also feel like I’m a whole human being that is so much more than that.
Such as a wild-nature-geek silence-craving-super-smart entrepreneur and a sassy-funny-incredibly witty mom. (I’m actually quite funny in person, true story). 💁🏻♀️
So yes, why do you really follow me?
The answers could be any of the following:
A) You’re looking for a meaning and fulfillment in your life and career (aka the work that I do)
B) You’re attracted to me as a WHOLE PERSON (my personality, life values, etc)
C) A bit of both.
Can you please reply with your answer? 🥹 You can add more if you like, I love reading them all.
By replying it also helps with my email deliverability (fancy word to describe if my emails are more likely to go into Spam or true people’s inbox).
Either way, I’m grateful for this space with you, Reader. 💛
To the life you’re meant to live and the person you’re meant to be,
Bella
