Jess Banks is passionate about using her own life experiences to inspire, challenge, educate and empower mums to take action and create a fulfilling life. Having struggled with her identity and confidence when she became a mum, she turned to counselling and then gained her Holistic Life Coach & Mind-Body Practitioner certification. Through her coaching and podcast, she provides a safe space and support to mums, empowering them to move forward through any challenges, to prioritise themselves, take back their power, and do life on their own terms. Here Jess talks to The Natural Parent Magazine about the passion behind her business, the challenges she has overcome, and her hopes and dreams for the future.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
A few years ago, life challenges led me on my own journey of self-discovery and healing. For the first time in my life, I turned inward and was met with the reality that I didn’t truly know who I was. As a mum of three, who strived to raise independent humans who felt safe to be their authentic selves, I had more motivation than ever to discover this for myself too.
Whilst attending counselling, I realised my skill and desire to help people in this way. And one day I stumbled across a coaching certification course and found that coaching added the missing layer to the talk therapy model: the action steps. So I began my certification, as well as working with a coach of my own, and I knew this was the space for me.
When you become a mum, your whole world changes, and so much of the support available is focussed on the baby. You spend your whole pregnancy preparing for the baby and learning how to care for the baby, but there is no focus on preparing yourself for this change, which is why you then feel so lost in who you are. You get so caught up with the chaos of learning how to be a parent that you forget to take a moment to re-acquaint yourself with yourself! I wanted to provide space and support for mums to do this, as the positive ripple-effect it has in your life is truly magical!
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
I am still very much at the beginning of my journey, finding my feet and putting myself out there! Coaching is still quite a new concept for lots of people, and I’m continuing to learn more about myself as I go too.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
My biggest breakthrough in my short journey so far in business has been starting my podcast: Uncovering You. It was a massive step out of my comfort zone, but has been the best thing I’ve done. The podcast has given me a platform of self-expression that feels natural and authentic to me. It also provides such a great foundation to build social media content from too!
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
I am fortunate to have my kids attend daycare a few days a week, which gives me time to work in my business. It can be a challenge to switch off your brain on the other days, as it is often racing with ideas and things that need doing! But it all comes with practice and putting in clear boundaries between work and family time.
