Getting Senior Leaders to Optimal Performance and Sustainable Growth Without Burnout

You’re capable, experienced, and used to handling pressure. Yet certain moments quietly destabilise even strong leaders.
► When you step into a new role and realise the rules have changed
► When a restructuring, missed promotion, or sudden shift knocks confidence more than you admit
► When performance still looks “fine”, but decision-making feels heavier and slower than it should

These moments don’t look dramatic from the outside. 
They look like coping.

And this is where many leaders hesitate —
waiting for clarity to return on its own,
until the cost shows up as loss of judgment, credibility, or energy.

👉 This is where my work begins.
I partner with senior leaders and leadership teams during high-stakes transitions — where clarity, authority, and direction matter more than speed.

My clients typically come to this point when they need to:

✔️ Make clear, grounded decisions under pressure 
✔️ Re-establish authority and presence in a new or changing role 
✔️ Navigate career transitions or restructuring without loss of momentum 
✔️ Lead teams through complexity, transformation, or sustained change 
✔️ Perform at a high level without sacrificing health, focus, or integrity

I bring 17+ years of experience from Fortune 500 organisations (P&G, General Mills, GSK, Syngenta), combined with professional executive coaching and mentoring (ICF PCC, EMCC SP). 

I understand the realities of senior leadership — competing priorities, political complexity, and the expectation to “hold it together” while everything shifts.

My clients often describe the biggest shift not as improved performance alone — but as clearer thinking, steadier confidence, and the ability to lead without constantly operating in reactive mode.

If you’re navigating a meaningful transition — whether you’re still in role or between chapters — and sense that waiting is no longer the right strategy, you’re welcome to message me here on LinkedIn to explore whether working together makes sense.

— 
🌐 tatianarueff.com 
📩 tatiana@tatianarueff.com 

For organisations, I also design and deliver senior leadership workshops and keynotes on leading through high-stakes transitions — enabling sustainable performance, clarity, and resilience under pressure.

Tatiana Rueff

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞
𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐭.

Most of the leaders I work with aren’t stuck 
because they are not thinking enough.

They see what’s no longer working.
They understand the implications.
They have ideas to test.
They’ve thought it through - repeatedly.

What’s missing isn’t insight.

It’s a space where clarity turns into decisions,
and decisions turn into movement -
without rushing, proving, or forcing outcomes.

Some moments don’t need more effort.
They need the right kind of containment.

P.S. If something you’ve been circling feels ready to be addressed, this is the kind of transition that benefits from the right container.

Partnering with Leaders through High-Stakes Transitions | Clear Decisions & Sustainable Growth under Pressure | Executive & Leadership Transition Coach (ICF PCC) | Ex-Fortune 500

Tatiana Rueff, Executive and Leadership Transition Coach, standing in a snowy mountain village, looking calmly at the camera, with alpine houses and snow-covered peaks (Mont Blanc) behind her on a clear winter day.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞.

Between roles many leaders feel an invisible clock ticking.

They don’t want to rush.
They don’t want to repeat old patterns.
But they also don’t want to get stuck.

So they stay busy instead.

Networking.
Thinking.
Sending applications daily.
Scrolling LinkedIn.

Yet the discomfort isn’t really about time.
It’s about not having enough structure for the transition.

Without that, even thoughtful leaders start doubting themselves.

This is where transitions quietly stretch longer than necessary -
not because skills are missing,
but because support is.

P.S. Being between chapters isn’t a gap to fill. 
It’s a phase to take seriously.

A quiet home office with a wooden desk by a window, a beige leather chair slightly pulled back, an open laptop displaying emails, a notebook and pen, a coffee mug, and a digital clock showing 13:30, suggesting a paused workday and time passing.

𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐚 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭 𝐥𝐚𝐤𝐞.
𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧.

And waiting won’t make it calmer.

Many people are waiting.

Waiting for the market to improve.
Waiting for work to slow down.
Waiting for life to feel easier before they finally breathe again.

They hope the waters will calm.

But life is rarely a quiet lake.
Most of the time, it’s a wavy ocean - 
unpredictable, demanding, alive.

And while you’re waiting for perfect conditions,
your life is still passing by.

Sustainable growth doesn’t come from hoping the waves disappear.
It comes from learning how to surf.

From building balance, clarity, and resilience 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 you -
so you can navigate change without burning out
and even enjoy the ride.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦.
𝐖𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐢𝐬.

P.S. Where in your life are you still waiting for “better times”?

Guiding Senior Leaders & Teams Through Transitions | From Pressure to Clarity, Confidence & Sustainable Growth | Executive & Leadership Transition Coach (ICF PCC) | Ex-Fortune 500

A split image contrasting two approaches to challenge: on the left, a person stands at the edge of a turbulent ocean, watching the waves; on the right, a surfer actively rides a large wave, moving with strength and balance.

𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐱𝐡𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 
𝐈𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.

Many senior leaders don’t collapse.
They continue performing.

What changes first is something quieter.

Decisions take longer.
Recovery takes more effort.
Quality thinking time disappears.
Weekends bring more screen time than joy.

They tell themselves it’s temporary.
That pressure comes with the role.

Sometimes that’s true.
Often it’s a signal.

Sustainable growth isn’t about pushing less.
It’s about noticing when the cost is no longer worth the output.

That moment is easy to rationalise away -
until it forces a decision later, 
under worse conditions.

P.S. If the price of “doing well” has been rising for a while, it might be asking for your attention now.

Tatiana Rueff, executive and leadership transition coaching, seated on a wooden balcony overlooking snow-covered mountains and alpine houses, appearing thoughtful and composed in a calm winter setting.

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚
𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞.

Scroll through LinkedIn on any given day and you’ll see it.

New role announcements.
Promotions.
Bigger titles.
Public celebrations of progress.

Most people could make these updates invisible - 
but they don’t.

Because being seen, acknowledged, and validated matters.
That’s human.

What we don’t talk about enough is the other side of those posts.

The quiet comparison they trigger in leaders who are already carrying a lot.

𝘈𝘮 𝘐 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥?
𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘢𝘮 𝘐 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘵?
𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘐 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘱 l𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦?
𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦?

These questions don’t stop early in a career.

I hear them from VPs, CEOs, and founders -
especially in moments of transition.

The problem isn’t ambition.

The problem is the false idea that there’s a universal success ladder we’re supposed to follow.

There isn’t.

Careers are not straight lines.
They pause, accelerate, reset, and sometimes fall apart - 
often for reasons far beyond effort or talent.

When you measure yourself against someone else’s highlight reel, you risk seeing personal failure where there is none.

You’re not late.
You’re not early.

You are where your life has brought you - 
and you still get to decide what comes next.

𝐏.𝐒.  Which “should” have you been carrying that no longer serves you?

Man lying in bed at night looking at his phone, reflecting on social media comparison and career self-doubt.

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 
𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧.

It’s not because you’re unprepared.
Or lacking confidence.
Or suddenly less capable.

It’s because you’re stepping into a system that already exists -
with unspoken expectations, inherited dynamics, 
and histories you didn’t create.

You’re being read before you fully understand the context.
Your decisions matter before you’ve had time to see the full picture.

And the pressure to “add value quickly” is constant, 
even when no one says it out loud.

Most leaders respond by accelerating.

They work harder.
They say yes more often.
They try to prove themselves early.

But early overcompensation is how misalignment starts.

The leaders who land well do something different.

They slow their thinking before they speed up their actions.
They take time to understand what’s really being asked of them, 
not just what’s written.

They decide what not to change yet.

This isn’t about confidence.
It’s about orientation.

The first moves you make set patterns that last far longer than people expect.

P.S. If you’re stepping into something new and feel the pressure to get it “right” quickly, that’s not a flaw. It’s the moment.

A professional woman stands by a large window overlooking a lake and mountains, reflecting quietly before stepping into a new role.

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬.
Very few talked about what that reaction reveals about leadership.

When Emmanuel Macron wore sunglasses indoors at Davos, 
the world listened - and still speculated.

And this is the interesting part:
an explanation had already been given.

It was presented as a benign eye issue -
nothing strategic, nothing symbolic.

Still -

Memes spread.
Commentary escalated.
The company behind the sunglasses saw its share price jump 28%.

Not because eyewear matters -
but because when a leader breaks an unspoken norm, 
explanation alone doesn’t stop interpretation.

This happens inside organisations every day.

A leader goes quiet.
Delays a decision.
Shows up differently than expected.

Even when there is a rational reason,
the system keeps reading signals.

Stories fill the gap:

– “Something’s off.”
– “A restructuring is coming.”
– “There must be more going on.”

The real risk for leaders isn’t deviation.
It’s assuming clarity has been received just because it was provided.

Strong leadership isn’t about over-explaining.

It’s about recognising when perception has momentum -
and choosing whether to actively frame it, hold it, or redirect it.

Because whether you intend it or not,
people are always reading the signals.

PS: Where have you seen a small, unintended leadership signal take on disproportionate meaning?

A pair of blue-tinted aviator sunglasses on a light background.

𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬.

Many leaders value reflection.

They think deeply.
They notice patterns.
They see what’s no longer working.

And then… they wait.

They tell themselves they’re “not ready yet”.
That they need a bit more time.
That there’s something urgent to take care of first.
That they’ll figure it out.

But insight has a shelf life.

What starts as awareness slowly turns into friction.
The same questions resurface.
The same tension returns, just louder.

At some point, not acting costs more than acting.

The tricky part is that nothing breaks immediately.

You keep functioning.
You keep thinking about it.
You keep living your life.

But over time, the cost shows up elsewhere -
in energy, focus, and the quality of decisions.

That’s when waiting stops being a pause
and starts shaping the outcome.

P.S. If something has been unaddressed for a while, this might be the moment it’s asking for a different response from you.

A man at a home office desk looks at an hourglass as time passes, reflecting on decisions and waiting.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 90 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝𝐥𝐲.
𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐭.

Most leaders prepare hard for interviews.
Very few prepare for what comes after.

They step into a role already moving.
With inherited dynamics they didn’t design.
And expectations that aren’t fully spoken.

So they compensate early.

They try to add value fast.
They change things quickly.

And sometimes… 
they lock in patterns they later have to undo.

The leaders who land well don’t rush alignment.
They create space to think before they accelerate action.

That window is brief.
And often underestimated.

P.S. If you’ve recently stepped into a new role and feel the pressure to move fast, this is the moment I help leaders slow their thinking before their actions lock in.
You don’t need to navigate it alone.

A silhouetted man standing indoors by a window, looking out at blurred car lights moving quickly through the night, suggesting contrast between stillness and speed.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫
𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞.

Many senior leaders look like they’re doing fine.

They deliver.
They show up.
They keep things moving.

But privately, the cost is rising.

More effort to stay focused.
More recovery time after non-stop meetings.
Less space to think clearly.

They tell themselves:

“𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘦.”
“𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.”
“𝘖𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦.”

High performance can mask misalignment for a long time.

Until one day, the question shifts from

“𝘊𝘢𝘯 𝘐 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴?”
to
“𝘋𝘰 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘺?”

That’s not weakness.
That’s information.

P.S. Where has “pushing through” quietly become your default?

𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬. 
Poor positioning is.

Most senior leaders don’t struggle because transitions take too long.
They struggle because they stay too broad for too long.

Time itself isn’t the problem.
Ambiguity is.

When your message sounds like:

“𝘐’𝘮 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯.”
“𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴.”
“𝘐’𝘮 𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦.”

You make it harder for others to place you -
and easier for the wrong opportunities to absorb your energy.

At senior level, clarity isn’t a constraint.
It’s a service.

The leaders who land well don’t rush.
They narrow deliberately - often with support - 
long before urgency starts making decisions for them.

The right support doesn’t just protect the outcome.

It sharpens positioning 
and that’s what changes the timeline.

If this resonates, you’re already thinking at the right level.

A narrow mountain path running along a green ridge under a clear blue sky, with steep slopes on both sides, symbolising focus and deliberate career progress.

𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐬. 
𝐈𝐭 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐝𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐬. 

When an organisation goes through transition - 
a leadership change, restructuring, strategy shift - 
the impact isn’t limited to roles or org charts. 

Team dynamics change first. 

What I often observe is not open resistance, but subtle shifts: 

– Decision-making slows 
– Ownership becomes blurred 
– Informal leaders go quiet 
– High performers start self-protecting 

On the surface, work continues. 
Underneath, alignment erodes. 

This isn’t a people problem. 
It’s a leadership transition problem. 

Teams need clarity on: 

– what still matters 
– what has changed 
– where decisions now sit 
– and what “good performance” looks like in the new context 

Without that, leaders spend months compensating with more meetings, more pressure, and more effort - 
often burning out their best people in the process. 

Sustainable leadership in transition isn’t about pushing harder. 
It’s about stabilising the system so people can perform again. 

That’s the work I do with leaders and organisations navigating change.

An empty leadership meeting room in a modern office with panoramic views over Zurich, representing organisational transition, decision-making, and the need for leadership clarity.

𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭.

They notice when something starts to feel off.
When the role demands more than it gives back.
When effort increases but clarity doesn’t.

What’s harder is knowing how to respond in that moment.

Do you pause and think it through alone?
Do you give it time, hoping the pressure will ease?
Do you reach for an external perspective or structured support early enough?

I see very capable leaders make very different choices at this point.

And those choices quietly shape how long transitions last and how costly they become.

I’m curious what tends to be true for you in practice, not in theory.

When you realise something in your career is no longer sustainable, what do you tend to do first?

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A Happiness Coach for Corporate Professional Women | Happiness is Your Birthright | Transform Inner Critic | Being Seen, Heard And Respected | Choose Love Over Fear

As an NLP Happiness Coach, I empower women to release fear, reconnect with their inner wisdom, rebuild self-trust, and create a life of emotional freedom, truth, and joy.

I believe happiness isn’t something to chase; it’s a home within. 

Through gentle guidance and deep inner work, I help women let go of a thousand stories of unworthiness and meet themselves as a fuller expression of who they wish to be.

Every journey home begins with one brave step, and it always leads back to love.

For years, I believed happiness was something I had to chase. I tried to change others, hoping that would bring me the love and fulfillment I longed for. But the more I tried, the more I buried my own needs beneath guilt, self-betrayal, and quiet exhaustion.

The turning point came when I realized: no one else could walk this path for me. I had to choose it - to become the brave heart who would journey home to herself. That awakening was a blessing in disguise.

🌿 Today, I guide women who are ready to see uncertainty as opportunity, embrace imperfection as wholeness, and meet life as it is - with gratitude as their anchor.

Through NLP coaching and deeper self-reflection, I guide them in releasing fear, reclaiming their self-trust, and reconnecting with their inner wisdom - living a life of emotional freedom, truth, and joy is within reach.

I believe happiness is not a luxury - it’s our birthright. 

When we choose love, we choose peace. And when we walk this path together, we create ripples of gentleness, strength, and compassion - the very energy the world needs more of.

✨ My clients come to me when:

💧 They feel unworthy, unseen, or unloved.
💧 They’re tired of chasing approval or trapped in draining relationships.
💧 They’ve buried their dreams under fear, duty, or exhaustion.
💧 They’re ready - truly ready - to live fuller, and have no regrets.

Every journey home begins with one courageous step. Sometimes that step is as simple as a conversation.

📩 If this resonates with you, send me a message with “Brave Heart” or book a call. Let’s explore whether I am the right support on your journey toward freedom, joy, and self-trust.

Because brave hearts know - the journey home to love is the freedom they once hid from. And now, they walk toward it with gratitude, reverence, and awe.

Welcome home - sooner.

With love and light,
Eleen

Eleen (Yik Lie) Yaw - NLP Happiness Coach

When you choose a path different from the majority, you’re not trying to be special, you’re simply listening inward.

This is how the 1% are formed.

Not louder. 

Not better. 

Just more aware.

You may walk with fewer people, and discover the gift of solitude.

You begin to honour every rise and fall, knowing nothing happens against you. 

You speak less, listen deeper.

You detach from expectations.

You know every one is doing their best, you meet them where they’re- there is nothing to fix, or convince.

And quietly, you remember why you came here in the first place - to walk one another home to themselves. 

The 1% Creative Thinkers ClubHouse is a space to go deeper - to reflect, create, and connect with others who move through life intentionally.

If you’re curious, which is always a great quality - here’s the link:

https://lnkd.in/gycbxUtZ


✨ Walking in the opposite direction is not rebellious, but to gain clarity we’ve longed for.

#awareness
#choices

Eleen (Yik Lie)  Yaw - NLP Happiness Coach

Life Coach | NLP Happiness Coach | Empowering Women to Let Go, and Awaken to the Freedom of Love

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🤔 I asked ChatGPT: "If you were the devil, how would you stop someone from being happy?"

The answer gave me chills, because it's exactly what most of us are already doing to ourselves.

If I were "the devil," whose goal is to keep someone unhappy, I wouldn't need dramatic disasters. I'd use quiet, subtle strategies that feel completely normal.

Here's how:

1. Make them believe their thoughts are facts

Convince them that every fearful story in their head is true:

"I'm not good enough."

"Nothing ever works out for me."

"Other people have something I don't."

Once they believe those thoughts, they'll live inside that mind’s prison.

2. Keep them comparing

Comparison steals joy silently. 

Keep them scrolling, always seeing how others are happier, richer, more loved, more successful. 

They'd never celebrate their own path because they'd always feel behind.

3. Whisper urgency and pressure

"Do more. Be more. You're late. You're failing."

When the nervous system never rests, happiness can't land, even when life is actually okay.

4. Make them afraid of stillness

Silence is where healing and insight appear. 

So distract them constantly, noise, worries, busyness, anything to stop self-reflection.

5. Turn mistakes into identity

Instead of: "I made a mistake."

Push: "I AM a failure."

Shame is incredibly powerful; it keeps people stuck, small, and silent.

6. Convince them love must be earned

They'd hustle endlessly for acceptance rather than knowing they already deserve it. 

That exhausting chase keeps the heart tired.

7. Make them doubt their intuition

Drown their inner knowing with others' opinions, rules, and expectations. 

When someone stops trusting themselves, they live someone else's life.

8. Tell them happiness is "out there"

"In the next job. The next relationship. The next achievement."

That way, happiness is always later, never now.

9. Keep them isolated

Convince them no one would understand, so they never open up.

Isolation magnifies pain and hides hope.

10. Make them believe change is impossible

If a person believes they can't change, they stop trying - and hopelessness does the rest.


The antidote (the part the "devil" would hate):

✨ Notice thoughts instead of believing all of them

✨ Practice gratitude and presence - small, daily

✨ Rest and embrace quiet moments

✨ Compassion instead of shame

✨ Trust your inner voice again

✨ Ask for support when needed

✨ Allow joy now, not later

Happiness isn't loud. It grows from repeated gentle choices.

💡Which of these 10 strategies has been quietly stealing your joy? 

💡And which antidote are you ready to practice today?


Sometimes the enemy isn't outside us; it's the voice inside that sounds like protection but feels like prison. 

#happiness

✨ An 80-year-old woman’s advice made me pause: “Don’t hesitate - try everything."

By trying new approaches, we learn and unlearn, and either way, we're still winning in life. The outcome is secondary.

Daring to challenge new ideas, concepts, and thoughts - and improving from them - is what successful people do every single day.

Yet when we label the feedback from trying something new as "failure," "loser," or "unworthy of goodness," is that fair?

We're doing our best to outgrow old limiting habits. So surely, harsh words, from us or from others, are never acceptable.

If we don't have the support we need, seek it from those who can genuinely provide it. 

Otherwise, it's okay to hear nothing, speak nothing, and simply conserve our emotional energy.

Self-sabotage, shame, or self-disgrace may feel "normal," but they're never needed.

Breaking yourself doesn't save you - it only denies what you're truly capable of becoming.

If you want to help yourself, stop trying to prove you're not worthy enough.

If you truly love yourself, take time to reflect and grow from your mistakes with compassion.

And if you're open to advice, here's something I deeply want you to hear:

Life is not meant to be perfect.

The imperfections we notice, "I don't have a loving family. I feel lonely. I'm not as smart as they are. My life is miserable. I failed again..." - are here to sharpen us and show us what we truly wish to refine in this remaining time.

Everyone and every event exists to shift us from "I don't have..." to "What do I have?"

I came across a video of an 80-year-old woman being interviewed by a street photographer.

She stood out not for her age, but for her calm confidence and elegant presence.

He asked her: "If you could speak to your younger self, what advice would you give?"

With a gentle smile in her eyes, she said, "Don't hesitate, try everything."

Right now, you have time, choices, and health - sacred resources available to all of us.

So... any good reason not to use them to your advantage, instead of drowning in old, limiting stories over and over?

The difference between people who thrive and those who stay stuck isn’t talent or luck - it’s the willingness to try, learn, and unlearn. 

The Universe always rewards us abundantly. 

It may not be what we asked for, but if we pause and observe, it’s often exactly what we needed at that moment - because the Universe knows better.

So, would you give yourself a second chance?🌟

#choices
#awareness

💃 I was on hold for 15 Minutes yesterday and I danced. 

When things don't meet our expectations, we feel lousy, don't we?

I noticed it in myself recently.

I didn't enjoy being put on hold for over 15 minutes just to temporarily suspend my mobile data.

I complained that renewing a driver's license required an appointment and that the fee felt unnecessarily high.

I grew impatient when Norton took hours to scan my laptop and optimize my internet speed.

I'm sure many would agree that time and effort could be used more "productively," especially with today's advanced systems.

But here's the twist.

What do calmness and creativity have to do with productivity?

If you think like a 1% Creative Thinker, you know this:

Complaining and grumbling never speed things up - they only drain your energy.

While waiting with Optus customer service, I realized it was her first day.

So I reassured her, told her the hold music was actually good, and yes, I danced a little.

Service NSW? They're securing jobs and doing their part. I chose to take it easy.

Norton? They were running a thorough health check on my system. Credit where it's due.

We can rush, complain, and resist all we want.

But nothing truly changes when we're not in the driver's seat.

What does change is how much drama we invite into our lives by repeating old reactive patterns.

Real productivity lives in calm awareness.

In choosing not to react the way we were conditioned to.

Instead of sitting through boredom, I stood up and danced.

Instead of pulling a long face, I paused and breathed deeply.

When we show up with presence and curiosity, the question becomes:

How can this moment be different? How can I actually enjoy it?

Once we've done our part with grace, we surrender.

We let the universe take over - and rest peacefully until the next assignment.

If this sounds too good to be true, you're welcome to experience it yourself.

✨ I offer 20 minutes of 1:1 support every Friday at 11 AM AEDT (US$33). A space to pause, reset, and see frustrating moments completely differently.

What daily frustration could you transform simply by shifting how you show up to it?

#awareness
#choices

👣 Walking alone is how we remember the way home

Clench your fist right now. Feel that heat building?

That’s exactly how most people live their entire lives - uptight and gripping for control.

When you hold your fist tightly, you feel heat building up in your hand.

When your palm is open and facing upward, you feel cold air landing on it.

This is more than a physical sensation. It mirrors how we move through life.

Most tension isn't created by what we face, but by how tightly we hold on.

We want too much, try too hard, speak too fast, and never pause to calm our nerves.

We follow the masses and hope to have what they have.

Unknowingly, we bear the same tensions, worries, and the belief that effort must always feel heavy. 

So we compete. We protect. We clench.

Believing there's never enough to go around.

But walking a different path begins with a quieter choice:

To loosen the grip.

To step back from the noise.

To trust that life doesn't require constant force.

An open palm doesn't chase. It allows.

When you soften your hand, your body follows.

Your breath deepens.

Your shoulders release.

Your awareness returns.

There's no magic here - only clarity.

Lightness comes from choosing openness over control.

When you breathe from a grounded, peaceful place, life softens around you.

This is what it means to walk a different path.

Not louder. Not better. Just more aware.

If you feel called to explore this way of living, gently, consciously, without fixing yourself -  I offer 20 minutes of 1:1 space every Friday at 11 AM AEDT.

A pause. A reflection. A reset.

Sometimes, walking alone is how we remember the way home.

What are you still clenching onto that's ready to be released?

Try this practice throughout your day: 

Notice when your fists clench, your jaw tightens, and your shoulders rise. Then, simply soften.

No magic - just how the body responds when the nervous system feels safe. 🌿

#coaching

Image Credit: Pexels by Anastasiya Badun

🤔 I once thought someone was strange for always leaving early. 

Walking alone may make you look odd - but undeniably cool.

She always chose to skip post-yoga catch-ups.

When I finally asked why, she simply said: "I don't enjoy gossip."

Wise people don't rush to belong.

They choose alignment over approval.

They join when it feels right and leave when it doesn't, without explaining, defending, or apologizing.

When belonging feels hard, it's often because we're trying too hard or forgetting we already belong to ourselves first.

Choosing solitude isn't avoidance. It's discernment.

Our energy is valuable, and not everyone will understand its worth.

Sometimes, walking in the opposite direction - despite disapproval - is exactly how we find our way home to ourselves.

That's a 1% Creative Thinker's attitude.

The courage to stand alone when everyone else is following.

The wisdom to protect your peace when others are comfortable with chaos.

The strength to trust your inner compass when the crowd is pointing elsewhere.

No explanations.

Your energy knows where it belongs - it's guided.

What would change if you stopped trying to belong everywhere and started honouring where you actually do?

Sometimes the most powerful statement you can make is quietly walking away from what no longer serves you - with grace, clarity, and no need for permission. 🌟

#clarity
#solitude

💔 I upset someone by asking: "Did you have a Good Christmas?"

She's charming and talented; she acts, dances, and sings beautifully.

Yet every Christmas feels unbearably heavy for her. 

We're uncovering a deeper truth - one we cannot rush or force.

Many people stepped into the new year still not feeling ready.

Some anxious. Some numb. Some quietly hide behind smiles.

Yesterday, I asked ChatGPT how people unintentionally block their own happiness. 

It revealed ten subtle yet common patterns we unconsciously use to distance ourselves from joy.

As I read them, a cold shiver travelled down my spine.

Here's one gentle truth I believe we all need to lean on, especially when the inner critic grows loud:

Our emotions shape the experiences we attract next.

When we stay in self-pity, our minds create more of it. We can't deny this painful pattern.

But when we begin noticing blessings, even the tiniest ones, we start seeing more of them.

So this week, instead of entertaining those old familiar patterns, notice the blessings that have already arrived:

💙 Love the sky - its tone, its movement, its changing colors

💙 Thank your breath - whether deep or shallow, just let it be

💙 Appreciate your health and the incredible ways your body supports you

You are alive - and that alone is a profound gift.

(Fear will never remind you of that.)

When we choose better thoughts, even one hopeful thought at a time, we lighten our path forward.

My happy thought moving forward is this:

I am unstoppable in remembering the gifts I bring to the world.

Do you remember yours?

If you'd like a safe, supportive space to explore your story, connect with kind souls, and nurture your creativity, I'd love to welcome you to the 1% Creative Thinkers ClubHouse. https://lnkd.in/gycbxUtZ

You don't have to wait for happiness. 

You can actively build it.

✨ Here's to creating a brighter, more intentional 2026, by conscious choice.

The shift from suffering to joy is simply a matter of redirecting our attention to what's already here. 

#gratitude

🧸Solitude is saying "I Matter", no announcement, no witnesses, just facts

Solitude is a tender decision.

A sacred gift wrapped in a "Do not disturb" setting.

Not loneliness. Not withdrawal.

More like... slipping out of the room to hang out with your favourite person, yourself.

It has nothing to do with the outside world (it still turns).

What matters is coming back to yourself before you forget again - life is loud, and it sure knows how to influence you.

Solitude is where:

The nervous system finally unclenches.

The inner commentator drops the mic.

Wanting more clocks off, and listening finally shows up on time.

It's a conscious choice to treat yourself with tenderness.

To move at your own chosen rhythm - without urgency, productivity, or deadlines.

A friendly reminder:

You don't need permission to rest, reflect, or realign.

No approval stamp required.

No guilt surcharge attached.

Solitude isn't absence.

It's presence, with better boundaries and fewer unwanted opinions.

A sacred gift you give yourself, again and again.

Because it works.

Weekend forecast:

Quiet. 
Clarity. 
Inner sunshine. 

High chance of doing absolutely nothing and calling it wisdom.

When was the last time you chose solitude without feeling guilty about it?

The world won't fall apart if you take time to be with yourself. But you might fall apart if you never do. 

Choose your sacred space wisely this weekend. 🧸

#solitude

🍃 No two leaves are ever the same , so why do we demand everyone think exactly like us?

No two leaves share identical shape, color, or intricate detail.

If nature embraces uniqueness so effortlessly, why do we demand that others accept our opinions without disagreement?

We are beautifully different , each of us moves through life with our own history, perspective, and understanding.

Even twins may look identical, but they will never relate to the world in exactly the same way.

Every soul is crafted to bloom in its own perfect timing - never meant to be confined or forced.

Someone once asked me: Why do people argue, even when they love one another?

Parents and children, lovers, close friends, it happens everywhere.

Often, it's because we believe we know better. We assume our words and actions are "for their own good."

We expect the less experienced person to accept our intentions without questioning, because we meant well.

Parents expect obedience.

Lovers think, if you love me, you should understand me.

Friends insist, I see what you can't - trust me.

I've lived through these exhausting cycles many times. Eventually, I learned a gentler way.

I simply say: “Thank you - I hear you."

Then I step away and give myself time to reflect.

No one has to be right or wrong. Their care is genuine - but that doesn't mean we must obey, abandon our intuition, or stop learning through our own choices.

If things work out, wonderful.

If they don't, it becomes a lesson - and life goes on. The sun rises again, and we still have another day to try our best.

It's not worth arguing endlessly with people who believe they're always right.

We can still appreciate their intentions, because caring - even imperfectly - is the best they knew how to give.

So we respond with humility and kindness: “Thank you. Stand beside me, and let me learn and grow in my own time."


Sometimes the most loving thing we can say is simply, "I hear you - and I trust myself too." 🌿

Maybe you already know what truly matters to you - you just need a little support as you step forward and own it.

I’m here if you’d like someone to walk beside you. Every Friday at 11 AM AEDT, I offer a 20-minute support session (USD $33) - a calm space to clear your mind, reconnect, and trust yourself again.

#coaching

Image credit: Olga Deeva, Unsplash

You Choose How Far You’re Ready to Travel 👣

Sometimes growth doesn’t arrive slowly - it happens in a quiet instant. It begins the moment you choose to stop clinging to the past, no longer wishin

Open article: You Choose How Far You’re Ready to Travel by Eleen (Yik Lie) Yaw - NLP Happiness Coach • 2 min read

You Choose How Far You’re Ready to Travel

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The Battle

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