Finding Work-Life Balance: Samantha’s Approach to Career and Well-being
Interview with Samantha
Samantha helps people prioritise well-being and find alignment in their work-life using energy awareness & narrative therapy.
I had the pleasure of meeting Samantha during my Bega Headshot Day earlier this year when I had the opportunity to photograph her. Instantly, I was drawn to her warmth which prompted me to learn more about her.
questions about samantha’s work
In a few sentences can you describe what you do and who and how you help?
I'm a career practitioner, and I support people who are navigating career transitions, dealing with workplace stress or making decisions about their work life. When people make a change in their career, usually they are also reassessing their values, exploring their natural gifts and deciding how they actually want to be investing their time and their creative energy. These decisions take a lot of self-awareness and reflection. I use various tools and strategies to support people through this process, including somatic awareness, narrative therapy and the Human Design system.
Do you have a ritual that helps to prepare you for work, if so, can you describe it?
If it's before creative work I like to empty out all my ideas and thoughts onto the page before I begin, it helps me process and visualise how things are going to come together. It's also helpful to empty out whatever I've been thinking about, so that I feel clear and am more receptive in my sessions with clients. This has been a habit of mine for a long time now, I have kept a journal since I was a teenager and I have boxes in our garage full of journals that I've filled over the years.
Image - Photograph by Samantha from the Bega Headshot Day.
When is your favourite time of the day and why?
My favourite time of day has always been late in the afternoon- especially in late summer and Autumn. It feels different to any other time of the day, it doesn't feel as rushed. I also love the sounds because it reminds me of being a kid; running around outside barefoot and being called in for dinner. Back when you had nothing to do and nowhere to be.
How do you replenish your energy?
Lately I've been using music to recharge and I've found it's the quickest way to get me out of a slump or move me into action. My six year old has her favourite songs to listen to in the car and it's become a bit of a routine now to have a mini-karaoke session on the way to and from school. It's the best mood-lifter for the mornings.
What are you inspired by?
I'm inspired by new perspectives. I love learning and I love stories, so anytime I get the chance to see things from another perspective or enter someone's world and see things from their view or hear their story, I feel inspired. I also feel inspired when I get to travel somewhere new. To the point where, when I lived in the city when I was younger I would purposely drive around an unfamiliar suburb or get off the train a few stops early and walk the rest of the way (in the daytime of course) just to experience the feeling of being lost and having to get my bearings. My mum thought I was so strange when I told her I was intentionally getting lost, but I love that rush of discovery.
Image - Photograph by Samantha from the Bega Headshot Day.
What are three simple tools/strategies for getting out of a rut/block?
Create space; whether it's creating space in your week, your day or creating a physical space in your home for quiet reflection, gentle rituals and rest. It's difficult to take action or overcome a block without clarity and most often clarity arrives when our minds are still.
Change your environment; sometimes a change of scenery or routine can connect us with new people and offer the little kickstart we need to fall into momentum. I will often do an energy audit with clients which can help identify when/ where they feel most drained and when/ where they feel in flow, motivated, inspired or valued.
Understand your point of difference; get curious about your zone of genius. Operating from your strengths and natural gifts can give you the confidence to make changes and navigate your way out of unhelpful cycles or feeling stuck.
How does living on the far south coast shape your life and your work?
A lot of my work is focused on strategies for slowing down the pace of our workdays and opting out of the “hustle and grind” culture. In many ways I think the far south coast has always had that appeal of being on its own time. People come here to escape while on holidays or relocate here for a slower-paced life and so I feel like I’m able to embody the essence of that message much more easily here at home, than if I were living in a city. *Not that I’ve mastered slow living- some days are anything but slow!- but I’m definitely a lot better at creating pauses in my days and weeks than I used to be.
