Christine Suvanto is a Master Certified Coach and founder of Positive Solutions

Business & Life Oy Ab, a MiB Trusted Partner. This blog is based on Christine’s webinar for Mothers in Business on 6 March 2024.

Leading our own lives as we want to, is often a concept postponed to later in life, we are always waiting for smoother times, for something to begin, something to end, for the perfect time and conditions.

Leading our own life is also called self-leadership. We know self-leadership is essential, yet we often find excuses for putting it aside, for letting external expectations, others’ requirements, or a feeling of them lead our lives instead. External and internal expectations shape our perceptions. In our daily lives, others’ plans challenge self-leadership. A practical question to ask yourself is, are you the leader of your calendar? Stress, pressure, and the feeling of emergency do not leave much room for a balanced self-leadership.

Your time, is now. It’s always here and now. In this very moment, not in a distant tomorrow. There have been, are, and will always be phases in life that feel demanding. So instead of postponing your own time, prioritize it now. Time is fair and equal for all, manage it well.

How?

The key is to listen to your needs, a skill that needs practice! You may, for example, begin by answering these questions:

 What are your life values?

 What is important to you?

 What do you dream of?

 What goals do you have? In business & life?

 What are your strengths?

 What does career mean to you?

By answering these questions, you deepen your understanding of yourself, your life, and the best balance in your life. You choose what is right for you, nobody else can know that. Balance is also an interesting concept, as it means different things in different situations. What does it mean to you today? Reflect on what weighs too much in your balance – so what you need to let go of completely or a little – and what would you put on the other end of the scale to create your balance – so what do you want to have more of.

Another important part of self-leadership is to be aware of your life values. Life values are your cornerstones, they are fundamental principles for how you want to live your life, your choices, and your priorities. Life values steer our interactions with others, and they have a big impact on our actions. Your inner wisdom will lead you to your inner potential, and strengths – for you to use in your life.

Why is it worth it to work on your self-leadership?

This investment will give you good dividends in your physical and mental wellbeing. Your professionalism and creativity are enhanced. You are a stronger leader at your workplace. You become a real role model both in your career and workplace as well as in your family, for your children.

And here comes the magic…

We all know how important it is to eat, sleep, and move – but have you thought about the importance of LAUGHING! The benefits are significant, it:

Lowers blood pressure
Relieves pain
Boosts the immune system
Improves social interactions
Promotes resilience

Both physical and mental benefits are great, and as a big plus, laughter is free. Laugh a lot and often!

Final words to remember

You are always the best parent for your child. Self-leadership and positive selfishness are needed for success. Ask for help when needed, don’t be alone with your thoughts and challenges. Please take care of yourself, so that you can be as solid as a rock, and reach your dreams. Your time is now!

This blog post is based on Christine Suvanto’s open online webinar organized by Mothers in Business on March 6, 2024. This blog was written by Anne Liljestrand, the facilitator of MiB HUB: Resilience for parents - balancing stress and resources.

watch the online lecture here