We recently connected with Tatiana St. Germain and have shared our conversation below.
Tatiana, so great to have you with us today. There are so many topics we want to ask you about, but perhaps the one we can start with is burnout. How have you overcome or avoided burnout?
By identifying my values and asking deep questions such as: is what I am dedicating my time and energy to truly worth it? The inner evaluation of this forced me to align my values and actions. When we experienced burnout, it often stems from the imbalance created by saying yes and giving more to one area of our life than others and our lack of saying no to restore and reconnecting with ourselves. When I found myself experiencing burnout, which comes out as being easily irritable, annoyed, feeling fatigued, and exhausted physically, mentally, and emotionally, I had to evaluate if what I was sacrificing, whether it was attempting to get a promotion or keeping up with others’ expectations, was worth it or not. I found myself feeling disconnected and depleted and I knew I had to make some changes. I decided on my ideal schedule, so I could be able to be a more present mother and wife. I prioritize my health so I make sure to block time in my calendar to give myself permission to go to the gym and stay as active as I can. To this day, I reflect on my priorities and ensure that I honor my values and foster a sustainable sense of fulfillment by making sure that my daily routine is filled with what matters the most. I learned that burnout is a reminder that our journey in life is unpredictable. It serves as a profound lesson that unfolds when we forge ahead without being truly attuned to what holds the utmost significance in our hearts. I keep reminding myself that what I want to experience the most in life is the most important focus: connection, health, peace, love, freedom, fulfilment. I would like to invite you to identify and determine what you value the most: harmony, peace, security, creativity, etc. Then, align your daily activities with your values: calling a friend/connection (value), going for a walk/peace(value), etc. You will experience more of what you want in life once you start living and doing things that are aligned with your values.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am a therapist and a Hypnotherapist located in Coral Springs, Florida. I have worked in the mental health field for over 10 years. I started my private practice in 2021 and it has been an adventure. This year my intention is to continue building a thriving private practice, and to be more involved within the community. I have an urge to serve and connect more with people by providing education and support through Hypnotherapy workshops and why not a podcast! There is so much to say about the benefits of Hypnotherapy that I would like to be able to share that with more people. I am also working on a planner for therapists. Saying this out loud makes it feel so real! When I took a leap of faith and decided to start my private practice, I was all over the place. I am grateful for the mentors I have that guide me and support me through it. However, I have to say that I needed to be super organized not just on tracking my business, but also tracking everything else because now I had the time to live the life I wanted. Being an entrepreneurial therapist can be easy if you have the right tools, resources, and support. I needed to have a place for not only tracking my day-to-day to-dos, to holidays, reminders of birthdays, doctors’ appointments, weekly daughter’s social events (she has more than me) but also all my business affairs finally in one place. So, I believe I will be launching this planner for Spring 2024, and I am very excited to share that today. (Now I feel the pressure)
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
First, keep gratitude as part of your daily routine. I started to practice daily gratitude at the beginning of my journey. I write down what I am grateful for and why. This practice has helped me to acknowledge the countless blessings that surround me each day. Gratitude grounds me and allows me to find solace in the simplest of moments. I believe gratitude is a way of life that transforms our perspective and reminds us of the present moment, and to embrace challenges as opportunities to growth. Second, be open to learn something new. I remind myself that I do not know it all. I seek guidance, advice and I am open to be teachable thought any process. I believe that when we are open to learn something new, we welcome opportunities and experiences for growth and healing. As scary as something new can look, embracing the unknown with an open heart and a curious mind can allow us to break free from comfort zones and can lead us to discover passions and talents we never knew existed.
Last, surround yourself with people that lights up your life. This is like a hack for happiness and joy. When you find the people that celebrates your wins and supports you thought tough times, keep them. Let them know you appreciate and love them. This also includes being vulnerable and open hearted to trust which could be a very scary and difficult thing to do. But it is required to do so with someone or some people that you choose to let in. Little by little, it feels familiar and warmth. These are the people that also challenge you to growth and to embrace the complexity of life. Take a moment and ask yourself, who brings you joy? And once you know, make sure to see them and let them know.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
I pause and take a deep breath. I have learned that when I am overwhelmed, that means that I have too much in my plate and I am trying to wear too many hats at the same time. I remind myself that I can give myself permission to pause. Sometimes that pause is 5 minutes; sometimes it is 5 hours. Rarely it is 5 days, but if my body and mind have to slow down, I will make sure I do that. Part of my daily practice is mindfulness and breathing. As we know, meditation rewires the brain and gives us the ability to tap into a space of calmness and inner balance. It does not always come easily, but the more you practice it the deeper and long-term benefits you will experience. Your breathing helps regulate your nervous system. So, the next time you are feeling overwhelmed, take a moment: pause and breath. You will come back to a place where you are much calmer and more grounded.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tatianastgermain.com
- Instagram: @tatianastgermain_counseling
Image Credits
Pictures by @emagenphoto IG account
