#134 The moment that you are ready to hear it, the answer will come to you
11/14/24 • 49 min
"The whole time I could have left but I just wanted to believe so much that it was the right thing for me."
What happens when you don’t get joy from your job anymore? I’m talking to Claire Fitzsimmons, co-founder of ‘If lost start here’. She shares her journey of closing a door on what was perceived as a ‘dream job’ in the art world and following her heart into the well-being world. We also talk about her Mum’s struggle with mental health and how it led Claire to starting a business where they create a unique "well-being prescription" designed to navigate life with creativity and joy. She also opens up about her struggles fitting into traditional roles and redefining what is important. Her story offers us invaluable lessons on embracing change and finding fulfilment.
“I just love the feeling of walking through a gallery and then being around the art and I still love that. I think that's why it was so hard to let go of because it felt really good, but what I hadn't understood was what my role in it would be, and who I had to be in that environment.”
Here are the highlights:
05:41 The struggle of leaving a beloved art world job
12:12 Monetising passions can diminish the joy
13:39 Prioritising personal curiosity over external expectations
17:57 Exploring my mother’s story to understand my own
23:53 Navigating external advice vs. internal connection
27:54 Creative spaces make therapy accessible and engaging
34:42 Different needs: nature connection, and a spiritual practice
37:09 Create your own life guide with support
Claire Fitzwilliam’s Another Door go-tosThe things that helped Claire navigate change.
Book: "Tiny Beautiful Things", by Cheryl Strayed
Music: "My Favourite Coffee House" playlist on Spotify
The one piece of advice: “Feel your way through change and I say that because I often do work around emotions with people and it's often the missing piece.”
About Claire Fitzsimmons:
Claire Fitzsimmons helps people to have more good days by developing an everyday life practice that meets them wherever they are, with whatever it is they need. Claire draws from positive psychology, transactional analysis, somatics, neuroscience, Positive Intelligence, emotions coaching, and the science of well-being to help people understand what it means to be a person in this world, and how we can possibly do life with all that life now needs to contain. Claire also works with women in mid-life, particularly negotiating shifts associated with (peri)menopause. She is one of the world’s first certified Emotions Coaching Practitioners (with In Good Company), an ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC), and earned her Certificate in Counseling and Psychotherapy from London’s CCPE.
Find out more: https://www.ifloststarthere.com/
Connect with Claire:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-fitzsimmons
Substack: https://moregooddays.substack.com/
About your host Eleanor Tweddell:
Eleanor supports individuals, teams and organisations through change. Whether it’s 121 coaching or large scale organisational change through communications and training. Eleanor’s work centres around how we, as humans, work through change, embracing the messy bits, the role of playing, with the aim to see opportunity. “Too often we get stuck in the change happening to us, when just through that next door is an exciting next chapter.”
Eleanor is the founder of Another Door, and Get-Recommended.com and the author of Why losing your job could be the best thing that ever happened to you.
Connect with Eleanor:
Instagram:instagram/anotherdooruk
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/
Website: eleanortweddell.com
Produced by winteraudio.co.uk
"The whole time I could have left but I just wanted to believe so much that it was the right thing for me."
What happens when you don’t get joy from your job anymore? I’m talking to Claire Fitzsimmons, co-founder of ‘If lost start here’. She shares her journey of closing a door on what was perceived as a ‘dream job’ in the art world and following her heart into the well-being world. We also talk about her Mum’s struggle with mental health and how it led Claire to starting a business where they create a unique "well-being prescription" designed to navigate life with creativity and joy. She also opens up about her struggles fitting into traditional roles and redefining what is important. Her story offers us invaluable lessons on embracing change and finding fulfilment.
“I just love the feeling of walking through a gallery and then being around the art and I still love that. I think that's why it was so hard to let go of because it felt really good, but what I hadn't understood was what my role in it would be, and who I had to be in that environment.”
Here are the highlights:
05:41 The struggle of leaving a beloved art world job
12:12 Monetising passions can diminish the joy
13:39 Prioritising personal curiosity over external expectations
17:57 Exploring my mother’s story to understand my own
23:53 Navigating external advice vs. internal connection
27:54 Creative spaces make therapy accessible and engaging
34:42 Different needs: nature connection, and a spiritual practice
37:09 Create your own life guide with support
Claire Fitzwilliam’s Another Door go-tosThe things that helped Claire navigate change.
Book: "Tiny Beautiful Things", by Cheryl Strayed
Music: "My Favourite Coffee House" playlist on Spotify
The one piece of advice: “Feel your way through change and I say that because I often do work around emotions with people and it's often the missing piece.”
About Claire Fitzsimmons:
Claire Fitzsimmons helps people to have more good days by developing an everyday life practice that meets them wherever they are, with whatever it is they need. Claire draws from positive psychology, transactional analysis, somatics, neuroscience, Positive Intelligence, emotions coaching, and the science of well-being to help people understand what it means to be a person in this world, and how we can possibly do life with all that life now needs to contain. Claire also works with women in mid-life, particularly negotiating shifts associated with (peri)menopause. She is one of the world’s first certified Emotions Coaching Practitioners (with In Good Company), an ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC), and earned her Certificate in Counseling and Psychotherapy from London’s CCPE.
Find out more: https://www.ifloststarthere.com/
Connect with Claire:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-fitzsimmons
Substack: https://moregooddays.substack.com/
About your host Eleanor Tweddell:
Eleanor supports individuals, teams and organisations through change. Whether it’s 121 coaching or large scale organisational change through communications and training. Eleanor’s work centres around how we, as humans, work through change, embracing the messy bits, the role of playing, with the aim to see opportunity. “Too often we get stuck in the change happening to us, when just through that next door is an exciting next chapter.”
Eleanor is the founder of Another Door, and Get-Recommended.com and the author of Why losing your job could be the best thing that ever happened to you.
Connect with Eleanor:
Instagram:instagram/anotherdooruk
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/
Website: eleanortweddell.com
Produced by winteraudio.co.uk
Previous Episode
#133 Closing a door when you feel something bigger is calling with Dr. Enya Doyle
“If it's consulting for forever, then it's consulting for forever. But at least be the captain of your own ship and being curious about what it would be like to be the captain of my own ship.”
I am talking to Dr. Enya Doyle, known as the ‘Harassment Doctor’. Enya’s closing door was the moment she decided to leave academia and start her own consultancy. Enya shares her career journey, starting from her academic roots in gender and classical music to becoming a leading consultant in anti-harassment and inclusion.
The conversation is about seeing opportunity when it feels like there isn't, see something that needs addressed and decide to do something about it. I found it empowering to listen to her motivations and drive. Enya talks about the ‘Finding yourself’ moment - after spending so long living in the identity of ‘being smart’ to deciding to do ‘smart’ differently, bringing with her all that curiosity and love for learning into her next door opening.
Enya discusses the pivotal moments that shaped her path, from completing her PhD and confronting the challenges of the COVID-19 lockdowns to navigating personal health struggles and eventually establishing her own consultancy. Her story is a testament to the power of curiosity, adaptability, and the importance of doing "the next right thing."
And an impressive reference to Disney films the whole way through our chat!
"Focus on doing the next right thing for yourself, rather than being overly concerned with long-term plans or others' expectations."
Here are the highlights:
04:54 Academia fosters curiosity and lifelong learning.
11:14 Grew up during the Northern Ireland conflict.
15:58 Surround yourself with supportive, like-minded people who uplift you.
21:28 Assume the best; people have diverse perspectives.
24:14 Arts organisations must protect freelancers and contractors.
29:17 NHS is thorough; many people often misunderstood.
31:03 Embracing self-employment; flexible, and fulfilling work journey.
Dr. Enya Doyle’s Another Door go-tosThe things that helped Dr. Enya navigate change.
Book: ‘The Year of Yes’ by Shonda Rhimes
Music: Moana Soundtrack
The one piece of advice: “In Frozen 2, there is a song called ‘Do the next right thing’. I think we spend a lot of our lives being told about five year plans. For me, you just got to do the next right thing. Take the next step. Do the next thing that's right for you.”
More about Dr Enya Doyle
Raised in Ireland and now based in London, Dr Enya Doyle’s unwavering commitment to driving social change has been recognised nationally for almost fifteen years. Enya has a powerful track record of providing effective and insightful training as well as thoughtful, evidence-based guidance. She collaborates with companies of all sizes across the world to prevent unwanted behaviours amongst colleagues and helps People and EDI teams respond better when it does happen. Enya specialises in challenging gender-based discrimination, sexism, and sexual violence.
@theharassmentdoctor
www.linkedin.com/in/dr-enya-doyle
About your host Eleanor Tweddell:
Eleanor supports individuals, teams and organisations through change. Whether it’s 121 coaching or large scale organisational change through communications and training. Eleanor’s work centres around how we, as humans, work through change, embracing the messy bits, the role of playing, with the aim to see opportunity. “Too often we get stuck in the change happening to us, when just through that next door is an exciting next chapter.”
Eleanor is the founder of Another Door, and Get-Recommended.com and the author of Why losing your job could be the best thing that ever happened to you.
Connect with Eleanor:
Instagram:instagram/anotherdooruk
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/
Website: eleanortweddell.com
Produced by winteraudio.co.uk
Next Episode
#135: How to Divorce Sober with Hannah Harvey
"I have learned so much over this process of what matters and what doesn't, how to protect yourself, what boundaries to put in place, whether you're giving up alcohol, a person, or an eating disorder."
In this episode, I talk to Hannah Harvey who shares her story about closing a door on alcohol, which also led to her leaving her marriage.
Hannah opened up about her liberating journey to sobriety, revealing how quitting alcohol transformed her life and led her to write "How to Divorce Sober." We talk about overcoming societal pressures, personal growth, and finding clarity through challenging transitions. Hannah shares how she turned life's obstacles into opportunities and her inspiring vision for helping others do the same.
Here are the highlights:
00:59 Hannah's book explores divorce and personal recovery.
04:48 Struggling with drinking, self-esteem, male-dominated industry.
11:35 Life change affected blogging identity and direction.
16:36 Discovering new reality through immersive book reading.
19:02 Sudden clarity led to quitting drinking.
23:27 Putting out metaphorical fires; learning boundaries.
27:10 Fear and curiosity deter exploration of the unknown.
30:17 Unwanted change led to personal growth unexpectedly.
31:38 Writing the book on divorce journey.
36:37 Challenges reveal healing opportunities for personal growth.
Hannah’s Another Door go-tosThe things that helped Hannah navigate change.
Book: "Control Alcohol" by Annie Grace
Music: "I Feel Free" by Cream
The One Piece of Advice: “I think when you choose or you're pulled through a door, you can almost certainly expect that whatever needs to be healed is going to show itself. So often you'll go through something and you're like, right, I'm on my new path, this is exciting. And then, something will happen. And you're like, are you actually kidding? But almost certainly that is happening for a reason because that is going to heal something within you that will then take you further on your path.”
More about Hannah
Hannah is on a mission to help people find hope after trauma and embrace a bright future.
Alongside her book How to Divorce Sober, Hannah’s support network incorporates online courses, an immersive mentoring service, day and weekend retreats, yoga classes and her popular podcast, Happily Ever After with Hannah Harvey.
Hannah frequently contributes to BBC Radio Newcastle, where she engages in discussions on the critical issues addressed in her podcast. She also forged close links with Escape Family Support, an organisation that helps the families of people suffering from problems related to drugs and alcohol by delivering restorative yoga programmes.
Previously, Hannah ran Mums’ Days, an amazingly successful award-winning parenting blog that led to her creating content for John Lewis, Tesco, and Argos.
Hannah lives with her two children in Whitley Bay, just a stone’s throw from the ocean. She loves being near the sea and often enjoys ice-cold swims to clear her head. The beach is also perfect for her special meditation sessions and ceremonies.
Connect with Hannah:
https://www.hannahharvey.uk/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahharveyuk/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-harvey-uk/
More about Eleanor Tweddell:
Eleanor supports individuals, teams and organisations through change. Whether it’s 121 coaching or large scale organisational change through communications and training. Eleanor’s work centres around how we, as humans, work through change, embracing the messy bits, the role of playing, with the aim to see opportunity. “Too often we get stuck in the change happening to us, when just through that next door is an exciting next chapter.”
Eleanor is the founder of Another Door and the author of “Why losing your job could be the best thing that ever happened to you”.
Connect with Eleanor:
Instagram:instagram/anotherdooruk
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/
Website: eleanortweddell.com
Produced by winteraudio.co.uk
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