From Lost to Connected: How I Rediscovered My Purpose

Today, I live a life I love. One filled with adventure, creativity, and purpose. But it wasn’t always this way.

In February 2019, a spontaneous comment ended my 13-year relationship, leaving me heartbroken and questioning everything. Back in my childhood bedroom, I felt invisible, lost, and disconnected from the life I thought I was building. Estranged from my friends and parents, I wondered how to rise above bingeing box sets and gobbling jelly babies. I was alive, but I had no life, no joy. I was alive, but I had no life. Caught in the comparison trap, I measured my worth against everyone else’s highlight reels and lost sight of what truly mattered – my journey.

For most of my life, I put others first. Partners, clients, acquaintances. I was the ultimate people-pleaser, with boundaries so thin they might as well have been invisible. I've always been a hard worker. Two jobs at once? I'd do it. Another qualification to add to my CV? Sign me up. Growing my marketing communications business from scratch to a team of six? I managed that too.

But despite ticking all these boxes of ‘success,’ something was missing. I felt... inadequate. Never quite good enough. It was like I was constantly running but never quite reaching the destination. I teetered on the burnout scale twice, and despite my efforts, my business lost money, and I had to let staff and clients go. My inner critic had a megaphone, and I listened to every word. The relationship ending knocked the last bit of self-worth from me.

Does any of this sound familiar to you?

Turning the Page

At 40, I hit a crossroads. Tired of living in victim mode, I made a decision: it was time to prioritise myself. During this time, I rediscovered journalling at a brain training course. This wasn’t like the diaries I kept during my Disney Cruise Line days – this was intentional, a daily practice of gratitude that became my lifeline.

Pen in hand, I poured my thoughts onto the page. At first, it was messy, chaotic, but slowly, clarity emerged.

I started simply, with three to five things each day that brought me joy:

Not the house, the car, or the bank balance. But the warm conversation with Mum, the perfect latte, or a stunning sunset. These small moments became my anchors.

Lessons from the Wild

Trail running started as a friend’s invitation but quickly became my sanctuary. My first run was five miles through the hilly Peak District, rain pouring down and mud clinging to my too-small shoes. My lungs burned, my legs ached, but I felt alive for the first time in years.

Nature nourished my soul, sparked creativity, and dissolved negativity. It taught me that my worries, like the seasons, would pass. For an introvert like me, it was a refuge and a reminder that I was part of something bigger.

A Journey to Joy

Since that turning point in 2019, I've transformed from someone who felt disconnected and ‘not enough’ to an adventure enthusiast with strong boundaries and a heart full of purpose.

I've climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, swum the Hudson River (in a pool, mind you), hiked countless islands and routes across the UK, and transitioned my company. Rebuilding my business taught me the importance of resilience and self-awareness – lessons I now share with the women I guide.

Through trail running and nature exploration, I've made wonderful friendships and collected experiences that fill my heart. I've found a soulmate who loves me exactly as I am – imperfections, peculiarities, and all.

Do I still battle limiting beliefs about not being good enough or worthy? About wanting to remain invisible to stay safe? Of course. But now I recognise them for what they are – mere thoughts, not truths. And I have the resilience and confidence to rise above them.

Writing My Way Back

Looking back over these last few years, what stands out most is how much self-awareness I've gained through journalling. Those blank pages became mirrors, reflecting back what I couldn't see on my own.

My journal offered me:

  • Unwavering support when I felt alone
  • A non-judgemental space to vent, dream, and plan
  • Clarity when everything seemed foggy
  • Evidence of my growth when I couldn't see it myself

Through consistent journalling, I began to identify the triggers of my emotional responses and negative behaviours. I could reflect on painful memories from a safe distance, working through them rather than being consumed by them. New ways of handling these triggers emerged, and gradually, I found myself feeling happier and freer. My love for life returned –first in short, precious bursts, but now it's everyday reality.

I pursued a Master’s in Creative Writing and Wellbeing not just to deepen my knowledge, but to better understand how writing can transform lives, because it transformed mine. I also studied the ‘Journal to the Self Instructor’ Certification through the Center for Journal Therapy to enable me to teach the techniques of Kay Adams, a pioneer in the field of journal therapy for forty years.

Most importantly, journalling helped me understand that I have a choice in most situations. I can choose to stay small, putting myself last, or I can choose to progress, seize opportunities, and embrace new ideas.

A New Chapter: Writing with Purpose

Today, I'm on a mission to share the transformative power of writing with 100,000 people over the next decade. Through Writing with Purpose, I guide women like you – navigating perimenopause, empty nests, or the overwhelm of caring for others – to reclaim what matters. Whether through live workshops or on-demand training, I’ll show you how journalling and nature connection can transform your life.

Feeling Stuck or Disconnected?

Start your own journey to joy today.

Download my free 14-page journal planner and meditation to discover how journalling can help you reconnect with what truly matters.

Let’s turn that blank page into a new beginning.

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Begin Your Journey

If you recognise yourself in my story – if you've spent years working hard, putting others first, and feeling somehow not quite enough – I'd love to connect.

Together, we can explore how journalling and nature connection can help you move from feeling disconnected to rekindling joy and finding renewed purpose.

Because that blank page? It's not just paper. It's possibility.

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Beginner's Journals

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Your perfect companion on the journey to self-discovery and personal growth.

Feeling overwhelmed or stuck in the chaos of daily life?

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With simple, proven techniques and creative exercises, you’ll discover how to use journalling to reduce stress, boost positivity, and reconnect with yourself.

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