This is a special episode to mark Disability Pride Month, which falls every July. My guest is Emma Livingstone, a married mum of three, who, in 2018, founded a campaigning movement called “UP – The Adult Cerebral Palsy Movement“, to improve care services for adults living with Cerebral Palsy (CP).
Emma was diagnosed with CP in childhood, but it was only when she reached adulthood that she realised how monumental the barriers were to her living her best life with all the challenges posed by her disability.
Throughout my interview with Emma, we touch on some of the practical ways that Emma finds her balance, not withstanding the irony of using that term in this context, given that losing your balance is a classic symptom of CP! For Emma, shifting into the mindset of “owning” your disability, has been incredibly powerful in supporting her both in her literal and metaphorical pursuit of balance.
The principles of self-acceptance and empowerment are core tenets of Disability Pride Month. Similarly, self-acceptance and empowerment – for example of setting your boundaries and deciding what your priorities are – are core tenets also of finding a work-life balance that works for you.
So, a lot of my conversation with Emma, while focusing on living with a disability, actually – unexpectedly – pointed to some of the universal foundations of the pursuit of balance.
Being proud of yourself and your choices, while remaining open to showing your vulnerability, is not an easy balance to strike. This is a challenge that Emma has faced head on. In doing so, she shares some the most profound lessons she’s learned about has learned about finding balance when living with a disability. that embracing vulnerability, asking for help, and living in the moment, are some of the strongest, and hard-fought, assets you can acquire.
To listen to the full episode, follow the link below, and to join the conversation, join the LinkedIn page ‘A Fine Balance’, or follow @afinebalance_podcast on Instagram or Facebook.