Excerpt from Breaking Free: Stop Holding Back, Start Being You by Shannon Talbot
We don’t have to wait for scary moments in our lives for us to decide to make a change to live happier and healthier lives but unfortunately in my case, it would take spending 31 days in the hospital with my eldest son, who was then only five and suffering from a perforated appendix, for me to step back and take a hard look at my life.
Watching him sleep in his hospital bed, I asked myself three questions: Am I happy? Am I healthy? Do I feel fulfilled?
My answers were "Meh, not really." And that was followed by guilt. How could I not be happy with all that I had? What more did I want? I wasn't sure but knew I had to find out. I also realized that I had been feeling this way for a long time. Upon leaving the hospital with a healthy son, I set out on a journey to answer a big heck yeah to my three questions.
My first step on that journey was to figure out what would light me up professionally, so I signed up for a three-day retreat with an executive coach. Little did I know that I would leave that retreat with a dream. A dream that would be summed up with one sentence—I am a successful entrepreneur who helps others to live happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives. It’s a line I created after finally admitting that I was allowed to change my dreams and my definition of success.
I gave myself ten years to fulfill that dream and, in the meantime, I switched industries from banking to advertising, going from a Senior Manager to a Vice President role. There, I felt more inspired, creative and strategic. I loved fostering my team to see them develop and grow. I enjoyed presenting to clients. The hours were long and the stress was constant, though, leading my youngest to ask me if he could give me a goal for the year. He asked me if I could “be less angry this year as I was angry all the time.” His goal was like a knife to my chest but that was the push I needed to truly prioritize my health, happiness and fulfillment.
I went from practically never exercising to running three 10 km races and moving my body on a regular basis. I practised ways to better manage my stress and anxiety so I wouldn’t be so angry. And I learned to be more present with my kids and husband (although that is definitely still a work in progress). And I took the coaching certifications I needed to launch my business.
I can confidently tell you that I am now a successful entrepreneur who helps others to live happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives. I have the life I envisioned years ago, where I get to walk my kids to and from school, have more autonomy in my work, and do things like public speaking, leadership coaching and writing, which truly light me up in ways better than I ever imagined. I also have the tools to overcome what used to hold me back: things like strategies for how to manage my stress and anxiety, and the habits required to live a more authentic and happier life.
I now say a big heck yes to feeling happier, healthier and fulfilled.
But it wasn't easy to get here. First, I had to set the vision for my future. I had to take responsibility and realize that it was up to me to make my dreams come true. Along the way, I had to uncover and face what held me back: the BS, fears, excuses, beliefs and bad habits. I had to muster the courage, embrace the discomfort and take action to overcome these obstacles. Really, I had to get out of my own way and break free.
Shannon Talbot is a Certified Health, Life & Transformational Coach. A former corporate leader in the financial services and advertising industries, Shannon started her own company, Shannon Talbot Coaching & Consulting, to help working professionals maximize their well-being and success and have more energy and joy across every area of their life.
Shannon has an MBA from the Schulich School of Business and has been featured on CBC Radio and in Today’s Parent, Chatelaine, LifeHack and Thrive Global. She has helped hundreds of working professionals and dozens of organizations through her coaching and speaking programs. Shannon lives in Toronto with her husband, two sons and dog. Her new book Breaking Free was published in January 2024: https://shannontalbot.com/book/