About ten years ago, I completely burned out. That’s what the doctor said. Ridiculous, I thought. I was 22! But that burnout didn’t care. I desperately needed to put my feet in the socket. In other words: recharge. Since then, I’ve had one mission: to live the life of my dreams and, along the way, collect the tools I need to keep going mentally strong. And I’m doing pretty well. I’ll tell you how when I come to speak.
It’s about all kinds of things: from putting yourself first to knowing that you’re not alone (we’re all in this together!), from meditation to travelling alone, from working differently to deleting certain apps from your phone. All incredibly practical and accessible to everyone, with nothing spiritual or vague about it. I’ll also share my experiences with alcohol and drugs, and why I decided to quit both completely.
The most important goal: becoming your own best friend. It may sound a little cheesy, but it has made my life far less stressful and much more enjoyable.
Gwen van Poorten is enthusiastic, energetic and a little cheeky. She creates an atmosphere in which everyone feels welcome, gets the audience involved and ensures that no one feels hesitant to ask questions. Gwen is versatile and comfortable engaging with a wide range of topics, including the dance industry, racing, schools, universities, politics, women’s empowerment, alcohol and drugs, travel, presenting, social media, vlogging, television, festivals, career coaching, sports and mindfulness.
