In this episode of the Full Circle Podcast, I welcome Ben de Pfeiffer-Key, a Founder, Consultant & Coach who has been on a profound journey of self-discovery and unmasking to live as his authentic self. As a gay man navigating the intricate intersections of ADHD and Autism, Ben has been faced with many uncertainties about his identity over the years. Most notably - What defines him? What gets in his way of being his true self? And how can he bridge the gap between the two? Today, Ben joins me to discuss the profound journey he has taken; from shedding the mask he wore for years to passionately guiding others on their self-discovery journeys and removing a few systemic barriers along the way. Ready to live life on your own terms? Tune in and explore the empowering insights that will inspire your unique journey. Quotes“The work that I do now is kind of an extension of the work I've done on myself in self-discovery and reflecting back on my life and how I've got to where I am now in my 40th year, going what's made me who I am, what gets in the way of me being my true self and kind of bridging the gap between that.” – 02:15 “In 2020 we had the murder of George Floyd…and for me personally, it made me take a real look at myself and actually go, I know so little about this conversation…” – 03:58 “I'd gone through my entire childhood and teenage years with even the word ‘gay’ being used as a slur. So I had to hide that side of me, when I didn't even understand it myself or articulate what it meant.” – 07:39 “It's exhausting though, because you are putting yourself in situations of vulnerability. Regardless of whether it's work or life, you need to feel safe enough to do that. S I always say, if it doesn't feel like a safe environment, then think about whether it is the right space to share openly about things.” – 29:04 Time stamps 00:00 – An introduction to Ben 01:42 – What does it mean to “Drop the Mask”03:38 – What led to Ben discovering his purpose06:29 – What it was like for Ben growing up as a gay man09:46 – Ben’s Coming Out experience14:27 – The purpose of wearing a mask 18:16 – How we have been conditioned to play a role21:36 – How Ben has trained himself to keep the mask off 22:35 – Managing Triggers25:46 – What does “Being True to Yourself” mean29:34 – Ben’s advice about self-trust 30:29 – How businesses can create a safe, inclusive, work space34:17 – Ben’s non-negotiables for his well being 38:56 – The biggest lessons Ben has learnt on his journey42:40 – Ben’s self-discovery tip for listeners 43:48 – How to connect with Ben44:28 – Gillian’s closing thoughts Ben’s Socialshttps://www.bendpk.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/dpkcoaching https://www.instagram.com/dpk.consulting/ Gillian Socialshttps://www.instagram.com/the.master.coach/https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-mcmichael/https://www.facebook.com/GillianMcMichaelMasterCoach https://www.gillianmcmichael.com Full Circle Global Socialshttps://www.instagram.com/fullcircleglobal/https://www.linkedin.com/company/full-circle-development-consultancy/https://www.facebook.com/fullcircleglobal/https://fullcircleglobal.comOrder my book, “Coming Home: A Guide To Being Your True Self”Amazon:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Coming-Home-Guide-Being-Your/dp/1784529702Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Coming-Home-A-Guide-to-Being-Your-True-Self-Paperback-9781784529703/928206895 Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/coming-home-gillian-mcmichael/1141304045 WHSmith: https://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/coming-home-a-guide-to-being-your-true-self/gillian-mcmichael/paperback/9781784529703.html
