The motto I live by is control your own destiny or someone else will. I don't suffer from autism I suffer from Low Expectation Syndrome. The culture of overprotecting PWD must end

The moment I stopped seeking agreement from everyone else, I found peace. Living a life regulated by public opinion will leave me exhausted! I trust my decisions because, in the end, the only opinions that truly govern them are God's and my own.

You can recognized that people aren't happy without changing your position. Saying "I am sorry you are upset" is not the same as agreeing to do it differently.

For years, I believed my worth was measured by how many people I could take care of and it led me straight to emotional burnout. My life changed when I realized it was okay to say no, disappoint someone, and still choose myself.

I started to realize how much of my energy I was spending on pleasing everyone else, when I connected with my son after he died. He communicated how critical self-love and self-awareness is, and that you cannot truly love others until you fully love yourself. It made me realize that I was trying to balance my own life while feeling pulled in a million directions away from my own focus, in order to please family, extended family, friends and colleagues. It's a stressful way to live. In the last 2 years, I have found much more peace by focusing on what's important to me. I still have love and compassion for others, but try not to do so if it sacrifices my own needs.

Respecting the opinions of others allowed me the insight to embrace differences. Inclusion of those differences captures the maturity of self and allows us to move forward even in times of disagreement.

I realized I needed to make time for me or my health would force me to do it. That was the biggest turning point. From there, it was easier to realize that "No." was a full sentence in some circumstances, and that I was going to be the villain in someone else's story. As long as I did what I could, can still look myself in the eyes and my children are proud of me, No and being the villain were much easier.

Agreeing to something when you know it won't work is a disservice to everyone involved. When I stopped trying to please everyone, I not only started attracting people I enjoy working with the most, it also led to more successful results for my clients.

I learned that leadership isn't about being liked, it's about being willing to stand where your values stand, even when you're standing alone. The moment I stopped trying to earn everyone's approval and started trusting my own voice, I realized that the people meant to walk with me never required me to shrink to make them comfortable.

I'm glad I knew I could not make everyone happy. At age 20 I rejected the notion that a daughter owes her family and her nation her proximity, and left New Zealand for Tokyo on a one-way ticket, without speaking a word of Japanese.

Freedom doesn't come from convincing people you're right. It comes from realizing you don't need their vote.

One of the most freeing lessons I've learned is that you don't have to be understood by everyone to be true to yourself. When I stopped chasing approval and started leading with purpose, compassion, and integrity, I found the confidence to make a greater impact and the right people always found their way into my corner.

I can tell my truth without needing anyone to validate it and protecting my peace was about my ability to choose what and who deserves access to my thoughts, time, heart and energy.

That's the truth! Approval-seeking is the enemy of innovation. Real breakthroughs happen when you stop needing permission to share your unique perspective. (I am walking the walk on this one right now!)

The Hospitality Industry practically requires a yes to every request; preferably served with a smile. I have learned the importance of prioritizing demands. A caveat is to always ask for support, sometimes even from the person asking. This fosters buy-in, and creates a framework for negotiation to achieve success. There are times when negotiating the ask is beyond control, whether from a Leader or a family member. Think last minute Zoom presentation, or mid-week soccer game. Then I use the Pie Theory. All things will take a piece of my daily pie, but some will take a larger slice while other obligations are left with less. There just isn't enough of the delicious confection to go around. But if the pie is truly amazing, and the effort is authentic, then the result is appreciated by all. Lastly, don't forget to save a piece of that pie for yourself.