September, Let’s Take a Moment to Pause and Reflect

Lynsay McFarlane-Shaw uses this solo episode to pause and reflect on growth, especially in the context of an OT career and business. She shares why looking back matters just as much as moving forward, and encourages listeners to notice their wins, trust their instincts, and take small action toward what they want next.

In this episode

• Why September is a natural time to pause and review progress.

• How taking an OT supervision business online required courage, training, and adaptability.

• Why supervision supports professional development and wellbeing.

• The value of bringing wins into supervision—not only challenges.

• How recording wins and reflections can support professional portfolios and HCPC requirements.

• Why careers are rarely linear and often include detours and unexpected opportunities.

• How to move forward despite fear, imposter feelings, or other awareness of other people’s doubts.

• Why rest and recovery can be just as valuable as taking action.

Key takeaways

1. Pause to recognise your progress. Constantly pursuing the next goal can make you overlook how far you have already come.

2. Bring your wins into supervision. Supervision should make space for achievements as well as challenges.

3. Use reflection as evidence of growth. Recording your progress can support your professional portfolio, CPD, and HCPC requirements.

4. Career paths do not have to be linear. Detours and unexpected changes can lead to valuable opportunities.

5. Do not let doubt stop you from starting. Fear and imposter feelings may be present, but they do not have to make the decision for you.

6. Take the next step that fits your needs. Sometimes that means action, and sometimes it means rest and recovery.

Timestamps

00:00 - Why this episode is about pausing to look back

00:57 - September, the academic year, and a moment for reflection

01:26 - Taking an OT supervision business online

02:20 - Postgraduate training in clinical supervision

03:18 - Why reflecting on your progress matters

04:16 - Listing achievements and wins

05:10 - Bringing wins into supervision

06:09 - Looking back at your career path

07:37 - Why career paths are rarely straight

09:28 - Getting support from coaches, OTs, supervisors, and mentors

10:26 - Not letting imposter feelings stop you

11:24 - Exploring opportunities beyond statutory services

12:15 - Reflecting on the past to plan the future

13:12 - A simple reflection exercise 14:08 - Backing yourself and taking action

14:36 - Giving yourself permission to rest

Notable quotes

• “If we’re constantly striving for more, we forget to acknowledge how far we’ve already come.”

• “Don’t let the imposter monster get too loud and stop you from getting started.”

• “It’s okay to rest too.”

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