Megan’s Story

From burnout and self-blame to clarity, self-trust, and choosing her own path

When Megan and I first started working together, she knew something wasn’t right – but she couldn’t quite name it.

She was ill, stressed, and exhausted. On paper, her life and career looked solid. She was in a senior communications role in a well-known and respected charity, with years of experience behind her. But inside, she felt lost and disconnected from herself.

Like many of the women I work with, Megan assumed the problem was her.

That she wasn’t fitting into the right shapes. That there must be a formula for life and work that everyone else had figured out – and she’d somehow missed.

What was really going on

It didn’t take long for a different picture to emerge.

Megan wasn’t failing. She was carrying far too much.
At work, she had high responsibility with very little control, influence, or protection. Her confidence had been slowly worn down by organisational dysfunction, blurred roles, and being undermined in subtle but cumulative ways.

At home and with family, she had taken on caretaker roles, putting herself last.

Over time, she’d lost touch with her own instincts. Decisions were being made from fear, guilt, and a sense of obligation, rather than from what actually felt right for her.

The work we did together

This wasn’t about rushing Megan into decisions or pushing her towards a particular outcome.

We slowed everything down.

We spent time unlearning the belief that she was responsible for everyone and everything. We worked on rebuilding trust in her body, her feelings, and her inner voice. We separated burnout from misalignment, and created space for discernment rather than panic.

Alongside deep reflection, I brought in practical frameworks, reading, journalling prompts, and structured exercises – always adapted to how Megan learns and processes. The work was challenging at times, but it was held with care.

No pressure to stay. No pressure to leave. Just space to get clear.

The shift

At one point, Megan had an experience she hadn’t had in years.

She felt a gut instinct.

Not loud. Not dramatic. Just calm, clear, and undeniable. Her voice – back. From there, things began to change.

She started setting boundaries without over-explaining.
She stopped second-guessing herself.
She made practical changes to her home environment that supported her wellbeing.
She allowed herself to rest – properly – without guilt.

Perhaps most importantly, she stopped organising her life around fear.

What changed

By the end of our work together, Megan had:

• Reconnected with her sense of self and agency
• Learned to trust her instincts and decisions again
• Stepped away from a role that was costing her health and confidence
• Chosen rest intentionally, without self-judgement
• Been accepted onto a Masters in Creative Writing
• Returned to writing, producing short stories and submitting work for publication and residencies
• Begun making career decisions from alignment, not obligation
  

The shift wasn’t just professional. It rippled out into her relationships, her sense of safety, and how she moved through the world.

She described feeling peaceful, grounded, and more herself than she had in a very long time.

Why this matters

Megan’s story isn’t about blowing everything up or chasing a shiny new life.

It’s about something quieter – and often braver.
Listening to yourself.
Letting go of self-blame.
Making decisions that are ethical, sustainable, and kind.
Choosing your own path, even when it doesn’t look like everyone else’s.

This is the kind of transformation The Shift is designed to support.

Not hustle. Not reinvention for show. But deep, lasting change rooted in clarity, self-trust, and courage.

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If you recognise yourself in where Megan started – capable, values-driven, exhausted, and questioning – this work is for you.

You’re not broken. You’re just ready to come back to yourself.