Disrupting Wellbeing with Petra Velzeboer

How to turn your Trauma into Triumph

Do you own your story, or does it own you?
 
The moment you take ownership of it is the moment you take power over it. 
 
My incredible guest in this episode, Chana Buisson, experienced trauma in her childhood. Physical and mental abuse led to depression and suicidal thoughts later in life.
 
Chana shares with so much honesty what she went through, and beauty the lessons she has since learned. She discusses how she overcame her trauma to find empowerment. She also talks about the challenges of dealing with depression and finding the motivation to keep moving forward.
 
What Chana says resonated so much with me and my story. And it also shows that real self-care involves giving ourselves tough love to get us out of situations to get up and move forward.
 
“It’s worth being uncomfortable with your story so you own it and it doesn’t own you” – Chana
 
You'll hear about:
 
01:15 - An introduction to Chana
06:40 - The role Chana had in her family
10:50 - Was nursing a follow on from her childhood role
13:27 - Femininity and owning your power
19:09 - Things Chana still works on because of her past
23:40 - Perpetuating the idea of staying stuck
28:24 - Did anyone say anything useful to move from the dark?
34:51 - The self-care we really need
38:22 - What Gen Z need?
42:11 - The radical change we need in wellbeing
 
Chana’s resources:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chana-buisson-1922002b2/
Website - https://www.fullofnectar.com/
 
Petra’s resources:
Petra’s website - https://www.petravelzeboer.com/ 
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/petra-velzeboer/ 
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/petra.velzeboer/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@petravelzeboer397 
Buy Petra’s book: Begin With You: Invest in Your Mental Well-being and Satisfaction at Work - https://shorturl.at/nyDOX

Straight Talk: How to Navigate a Troubled World

Does the world around you impact your mental health?
 
The bad news we see daily, the world in trouble. I would argue that we have a responsibility to protect ourselves from it. And live in a way that doesn’t overload our mental health.
 
By all means be active on the issues important to you but recognise that you have the control over the information you consume.
 
In this episode I discuss how to navigate the troubles we see in the world. I want to encourage you to question your relationship with the news and prioritise where you place your attention and energy. We should be focusing on causes that align with our zone of genius, all while protecting our brain and nervous system. 
 
Turning down the volume on negative influences and turning it up on things that bring us energy will enable us to create real impact in the world.
 
“What is our responsibility when it comes to navigating the amount of information that could be bad for our mental health?” - Petra
 
You'll hear about:
 
01:04 - How we navigate a troubled world
02:33 - Being prepared for the next bad thing
03:29 - Navigating all of the information out there
05:29 - The defences I often hear on this topic
06:58 - What causes are you connected to?
09:20 - Having intention on connecting to the world
11:43 - I don't watch the news at all
13:16 - Question what is in your control
 
Petra’s resources:
Petra’s website - https://www.petravelzeboer.com/ 
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/petra-velzeboer/ 
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/petra.velzeboer/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@petravelzeboer397 
Buy Petra’s book: Begin With You: Invest in Your Mental Well-being and Satisfaction at Work - https://shorturl.at/nyDOX 

How to keep that performance high!

True high performance in the workplace is not common.
 
But it is possible. So, what does it take to get there and stay there?
 
In this episode I am joined by Chinazom and Ije, a couple who are business and leadership coaches. They discuss the challenges and rewards of working together as a couple and as business partners.
 
They also explore the concept of mental fitness and its importance for performance and wellbeing. We cover the importance of psychological safety in teams and the role of leaders in creating a culture of mental fitness. Allowing employees to flourish and experience joy.
 
We also share our experiences of building trust and psychological safety within our teams, including the importance of leaders modelling vulnerability and creating a safe space for employees to share their challenges to build real trust.
 
“If there isn’t a sense of trust people will respond falsely” – Iljeoma
 
You'll hear about:
 
01:07 - An intro to Chinazom & Ijeoma
03:03 - Was learning about coaching transformative?
07:18 - The unsaid things in business
14:58 - The art of reflection and communication
19:50 - Chinazom's version of mental fitness
29:34 - Bringing wellbeing into the light
33:49 - How Petra talks about mental health in her organisation
41:39 - The problems in the modern workplace
46:46 - Recognising your partners mental health needs
51:48 - The most radical change we need in wellbeing
 
Chinazom & Ijeoma’s resources:
Website - https://www.dreamcatchersperformance.com/
Chinazom - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chinazomsunnynwabueze/
Ijeoma - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ijeoma-jemie-nwabueze/
 
Petra’s resources:Petra’s website - https://www.petravelzeboer.com/ 

How to Choose Greatness over just Good enough

Too often we make decisions without thinking if they will have a positive impact on our lives.
 
We need to be able to align our decisions with our truth. That means not just choosing what we think is a good decision but what we think is a great decision.
 
But how do we know what a great decision is?
 
In this episode, I discuss the concept of good versus great and how it relates to finding our purpose and living in alignment with our truth. That truth can change as we move through different phases of our lives. So, we need to embrace the idea of the 'dark night of the soul' and how it can be a transformative period of growth and self-discovery.
 
Ask yourself the question of what good versus great is in your life, and bravely say no to the good to pursue the great.
 
“Challenge the thinking that’s around you and think for yourself” - Petra
 
You'll hear about:
 
00:50 - Good vs great
01:35 - The different phases of life
05:25 - It takes self-awareness
08:16 - Hone in on your zone of genius
11:41 - How do we know the phase has changed?
14:38 - What should our zone of genius be about?
16:28 - Challenge the thinking that’s around you
 
Petra’s resources:Petra’s website - https://www.petravelzeboer.com/ 
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/petra-velzeboer/ 
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/petra.velzeboer/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@petravelzeboer397 
Buy Petra’s book: Begin With You: Invest in Your Mental Well-being and Satisfaction at Work - https://shorturl.at/nyDOX 

Leadership and Work/Life Harmony with Andre Young

Work life balance is a lie, it doesn’t exist.
 
We are all going from one aspect of our lives to the other, trying to keep everything afloat, but what of we reframed it as work life harmony?
 
This outlook on leadership and wellbeing is championed by my guest in this episode, Andre Young. He is the founder of You Evolving Now, author and leadership trainer helping create better work culture, and improved interactions between leaders and employees.
 
Andre shares his perspective on what work life harmony is and the importance of setting priorities and boundaries. Andre shares his own experiences with trying to maintain this harmony with 4 kids, his wife, friends and 2 businesses.
 
There is so much we are told about what our work life balance should look like, let’s get to the truth about what we are all going through.
 
“Once you know who you are, once you know who your people are, you don’t have to take things personal anymore” - Andre
 
You'll hear about:
 
00:57 - What's exciting Andre right now?
02:32 - The biggest thing Andre is currently learning
06:55 - Andre's role as a kid
13:18 - It starts with self-awareness
15:19 - Work life harmony according to Andre
29:00 - Everyone needs to know the vision
32:32 - The types of wins we celebrate
38:50 - Does work life balance have to look a certain way?
44:55 - The skill of intentional communication
52:50 - The most radical change Andre wants to see
 
Andre’s resources:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/youevolvingnow/
Website - https://youevolvingnow.com/author/andre-young/
 
Petra’s resources:Petra’s website - https://www.petravelzeboer.com/ 

Straight up advice: Creating your circle of support.

Do you have voices that influence your decisions?
 
Whether they are inside your head or out there in the real world, they exist for all of us.
 
The hard bit is finding the right people to hear you out and give you the insights you need to make your next move.
 
In this episode I discuss the importance of creating a circle of support in what can be a world of isolation. And that support may need to evolve over time. I explore the concept of the boardroom in our heads, where different voices influence our decisions, we need to listen to those just as much as the voices around us from the outside world.
 
Don’t be afraid to ask for what you need, it will help you get the right kind of support at the right time. 
 
“The boardroom that got you to where needed to go is not the same as the one you need for the next phase of life” - Petra
 
You'll hear about:
 
00:50 - Creating your circle of support
04:07 - Our personal board room
05:52 - Having blind faith in yourself
07:34 - Sitting with the darkness
10:03 - Authenticity over connection
17:24 - Identifying the voices in your head
20:25 - The in real life aspect
25:56 - Final thoughts
 
Petra’s resources:
Petra’s website - https://www.petravelzeboer.com/ 
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/petra-velzeboer/ 
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/petra.velzeboer/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@petravelzeboer397 
Buy Petra’s book: Begin With You: Invest in Your Mental Well-being and Satisfaction at Work - https://shorturl.at/nyDOX 

Nutritional & Gut Health Expert Dana Chapman on why your food is making you sad!

Is your gut health impacting your mental health?
 
The connection between how our gut is feeling and how our brain feels is becoming more and more understood.
 
That’s why in this episode I invited Dana Chapman, a health and wellness expert, to talk us about how to look after ourselves by looking after our gut. She is trained in Nutrition Science, incorporating elements of how genetics, stressors, environment, food, movement and sleep all impact how we feel think and perform. 
 
We discuss the connection between gut health and mental health, and where to start to look after ourselves if we are feeling stressed. We also touch on the impact of technology on our ability to listen to our bodies and the responsibility of organizations in promoting employee well-being.
 
“If the gut is not happy, you are not going to be happy” - Dana
 
You'll hear about:
 
03:02 - The Gut-Brain Connection
11:31 - Managing Stress for Gut Health and Mental Well-Being
16:59 – Happiness hormones
23:07 – Is tech helping us listen to our bodies more?
28:12 - Prioritizing Individual Well-Being in the Workplace
34:17 - The Impact of Technology on Body Awareness
38:05 - The Responsibility of Organizations in Promoting Employee Well-Being
 
Dana’s resources:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-chapman-85b73316/ 
DC-Nutrition - https://www.dc-nutrition.co.uk/ 
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/danachapmannutrition 
 
Petra’s resources:
Petra’s website - https://www.petravelzeboer.com/ 
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/petra-velzeboer/ 
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/petra.velzeboer/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@petravelzeboer397 
Buy Petra’s book: Begin With You: Invest in Your Mental Well-being and Satisfaction at Work - https://shorturl.at/nyDOX 

Straight up advice: How to make self-help actually work!

Are you overwhelmed by all the self-help advice out there?
 
Feeling like every expert is telling us something slightly different to get us to the destination of being healed. But it doesn’t work like that.
 
In this episode, I discuss how to get the most out of self-help. And I challenge the idea of healing as a destination and emphasize the importance of the self in self-help. We need reflection, radical honesty, and checking our own bullshit to really be able to heal.
 
I also give tips on how to reflect on your body and needs, assessing the basics before getting fancy, and consciously consuming information.
 
“You are the expert of your experience” - Petra
 
You'll hear about:
 
01:17 - Navigating Self-Help Overwhelm and Addiction
02:59 - Being the Expert of Your Own Experience
08:09 - Reflection, Radical Honesty, and Checking Your Bullshit
11:00 - The Power of Meaningful Connections and Community Help
16:48 – Reflecting on your own path
21:28 – Checking in with other people
25:08 - Making the Most of Therapy, Coaching, and Support
 
Petra’s resources:
Petra’s website - https://www.petravelzeboer.com/ 
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/petra-velzeboer/ 
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/petra.velzeboer/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@petravelzeboer397 
Buy Petra’s book: Begin With You: Invest in Your Mental Well-being and Satisfaction at Work - https://shorturl.at/nyDOX 

Taking off your Mask will solve your Mental Health issues with Dr. Ardeshir Mehran

How long does it take to heal from trauma?
The reality is that it can take far longer than it should according to my guest in this episode Dr. Ardeshir Mehran. He believes we should be emphasizing the importance of accelerated healing and the need to address shame and grief in the healing process.
Ardeshir Mehran is a leadership excellence coach, who enables leaders to achieve their personal and operating goals, at faster and higher rates. Listen as he highlights the connection between mental health and the quality of relationships and environments, particularly in the workplace. He also discusses the prevalence of depression and anxiety in high-achieving professionals and the need for fulfilment in addition to achievement.
We explore the themes of pain, change, and trauma as well as Ardeshir’s personal journey of realizing he was in the wrong role and the toll it took on his own mental health.
"People can get traumatized in a matter of minutes, hours or days. It should not take so long to heal” - Dr. Ardeshir Mehran
You'll hear about: Chapters
02:17 - Accelerated Healing and the Journey to Wholeness08:54 - The Impact of Shame and Grief on Mental Health15:05 - Connections Between Mental Health and the Workplace23:04 - Psychological Safety25:15 - The Power of Brave Conversations in the Workplace26:39 - Listening to Emotions and Pain28:43 - Reclaiming Our True Selves and Setting Boundaries33:29 - Being Present and Confronting Unhealed Trauma37:21 - The Power of Connection: Belonging and Mental Health49:44 - The Radical Change Needed in Mental Health
 
Ardeshir’s resources:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ardeshir-mehran-ph-d-a3457/Ardeshir’s website - https://ardeshirmehran.com/
 
Petra’s resources:
Petra’s website - https://www.petravelzeboer.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/petra-velzeboer/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/petra.velzeboer/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@petravelzeboer397 Buy Petra’s book: Begin With You: Invest in Your Mental Well-being and Satisfaction at Work - https://shorturl.at/nyDOX 

Boundaries, Addiction & Shame

How can I set boundaries and stick to them?
 
This is one of the most common questions I get asked. We all try and set boundaries but so often we beat ourselves up for not sticking to them. But all it takes is a little tweak to make it work, and that’s what we’re going to cover in this episode.
 
I delve into my own struggles with boundaries and addiction, and the shame I have felt when I didn’t meet them. I also share tactics you can use to set better boundaries and break the cycles of addiction by celebrating small wins, radical honesty, and accountability.
 
So start noticing what you hide in the cabin of shame from, so you can solve it and challenge your own bullshit.
 
“Anybody who says they have perfect boundaries all of the time, it’s simply not true” - Petra
 
You'll hear about:
 
01:02 - We're all making it up as we go
02:10 - Why the context we are in matters
06:53 - My definition of addiction
09:18 - My journey with addiction
14:31 - Tactics for sticking to boundaries
16:55 - Assessing if you need a boundary
19:51 - You need to learn to be honest
 
Episode resources:
James Clear – Atomic Habits - https://shorturl.at/lqOW7 
Dr Ramani – You Are Why You Eat - https://shorturl.at/drvBS 
 
Petra’s resources:Petra’s website - https://www.petravelzeboer.com/ 
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/petra-velzeboer/ 
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/petra.velzeboer/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@petravelzeboer397 
Buy Petra’s book: Begin With You: Invest in Your Mental Well-being and Satisfaction at Work - https://shorturl.at/nyDOX