Embracing The Invisible

This story of Claire is fictional, but the truth beneath it isn’t.
She was shaped from fragments of real lives: mine, and those of the women who have trusted me with their stories.

Through her journey you are invited to walk alongside the striving and the exhaustion, and the moments of courage, honesty and compassion that start to loosen the old patterns she once relied on.

Claire’s loyal friend Sarah becomes the steady voice beside her.
She senses something deeper is asking to be heard, and she stays close as Claire begins to stumble in ways she can no longer hide.

When Claire tries the usual paths to recovery and finds little relief, Sarah suggests an alternative. An invitation to explore another way.

That path eventually leads to Cara. Not a typical counsellor, but a woman whose own experience with exhaustion has shaped how she helps others. Her work is grounded as much in what life taught her, as in her formal study.

Through Claire’s journey we witness her exhaustion, her doubts and her resistance to slowing down.
We also see courage, compassion, friendship and the quiet revelations that slowly open a new way forward.

Chapter 1 Sarah Sees The Facade

The morning sun streams through my bedroom window, nudging me awake for the best part of my day.

An easy 5K run with Sarah while most people are still sleeping.

I love this time. Clean air, steady rhythm.

No emails or deadlines, no meetings or decisions to make, no calls to return or tasks to juggle.

No reports, no rush, no one needing something from me.

As we fall into stride, Sarah glances over at me. “Hey Claire. How are you? How’s work going?”

“Work’s pretty intense right now, I’ve been putting in a few more late nights than usual,

just making sure things are all in shape before the annual reviews next month.”

Sarah frowns, her feet tapping the pavement in time with mine. “What do you mean, in shape?

You’re always on top of everything. Everyone knows you’ll nail those reviews. You always do.”

She suddenly slows down, her breath catching.

Reaching out, she gently touches my arm and brings us both to a stop.

We stand face to face and I can already see the question forming in her eyes.

Her expression shifts, brows furrowing as realisation dawns. “Wait…” she says, voice softening.

“Are you still covering for that guy?”

I don’t answer right away. There’s a pause I didn’t expect. A stretching silence.

The kind of quiet that answers without meaning to.

“Oh Claire,” she says, more certain now. “You are aren’t you. You’re still covering for that guy.”

“Sarah, I can handle it. There’s no point causing drama.”

She doesn’t let it go. “Why do you keep covering for him?

This has been going on for months.

You’re doing his work for him and it’s making your life harder.

How long do you think you can keep this up?

You’ve tried talking to him and that didn’t make things any better.

Why don’t you go to the boss and tell him what’s going on?

Why do you keep doing this to yourself?”

“It’s OK. Really it is. I just need to get through next month and then I’ll deal with it.”

But Sarah and I both know I won’t deal with it.

Just thinking about revealing a crack in my team makes my whole body tense, like it’s bracing for impact.

I’d never let anyone know there’s a problem with one of my team members.

I’ve worked with slackers before, and they’ve never stopped me finishing a project on time,

and they never will, no matter what it takes.

I was offered this job because of my diligence, my dedication, and my commitment to results.

My bosses know they can count on me to get the job done, no matter how high the stakes.

And no slacker is ever going to stop me.

About Jo

I’m fascinated by what sits beneath the surface, the unspoken rules we live by, the roles we perform without noticing, the subtle ways childhood shapes who we become.

For a long time, I followed those rules without question.
They were familiar, predictable, and invisible.

But as I started examining my own patterns, something shifted.
Old scripts softened. New awareness emerged. A different way of living began to take shape.

This book arrived through that unfolding.

It follows Claire’s journey, but it’s also a reflection of the quiet work many of us do as adults, untangling what was learned, remembering what is true, and finding our way back to ourselves with compassion rather than pressure.

If her story finds you at the right moment, may it feel like a gentle hand on your back: an invitation, a beckoning.

A Gentle Note

The concepts and practices shared in this book are offered for educational and reflective purposes only. The author is not a medical practitioner, and the content should not be interpreted as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This book is based on the author’s personal experiences and the stories entrusted to her. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health or treatment plan.