Meet Jennifer
What is your philosophy for living ?
I feel very aligned to my grandfathers philosophy and what he shared with my father on his deathbed, "have happy days". I believe that when we are having happy days we are serving ourselves and others the best way we can. When we are happy , we are healthy. It is a simple recipe for living but it works.
What is your coaching style ?
When I was running my wellness clinic in Melbourne a few years ago I consistently had women coming for treatments who were quite simply burnt out. They were running on "empty" and finding it a real struggle to connect with their true desires. I feel many women are living "in their heads" way to much and are very disconnected from their bodies and their hearts. So one of the first things I do as a mentor and coach is to help women get in touch with what they truly want and then we develop an action plan to put that in place in a sustainable and enjoyable way. Change is never easy, but it is part of life, and continuing to live and think in ways that are undermining health and happiness have far worse outcomes in the end. So happiness is really a choice.
What is your coaching style ?
When I was running my wellness clinic in Melbourne a few years ago I consistently had women coming for treatments who were quite simply burnt out. They were running on "empty" and finding it a real struggle to connect with their true desires. I feel many women are living "in their heads" way to much and are very disconnected from their bodies and their hearts. So one of the first things I do as a mentor and coach is to help women get in touch with what they truly want and then we develop an action plan to put that in place in a sustainable and enjoyable way. Change is never easy, but it is part of life, and continuing to live and think in ways that are undermining health and happiness have far worse outcomes in the end. So happiness is really a choice.
You put a lot of emphasis on the word "soul" is there a reason for that ?
To me we are wholistic beings. We are body, mind and spirit. I believe when we ignore any aspect of ourselves we get out of balance. Women listen to their thoughts a great deal but often at the expense of their soul. The soul is the part of us that is eternal, our true nature. Our ego self is where most of our thinking comes from and it is limited and often negative. When we tune into our soul, spirit or natural intuition we can live a much deeper quality of life. I think many people realise that modern lifestyles are taking us far too far away from what really matters. Health is simple, when we have the right balance we are healthy. If we tip the scales too far, for example if we eat junk food and get 4 hours sleep a night we are going to be anxious and maybe depressed. I have had the privilege of studying and learning from some very enlightened teachers so hopefully some of that calm wisdom has rubbed off.
How do you balance being a mum and running your own business ?
I think being a mum is the hardest job in the world, but I also think it's great training for running your own business. I work for myself for two reasons, number one "I love it" and number two " I don't know how to have good family relationships and work for someone else". I am sure there are women who can "do it all" I just haven't met any yet. I think mothers and women in general are very good at putting everyone elses needs before themselves. The truth is we don't need to be martyrs to be good mums, partners, sisters etc. We just need to be kind to ourselves and get back to basics, that way we can be authentic and available for our families and our clients without sacrificing our happiness and health.
It is definitely doable but you have to get really clear on your purpose and your priorities. I have definitely had times when my life got out of balance but being a consistent meditator really helps you get your perspective and your humor back fast.
It is definitely doable but you have to get really clear on your purpose and your priorities. I have definitely had times when my life got out of balance but being a consistent meditator really helps you get your perspective and your humor back fast.
If you were giving advice to your younger self what would you say ?
I would tell her not to take life so seriously, to surround herself with good heart centred people and to believe in herself. I would also tell her to keep a gratitude journal so she could realise how blessed she is.
What personality trait do you possess that you are grateful for ?
I think I have two that have served me well all my life, optimism and childlike innocence. I actually have always felt like a big kid at heart and I have a way of looking on the bright side regardless of what might be happening around me at the time. My grandmothers were like that, maybe that's where it comes from.
What do you do consistently to make yourself happy ?
Avoid the evening news and TV and spend time with kind people. Honestly there is so much negativity and violence in the world that we don't need to know about. I filter my environment and stay connected to positive people, thoughts and activities. If what I am about to say, do or think is not going to make me or another happy I simply don't do it.
What do you like to do in your spare time ?
I am not sure about the idea of spare time. I am never bored and I am great at being idle. I love to structure my days so I always have time to be out in nature - the beach or bush is where I come alive. I love food so eating out with my husband is a big favourite. A cup of tea, a good book and arranging flowers is also on top of the list. Cleaning is also creative for me when I'm not feeling pressured to get it all done. I just love clean nice smelling spaces, heaven ! I have done enough travel for now, so being at home alone is a very indulgent option for me, with chocolate of course.
