
In Week Six of Collective Ascent, one of my Rethinking Leadership programs, we dive deep into understanding our Dharma. This session is led by Chloe Ward, a dear friend and a gifted spiritual guide, energy healer, and Master Reiki Healer, among other talents in the healing arts. Many people aren’t sure what their Dharma is, so let’s start there: Dharma is your soul's purpose, the reason you’re here.
Do you ever wake up wondering, what’s this all about? Chloe often says that when we lose sight of our Dharma, life can feel like a loop of eat, sleep, repeat.
That’s how many of my clients find their way to me—feeling lost, confused, unfulfilled. I’ve been there too. I enjoyed my work, but something was missing; I wasn’t feeling that inner connection. My work was impactful, even effective, but it lacked heart. I felt drained, as if I was just pushing through, hoping that this feeling would eventually pass. Do you recognize that?
For me, the journey started with a deep dive into introspection. I worked with remarkable mentors, embraced daily practices, and searched for something just out of reach. I focused on being the best at what I did, climbed the ranks to a board position, but the restlessness remained. I trained as a psychotherapist—still no relief. Coaching brought some solace, yet the itch returned.
I expanded my skills, became a team coach, and amassed an impressive portfolio. I was successful, I was busy…but something was still missing.
Then, not too long ago, the culmination of all that soul-searching brought clarity. I realised that my Dharma revolves around three core values:
Helping others discover their purpose—guiding them to find their legacy, their own Dharma.
Belonging—helping people connect their purpose to a place where they feel fulfilled.
Inclusion—supporting people in expressing their full selves within that place of belonging.
When you find your Dharma, it’s a beautiful thing. It makes your heart sing; life becomes effortless, like slicing through warm butter. Mornings become a joy because you’re doing what you love, every single day.
And this joy? It’s contagious. People around you—colleagues, friends, family—see the spark in your eyes, feel it in your energy. It’s magnetic, drawing people towards you.
Often, people come to me because they feel stuck. They don’t know what’s causing that inner frustration or fatigue. These are highly capable people, leaders in their fields, but the joy they once felt is gone. They feel they “should be happy" because they have status, autonomy, and mastery in what they do—yet it all feels flat.
Sometimes, we take a wrong turn, or maybe life’s path shifts. Some of us, myself included, come to our Dharma through hardship. Traumatic experiences can bring clarity. For some, the understanding is immediate; for others, it’s a series of quiet nudges that grow louder over time. You may already be in a field that holds the essence of your Dharma but doesn’t yet feel like a full expression of it.
I’ve walked that road, gathering tools along the way to guide others on their journeys. Today, I am no longer tired but energised, feeling peace and balance in my purpose. If this resonates with you, know that you, too, can find your way to a life that feels aligned, purposeful, and deeply fulfilling.
Rethinking leadership means knowing your purpose and following it, connecting to yourself and others and being a full expression of who you are. Here’s to those of us redefining what it means to lead—let’s keep rethinking leadership together.

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