Emily Renfrew

"My biggest lesson in my life is probably to put myself first. I'm someone who in the past has been...trying too hard to please other people, going to extreme lengths to make someone else happy when you really should be thinking about yourself. It sounds kind of selfish...but I think that's the most important thing that I've ever learned...It's okay to put yourself first sometimes, sometimes you really need to. I think my year in Spain really taught me that."

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20 May 2017: Emily Renfrew and I talk about growing up in safe environments, navigating internal and external pressures to succeed, and the taboo of selfishness. Such a lovely conversation with an incredible woman. Have a listen!

Reflections on My Conversation: Okay so there are so many important things that this conversation brought up for me and I think for everyone! So first off, thank you Emily for sharing your experiences which I think are so valuable for people to know and absorb not only because they'll give people a better understanding of yourself but also because I truly believe they'll help people understand themselves and their conflicts better too - or at least it has for me! I could have chosen a lot of quotes to pick out from the interview but our wee chat about 'selfishness' really stayed with me. The word has a negative connotation, I think we can all agree on that, BUT the notion of selfishness isn't always so detrimental. As Emily said, taking time for yourself and putting yourself first can often propel you into greater success in your relationships with others and, of course, your relationship with yourself. Obviously, everything in moderation, but selfishness isn't the demonic force we make it out to be, I don't think. But perhaps your experiences have led you to think differently...