This evolution in my understanding of personal wellbeing is significant because it reflects a critical shift from viewing self-care as an occasional practice to recognizing it as a non-negotiable, ethical component of sustainable leadership. This transformation was not innate; it was sculpted over the course of my many professional roles and critically informed by the academic frameworks provided by my studies.

The initial concepts were introduced in Enhancing Personal Wellbeing (RCLP 1021), which provided the foundational language and reflective practices for self-awareness. However, the theoretical weight of this outcome became clear through the lens of "Authentic Leadership" (Northouse, 2019). This theory’s emphasis on self-awareness and relational transparency provided a powerful rationale for my "Indicators of Change." I realized that to be genuinely present and trustworthy for the youths at Capital Family Services and Partners for Youth, I first needed to be grounded and self-aware. The practice of "setting emotional and physical limits" and "implementing self-care routines" became more than just personal preservation; it was an ethical imperative to prevent burnout and model healthy boundaries, thereby upholding the "internalized moral perspective" of an authentic leader.

Furthermore, my experience balancing full-time work at NB Power with my studies, and later navigating the isolation of my International Internship, forced me to engage with the concept of logotherapy (Frankl, 2006). Frankl's assertion that meaning can be found in our attitude toward unavoidable suffering was a pivotal insight (refined worldview). When faced with stress and potential burnout, I learned that "responding proactively" was not about avoiding difficulty, but about consciously choosing my perspective and actions, whether that was maintaining a task schedule, seeking supervision, or practicing mindfulness. This aligned with moving beyond simply "pushing through" to a more nuanced understanding of strength as the capacity for self-regulation and intentional recovery.

This academic and experiential journey demonstrates that personal well-being is the foundational system that supports all other leadership outcomes. It is the practice of managing one's own human system with the same care and strategic thought required to manage a team or project. By integrating the self-awareness of Authentic Leadership with the meaning-centered resilience of logotherapy, I have come to understand wellbeing not as a destination, but as a dynamic, ongoing process that is essential for effective, ethical, and sustainable leadership.