EnterpriseZone.cc Connecting Global Leaders
Sherrie Laryse has turned a personal sadness into a positive, and made a career out of it.
What’s your story?
I teach Emotional Intelligence. I learned these skills out of interest, but applied them out of necessity.
My seven-year journey in trying to conceive a baby was an emotional rollercoaster. I drew on everything: meditation, journalling, and emotional intelligence techniques. In applying these tools, I moved through this challenge to a place of peace. Now, I feel a sense of gratitude for my path and all I learned from it, and where it has taken me as a result. I found that we are never ‘off path’ in life. It’s actually why I titled my book ‘On Path’.
What excites you most about your industry?
It’s brand new! Telling people that I teach Emotional Intelligence generally garners a response of ‘…ah….exactly what is that?” Some assume it’s about understanding other people’s emotions. It’s not. We cannot expect to understand others’ emotions if we don’t understand our own. But, if we can understand our own emotional buttons, the origins of our reactions, and importantly, how to disarm our buttons and work through our emotions so they do not weigh us down, only then can we expect to understand others and their emotional reactions.
What drives you in your career to push beyond what other people consider normal?
My discontent to sit with an uneasy feeling in my gut. Once you know how to process emotions, you know a new sense of freedom in the body — without the gut twisting, without neck pain, without the jaw clenching. It’s hard to go back to that after you’ve accessed life without it!
I think for a lot of people, we find ways of distracting ourselves to avoid having to respond to these symptoms. Overworking, living on caffeine or other stimulants, excessive exercise, excessive anything… these can all be used as ways of distracting ourselves and normalising the tension within.
What have been the most useful skills you have learnt and applied in your journey?
1. Journalling. Unpack your bag of feelings into words. Feelings just are what they are. Thoughts, however, are more malleable. Putting your feelings into words allows you to change your thinking. Change your thinking and your emotions will change in response.
2. Meditation. There are many forms of meditation. Try them all until you find one that you like. It’s like flushing the system and seeing everything with a bit more clarity.
3. Broaden your perspective to uncover the positive to perceived negatives. Everything has pros and cons. The quicker we realise this, the more balanced we will feel.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
“You have to go in to get out.”
Think of this in the context of what lurks within your psyche. Meditation is a great tool in response to this advice.
Who inspires you?
People — in general. I once saw a car crash into the back of the car in front. Both drivers got out of their cars and one of them immediately outstretched his arm to shake the other’s hand. I was really moved by this simple act of friendliness between strangers in a situation that would create a lot of aggravation for many people.
What have you learnt recently that blew you away?
I’m nearly finished my degree in neuroscience. The human brain is mind-blowing (pardon the pun). The intricate and specific cascade of reactions within my body just for me to type this sentence is beyond what humans could ever design ourselves. We are truly wild!
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
Absolutely nothing! Coming back to why I titled my book ‘On Path’, I recognise how every single experience we have in life prepares us for what is ahead. To do something differently would mean that I would have to give up where I am in life, and I’m not willing to do that!
How do you unwind?
Meditation and yoga are my immediate go-to’s. When I have a longer period and need a bigger unwind, I love a road trip with my husband.
What is a major mindset change, belief shift or ‘ah ha’ moment that you’ve experienced in relation to your career?
That I can forge a career outside of the box. My early career was shaped by feeling financially secure as an employee in a corporate job. My major ‘aha’ was that I can step right outside of that box and step into a space that people are looking into for heart-based support.
Everyone in business should read this book:
‘Why We Sleep’, by Matthew Walker, so people can appreciate the value of sleep, rather than thinking of it as wasted, unproductive time.
Shameless plug for your business or career:
If you have an emotional burden, either from the past or present, you don’t need to carry this weight. The effects of emotional burdens show up in all facets of our life. You can be free of the burden. Get in touch if you’d like to relieve yourself of it.
Warning: Your life will ever be the same again 😉
If you’d like a little sneak preview before we work together, my book ‘On Path’ is available on Amazon around the world (or direct links via my website)
How can people connect with you?
Social Media Links?
https://www.instagram.com/sherrie.laryse/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherrie-laryse-822740122/
This interview is part of the CallumConnects series.
