Her disabilities are invisible.
Rae is a people-pleaser, but she鈥檚 healing from a relationship that was not healthy. In the workplace, all of that meant she found herself working extraordinarily hard, and wearing the mask of someone else, unable to show up as her authentic self.
鈥淚 reached that burnout place,鈥� said Rae. She reached the place where she needed to make a change and ask for help.
Fortunately, she knew where to turn.
After connecting with WorkBC Vernon, Rae was asked if she鈥檇 like to apply to join Bridges PreEmployment Life Skills Program 鈥� a program that supports women coming from challenging circumstances to build the skills and resilience to work toward sustainable employment. Rae had participated in Bridges nearly a decade earlier, not long after making a move to give her two children a different life.
鈥淚 found I still needed more healing in my journey,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 was working on much deeper levels of healing. It brought out things about me that had been pushed down.鈥�
In this very nurturing six-week program with the facilitator, Greta, and a handful of other women on their own journeys, Rae says she had the chance to practice 鈥渞adical self-acceptance.鈥�
There were the big things: 鈥淚 realized I needed to get to the root of why I didn鈥檛 want people to see me. I perform really well for people, too well. Looking back, I thought, if I do a really good job, maybe they won鈥檛 notice (the disabilities).鈥�
Rae was then able to work on setting boundaries and understanding her worth.
鈥淚鈥檓 healing those pieces of me so I can continue to be a good employee and have a good work-life balance,鈥� she says.
There was a rediscovery of what鈥檚 important to her: authenticity, autonomy and graciousness.
There were the things that seem little but are big: 鈥淢y time management is stronger. I have a sense of how and why I need to allow time for myself outside of work. And I鈥檓 working on setting goals that are realistic.鈥�
She sees how her over-achieving tendency led to leadership roles that were drawing away too much energy: 鈥淚 know that I can lead a team, but I don鈥檛 want to do that anymore because it throws things out of balance.鈥�
Much of this progress, she said, was made possible because of the environment at Bridges 鈥� and the chance to be there alongside others.
鈥淕reta held such a beautiful space for people to heal and grow and ask tough questions. There鈥檚 no judgment and you鈥檙e not alone. We all have something to learn from one another. It鈥檚 not about the outcome 鈥� it鈥檚 about the process.鈥�
For Rae, that process right now has her exploring what鈥檚 next, and with clarity about what she needs in a work role.
鈥淚鈥檓 super optimistic,鈥� she said, adding she鈥檚 looking into micro-credentials for the fall. 鈥淚鈥檝e realized I actually need to work in that same kind of environment (as Bridges) because that makes me feel supported. It鈥檚 empowering.鈥�
Are you curious about how a program like Bridges Pre-Employment Life Skills Program at WorkBC Vernon could help you on your career journey? Fall cohorts will begin on Sept. 15 and Nov. 10.
To learn more about the Bridges program and possible registration, get in touch with WorkBC Vernon today.
