The Right Time to Invest in Yourself
- Lara Marek
- Jun 9
- 3 min read
(Hint: it is NOT when life gets easy)
The last few months got me thinking about a pattern I’ve seen in so many high-achievers - and some of my clients too.
It's the belief that:
“I’ll focus on me… once things calm down.”
But here is the truth:
Growth rarely waits for life to become calm.
Because - let’s be honest - calm almost never arrives the way we imagine it.
(And let's be real: you usually never get to that place where "things calm down" - especially if you are anything like the high-achievers I've seenthis pattern in.)
In fact, the most meaningful growth often happens right in the middle of chaos.
And that’s been true for me more than once - most recently, over these past 9 months.
While managing two major IT projects - both requiring C-Level approval during a turbulent leadership transition and massive budget cuts.
I also poured my evenings, weekends and any spare moment into an intense six-month training to become :
Certified Trainer | Speaker | Coach
Guided by the deeply transformational teachings of Maxim Mankevich.
Was it easy?
Not at all!
Was it worth it?
Every second!
What makes this post special to me is that - if I’m being honest - it’s a little late.
I completed the final certification event in Munich nearly two months ago.
And I fully intended to celebrate sooner. Not only the certificate but also the massive milestones I've reached as a Senior IT Project Manager.
But right after returning, I dove head-first into finalizing and delivering a powerful workshop series for a big international player based in Lausanne. Bringing together everything I know about mental well-being, the subconscious mind and the power of language (which, by the way, turns out to be incredibly relevant - and helpful - for parenting too).
Four workshops.
Four deeply human topics.
And the feedback moved me to the core.
So I kept going.
But here’s what I’ve come to learn again and again:
It’s okay to keep going. Yet it is essential to celebrate at one point
Why?
Because without celebration, we forget how far we’ve come.
Celebration shifts our perspective.
From what’s next
To what’s here now.
See, when we never pause to acknowledge the journey, we never get to the point of actually feeling good enough. Instead we keep pushing harder and harder.
And eventually mental health challenges or even burnout creeps in quietly...
So today, I celebrate.
Not just the certificate.
But the version of me who kept going.
Who held space for clients, delivered meaningful work, navigated uncertainty - and showed up with heart.
And I invite you to do the same.
📓 Reflective prompt for you:
Where did you forget to celebrate yourself lately?
(Hint: it’s not always about the big wins. It’s often about the consistent, quiet choices no one else sees)
Whether you’re managing teams, leading change or silently navigating through a challenging season - you absolutely deserve to feel proud of yourself!
And again:
Don't wait for the perfect moment.
Very likely it will never come.
Instead, listen to your heart.
Listen to your gut.
Listen carefully.
And take bold actions.
Even if your brain quietly whispers that it isn't the right time.
Even if your loved ones question your decisions.
Listen carefully. Take bold actions.
It's those choices & actions that bring the biggest growth.
Will it be easy?
Probably not.
Will it be worth it?
Almost certainly, yes.
And if you’re ready to invest in your own emotional clarity, calm or confidence - even in the middle of your whirlwind...
I’d love to support you.
Or, if you’re not quite ready for that, start here:
A short but powerful tool for relaxation and reset
With love, light and deep gratitude
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