Let’s talk about wellbeing
Not the tick-box kind, but the real, lived kind.
The kind that whispers when you’ve overextended yourself.
The kind that knocks loudly when you’ve ignored your boundaries.
The kind that shouts when you’ve worked yourself to the bone and called it “drive.”
So, let me ask: Is wellbeing just a trendy word thrown into corporate decks, or are we finally waking up to the truth that your ability to lead others is directly tied to how well you lead yourself?
Leadership isn’t just about strategy, P&L ownership or influence — it's about stewardship of your mind, body and, if you're open to it, your spirit. And that starts at home. With you.
From Virgin to Vision: Wellbeing in Practice
Back when I was at Virgin, I had the privilege of leading the wellbeing strategy for our global Commercial function. It wasn’t a perk. It wasn’t a “nice-to-have.” It was a strategic priority — a non-negotiable.
We focused on five key pillars:
Mental – emotional resilience, stress management, mindset
Physical – movement, nutrition, sleep (and actual lunch breaks!)
Social – connection, belonging, community
Developmental – growth, purpose, curiosity
Financial – security, education, peace of mind
Because we knew that if people didn’t feel safe, seen and supported, they wouldn’t show up as their best selves. And neither would the business results.
Fast forward to today — and I see Gen Z pushing back on outdated definitions of “success.” They don’t want to climb the ladder if it means living in a constant state of frazzle. And honestly? I get it.
Middle management often looks like a battlefield — lots of responsibility, little autonomy, and even less rest. And the C-Suite? Well, it can look shinier, but the stress is just better disguised in more jargon and tighter schedules.
The Boundary Reframe: Your Fire Is Not My Fire 🔥
Over the past year, one of the hardest — and most healing — lessons I’m learning is this:
Just because something feels urgent, doesn’t mean it’s mine to solve.
My go-to fixer mode (aka “Patrice-will-fix-it”) is still in there, itching to help, rescue, and carry everyone’s loads. But now, I ask: At what cost?
One of the most powerful boundary phrases I’ve adopted is:
“Your fire is not my fire.”
It doesn’t mean I don’t care. It means I’ve become more discerning about where my energy goes. Energy, after all, is a currency — and I’ve stopped giving out unlimited overdrafts.
Real Talk: CEO Sick Leave Is a Myth
This week, I had a minor elective procedure that I’d been putting off for months. I kept waiting for a “quiet” patch in my schedule. (Newsflash: it never came.)
As a business owner, there’s no such thing as built-in sick pay — if I’m not working, I’m not earning. But what hit me harder than the procedure itself was the vulnerability of it all.
Sharing what I was going through let the mask slip. And you know what? That vulnerability became a bridge.
People opened up to me in return. We dropped the gloss and had some of the most honest, soul-deep conversations I’ve had in a long time — with people I barely knew.
Turns out, when one person goes first, it gives permission for others to follow.
The Book That Changed Me: Sacred Rest
Enter stage left: Sacred Rest by Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith — a gift from a dear friend who could see I was running on fumes.
(Thank you again, Judolene 💛 — your timing was divine.)
This book cracked something open in me.
It outlines seven types of rest, not just the usual “go to bed early” kind:
Physical rest (passive and active — think sleep and stretching)
Mental rest (quieting the mental chatter)
Sensory rest (yes, from screens and noise)
Creative rest (the kind that fuels innovation)
Emotional rest (being authentic without fear)
Social rest (taking a break from draining dynamics)
Spiritual rest (connection to something bigger than you)
One quote slapped me sideways:
“You’d rather fight for every blessing than trust that goodness is following you.”
Whew. That one sat with me.
Because rest isn’t just about stopping. It’s about trusting. Trusting that you don’t need to white-knuckle your way to every breakthrough. Trusting that fruitfulness doesn’t come from burnout, but from alignment.
Rest is a Rebellion
In a world that celebrates hustle, rest is counter-cultural. But it’s also wildly necessary.
It looks like:
Saying no without guilt
Creating white space in your calendar
Trusting that fruitfulness comes from alignment, not activity
Releasing “good” to make room for great
So here's my question to you this week:
What does real rest look like for you?
For me, it’s:
Being by water — beach preferred, riverside accepted
Eating vibrant, nourishing food
Moving my body — Boxing, Pilates, Weights, dancing, long walks (If you ever hear I’ve signed up to a silent yoga retreat, know that I’ve been abducted.)
Unhurried, soul-nourishing time with loved ones
Pausing. Breathing. Feeling.
But this week, I’ve been forced into stillness. And while I don’t love it, I know I need it.
Rest is not weakness.
It’s not indulgence.
It’s not falling behind.
Rest is resistance.
Rest is preparation.
Rest is a radical act of trust.
My Challenge for you this week 🧠
📅 Identify what kind of rest YOU need right now.
📝 Schedule it in. Literally. Put it in the diary.
🤝 Tell someone who will hold you accountable.
(Maybe even forward them this email. Get them in on it!)
Rest Well, Love Harder and do Less Better.
P.S. If there is anything in particular you would like to hear about in these newsletters, please feel free to reach out and ask!
The Highlights this week- My podcast with The Wow Company was released.
Timely reminder of the words I committed for this year - Expansiveness, Momentum and Embodiment.
Plus having people in your camp that hold you to account - including making you rest- don’t you just love it when your words come back to bite you!
Please listen to find out more insights about Reverse Mentoring and what I think it takes to be an Inclusive Leader.
