Starts With You: 5 Ways to Cultivate Greater Self-Mastery
I was recently reading The Diary of a CEO as part of my little finance crew, and there was a quote shared early on that really struck me, that I just had to share.
"One can have no smaller or greater mastery than mastery over oneself; you will never have a greater or lesser dominion than that over yourself; the height of your success is gauged by your self-mastery, the depth of your failure by your self-abandonment. Those who cannot establish dominion over themselves will have no dominion over others." — Leonardo da Vinci
I interpret this as the importance of your intentions, habits, clarity and self-awareness in shaping the external outcomes of your life. This is why as a coach who primarily works with clients around their career (external outcomes), a huge part of that focus is around not only their relationship to themselves, but also how that enhances their connection to others and the world around them. In the end, the self is the only thing we have direct control over. It is an opportunity to master, and it becomes one of the greatest superpowers we can harness to enrich our lives.
That is why when I work with clients, we always end up with a goal focused around some aspect of the relationship they have with themselves. I call this the Refresh phase of the coaching program. What I often witness is that this is the secret ingredient that propels their other goals to life.
Below I share five ways to cultivate greater self-mastery and they can be fun and rewarding at the same time.
Self-Care
Self-care is a routine or habit that we all should have as part of our lives, and it doesn't have to be hard or a major undertaking. It simply has to be a pocket of time where you are doing something for the sheer delight of it.
This can look so different for everyone. For me, it's a cup of cacao and sitting in the garden, phone free, soaking in some sunshine or listening to the sounds passing by. I also love a dip in the ocean when I can, which is so refreshing.
The main point is that these moments of self-care simultaneously strengthen the relationship you have with yourself, day by day.
Choose the Joy
I say choose the joy because we can so easily neglect choosing joyful things for ourselves. After experiencing burnout, I realised how routine my life had become, going to work and coming home exhausted, feeling a lot of negative feelings with very little that actually made me feel joyful. In that recovery process, I knew I had to prioritise joy.
Joy creates the emotional experience we want to cultivate. It also offsets the more challenging experiences we face.
I've found so much joy through learning to surf as an adult and exploring the ocean through diving. Add sources of joy into your days wherever you can.
Build Your Vibe
The reason I've separated joy and building your vibe is that joy is something we can experience in the moment, whereas your vibe is more like the foundations of a house.
When I was recovering from professional burnout, I realised that work had a huge hold over my life and as a result, a lot of my sense of value resided in my professional identity alone. I knew I needed to balance that out and that my worth sat across the whole spectrum of my life experiences, not just one part. That was the first step in reclaiming my happiness and sense of direction.
My vibe includes how I present myself to the world, but it doesn't stop there. It also includes the aesthetic of my home, how I want that space to feel, the things I'm interested and passionate about, whether that's hobbies, creative pursuits, learning or causes I care about, and who I have in my tribe or inner circle. I want people who lift each other up, embrace differences, and show up as themselves.
That's where vibe becomes both a tangible and intangible part of your identity that can continue to grow and evolve as you do.
Reduce Your Load Where Possible
With the end of the astrological and seasonal year, I've committed to an end of summer clean and reducing the material load in my life. Anytime I've had to move, I've wondered how I acquired so many possessions that only see the light of day when I'm preparing for the next transition.
This is self-mastery, recognising that we often feel like we need certain things, when really they may have only fulfilled a need in the moment. Have they actually brought continued value into your life?
The Power of Self-Advocacy
There is a lot of debate around work-life balance, and as our society becomes increasingly technology and economically driven, the pressure to maximise productivity is relentless, with the looming threat of AI and automation that can run 24/7. I believe this is a significant driver of professional burnout, because humans simply are not made to be on the go all the time.
I remember the role that led to my own burnout. I was told my case management ratio was 1:1000. In a typical working week, that is purely impossible. When questioned, the response was simply that this was the expected load. It wasn't. And it isn't.
That is why advocating for your own needs is one of the biggest keys to self-mastery and to creating the conditions you need to truly shine. I've since realised there is nothing wrong with having limits. Rather than waiting until they are exceeded, your words can set up the conditions you need to thrive.
You Are the Common Denominator
At the end of the day, every external outcome in your life, your career, your relationships, your sense of fulfilment, traces back to the relationship you have with yourself. That is not a small thing. That is everything.
Self-mastery is not about being perfect or having it all together. It is about showing up for yourself with the same care, intention and consistency that you so freely offer to others. It is a practice, not a destination, and every small act of self-care, every joyful choice, every boundary you honour is a step in the right direction.
If any of this has resonated with you and you are ready to go deeper, this is exactly the work I do with my clients in the Refresh phase of my coaching program. Because when you tend to yourself first, everything else has a way of falling into place.
You are the starting point. You are also the most powerful investment you will ever make.
Keen to learn more about going for your goals?
So how do you actually bring this to life in 2026? Every person has their own style, but by understanding some of the factors that go into this kind of inner work, I hope you feel inspired to begin taking steps towards what you are truly wishing for this year.
That is where coaching becomes such a powerful process. Just like an athlete has their team supporting them towards their competitive goals, a life coach plays that role for people who are aspiring towards the many goals they have in their own life.
As a coach, I work one on one with clients over a three month period across six sessions, where we focus on two to three goals together. Often clients find me when they are navigating changes in their career, but we also tend to work on personal goals, work-life balance, hobbies and relationships. Working on too many goals at once without support can quickly become unsustainable, but with the right accountability and guidance, it is absolutely possible.
I always begin with a pre-coaching questionnaire and a free discovery call before any commitment, so you can feel confident that I am the right coach for you and your goals. If it is something you are curious about or have questions around, you can find out more or please contact me at hello@jacquelinesmith.com.au. I would love to hear from you.