We were lucky to catch up with Cindy Ho recently and have shared our conversation below.
Cindy , we are so happy that our community is going to have a chance to learn more about you, your story and hopefully even take in some of the lessons you’ve learned along the way. Let’s start with self-care – what do you do for self-care and has it had any impact on your effectiveness?
Embracing self-care is essential for navigating life with optimal energy. Being neurodivergent, my brain naturally seeks novelty, I ensure my self-care practices resonate with my intrinsic needs while keeping it simple, fun, and sustainable.
I approach self-care through these four key pillars — each crucial to holistic wellbeing:
> Physical: Mindful eating, sufficient sleep, and joyful movement
> Emotional: Creating space to feel, express, and explore emotions through journaling and regular emotional check-ins
> Mental: Adopting a growth mindset and cultivating resilience through mindfulness practices and meditation.
> Spiritual: Activities like prayer and spending time in nature to create connections with a larger existence, seeking perspective and meaning.
The impact of self-care on my effectiveness transcends professional productivity, rippling into all aspects of my life and interactions with others. It’s the intentional breaks, mindful moments, and acknowledgment of my emotional and mental states that enhance my creativity, focus, and resilience in managing stress and challenges. It’s not just about being more productive but also navigating life with stability, clarity, and inner peace, allowing me to be more present in each moment and activity.
A principle that beautifully encapsulates my philosophy is: “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” Viewing self-care as foundational, not selflish or merely a trade-off, amplifies not only one’s ability to support oneself but also others around them.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a Certified Life Coach for Women and Integrative Change Worker, but at its core, my work is about unlocking possibilities and potentials, guiding transformations.
Growing up in an Asian household, the expectations were clear: follow the prescribed path, adhere to the norms, and uphold the family’s desires. I found myself in a career in accounting, ticking all the societal “success” boxes. But there was an unfulfilled yearning that eventually led me to step away from the familiar and embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery.
Through a path of exploration, where I embraced my inner rebel and let go of the ‘good girl’ image, I discovered my calling in nurturing seeds of self-awareness into blooms of self-expression and empowerment through coaching. My work integrates various approaches, working with both the conscious and unconscious mind to help clients overcome barriers and build sustainable self-care habits. I guide women in breaking down the barriers shaped by societal norms, familial expectations, and personal fears, empowering them to explore and honour their genuine desires, emotions, and aspirations.
Today, my heart rejoices in witnessing the transformative shifts in the women I work with – helping them break free from their inner critics, cultivate unshakable self-love & trust, and experience a profound internal change that permeates every aspect of their wellbeing. This work is more than a profession; it’s a vocation, born from my struggles, experiences, and the messy journey towards authenticity.
In every coaching session, workshop, and interaction through community event such as Wellbeing Café, I aim to provide a space where everyone feels seen, heard, and understood. Because I believe every individual has an inner rebel waiting to unleashed, an authentic self waiting to be embraced, and dreams waiting to be realised. And I am here, wholeheartedly, to guide that journey.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1) Embracing a Growth Mindset: Cultivating a Willingness to Evolve
Adopting a growth mindset laid the foundation for viewing challenges as opportunities for development rather than as obstacles. This perspective enabled me to remain adaptable and curious, valuing progress over perfection and seeing potential even in setbacks.
Advice: Commit to relentless learning and curiosity. Engage in self-education, seek mentorship and embrace the power of asking questions. Acknowledge your mistakes, learn from them, and see them as vital steps towards progression, not as reflections of your capabilities.
2) Navigating Visibility: Showcasing Your Work and Passion
Visibility meant more than just putting my work out there; it was also about vulnerably and courageously presenting my values, beliefs, and self to the world while navigating inherent fears of judgment and rejection. It was an intricate dance with vulnerability and courage.
Advice: Respect your emotional and nervous responses to visibility. Adopt practices like mindfulness or coaching to manage emotions and take consistent small steps to gradually extend your comfort zone, while compassionately holding space for your vulnerabilities and fears that arise.
3) Building Resilience: Balancing Perseverance with Wellbeing
Resilience was not just about weathering storms but understanding when to pivot, when to rest, and when to persevere. It involved understanding my boundaries and aligning them with the needs of the business, ensuring sustainability in both the venture and my personal wellbeing.
Advice: Remember that resilience involves both strength and flexibility. Develop emotional intelligence and self-awareness to discern when to pivot or take a pause for your mental and emotional health. Establish a support network that can provide both professional guidance and personal comfort during turbulent times.
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
Over the past 12 months, my biggest growth has involved deepening my relationship with myself, particularly by embracing my introverted nature and cultivating self-trust. I’ve come to understand that it’s okay to need time to recharge, crave my own space, and prefer one-on-one conversations over large groups. It’s not about being shy or unsociable, but rather understanding my energy and what it needs. Being an introvert doesn’t make me any less — in fact, it gives me a unique perspective, a deep well of thought and introspection that I now recognise as a strength.
A big part of this journey involved doing the unshaming work, where I learned to fully feel and express my emotions without judgement or resistance, acknowledging the immense power and wisdom within vulnerability. This allowed me to consciously identify, examine and dismantle limiting beliefs that held me back, replacing them with empowering values and actions that redefined my internal narrative and self-concept.
I stopped placing others on a pedestal, realising that my journey and efforts are just as valuable. Trusting my intuition became less of an abstract concept and more of a practiced reality, leading me to develop self-validation skillset and framework. I learned to have my own back in moments of challenge and learning, affirming that my worth was not based on external validation or comparison. As a result, I learned to let go of people-pleasing tendencies, express myself authentically, and set healthy boundaries.
This journey has not only been a heartfelt homecoming to my own being but also an open invitation to others: to welcome every part of themselves, finding peace, acceptance, and liberation in being unapologetically themselves. For anyone on a similar path, my message for you today is to be kind to yourself, trust in your own progress, and remember to celebrate your unique journey. Take good care of yourself because you matter and you’re worthy of the love you give to others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://pranaforvitality.com/cindyho
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cindyhxy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cindyhxy
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindyhxy/
- Other: Wellbeing Café – a community event: https://pranaforvitality.com/wellbeing-cafe
Image Credits
Shrijesh Khadka
