Expanding My Horizons

Recently, I had the opportunity to learn Neolifting with Pro-Age Aesthetics Academy in Sydney. A holistic approach to pro-aging, the Neolifting procedure is a natural facelift that eliminates the need for expensive treatments or the introduction of harmful toxins into our bodies.

I'll dive deeper into the Neolifting procedure in my next post, but for now, I want to share my takeaways from the week and how I managed a beautiful balance between work and life.

Make and Prioritise Time for Yourself to Grow

I’m so grateful for all the elements that had to come together to make this trip a reality. I’m fortunate to be able to take time away from work when needed, and I have a very supportive partner who cheers me on at every opportunity, making me believe anything is possible.

Being able to take this trip guilt-free and without apology enhanced the entire experience, allowing me to feel truly free.

Having a supportive community around me gave me the encouragement to try something new and step out of my comfort zone.

NOTE TO SELF: MAKE TIME TO GROW

Willingness to Step Into Uncomfortable Situations

No matter how many group education sessions, retreats, or self-development courses I attend, when the moment inevitably comes for introductions and all eyes land on me, anticipating an interesting story, my heart starts to race. My throat gets dry, and as soon as I open my mouth to speak, the tears come. My voice shakes, and I become embarrassed and apologetic that I can’t deliver my super interesting story the way I want to.

It’s incredibly frustrating because I love telling stories—I actually enjoy talking about myself! But my physiology fails me. Something in my thought process perceives this situation as just as dangerous as if a saber-tooth tiger were chasing me down. I’m not sure if it’s a fear of being judged or of being seen (even though I know, logically, no one is truly paying attention—they're more interested in their own stories).

Despite this, I’m proud of myself for doing it anyway. Through the tears and the trembling voice, I pushed through, knowing that this discomfort won’t stop me from having new experiences.

NOTE TO SELF: MOVE THROUGH THE DISCOMFORT

Neolifting Is More Than a Facial Massage

Neolifting is not just a facial massage that enhances your natural beauty with a lift and glow—it’s about bringing awareness to our entire being, inside and out. It’s about tuning into our nervous system, improving our breath quality, nourishing our bodies, moving with intention, and cultivating positive thoughts.

As we enter a phase of life where our bodies begin to change due to hormone fluctuations—less estrogen, more cortisol—we experience a loss of collagen, muscle, and fat deposits, particularly in our facial structure. This can result in a less plump and vibrant face, making us feel unrecognizable to ourselves. The societal pressure to glorify youth, selling products and procedures that introduce toxins into our systems or require expensive and potentially dangerous surgeries, leads us away from embracing our natural beauty. It’s time to redefine what beauty looks like for us as we age.

There’s no doubt that when you feel content and beautiful on the inside, it radiates outward. By stepping back and evaluating our lifestyle, making healthy changes, and incorporating techniques such as encouraging blood flow, manual lymph drainage, muscle tension release, and mindful breathwork, we can become the best version of ourselves—vibrant, energized, and confident.

My intention is to help women feel seen, confident, and beautiful, knowing that everything they need is already within them: wisdom, beauty, and self-assurance.

NOTE TO SELF: TRUE BEAUTY COMES FROM WITHIN

Why Not Me?

What initially attracted me to this course was not only the chance to learn a holistic alternative to beauty treatments but also the opportunity to be surrounded by women who have walked this path before me. Learning from their wisdom and experience was invaluable. Uma and Tatiana, our instructors, delivered exactly that—two incredibly successful women who shared their insights on stepping into your power, knowing your worth, and defining success on your own terms.

Through their teachings, it dawned on me: this could be me, too. I deserve success, however I choose to define it. For so long, I’ve admired women who go after what they want. But when will I start believing that I have enough experience, that I have a story to share, that I can make a difference? So why not me?

NOTE TO SELF: I AM WORTHY

The Power of Community

Community is essential in all aspects of life. During this course, I was incredibly grateful to be in a room with 23 other professionals who shared their wisdom, struggles, and victories. It was inspiring and motivating to be surrounded by such incredible individuals, with no competition or feelings of lack—just a common goal to make a difference in the lives of many women. May we continue to uplift one another.

I was also lucky to have two very special friends join me after my course. Friends of over 25 years who know me so well—they were the soul comfort I needed. Supporting and encouraging my journey, dutifully recording content, and, of course, filling my heart with joy over a few sneaky cocktails. Creating core memories with some of my favorite people—how lucky am I?

NOTE TO SELF: YOUR TRIBE IS YOUR VIBE