Awaken Your Phoenix: A Self-centered Journey

Awaken Your Phoenix

A Self-centered Journey

Lesley Leclair

Copyright © 2025

All Rights Reserved

Dedication

To my wonderful wife Helen, you have no idea how beautiful of a person you truly are.  You illuminate the world in ways words can barely capture.  You are kindness personified, a beauty that shines from within.

With all my heart!!

Acknowledgment

The older I get, the smarter my parents get.

Thanks, Dad, Thanks Mom!

About the Author

My journey has been one of discipline, adaptability, and an unwavering drive to embrace new challenges.

After a year in college, I realized the traditional academic path wasn’t for me. With a solid foundation in electronics training, I decided to take a different route altogether and joined the Canadian Forces. For over seven years, I served as an Instrument and Electrical Technician in the Canadian Air Force, where I developed a keen eye for detail, learned to navigate complex systems and gained a deep respect for safety.

From there, my entrepreneurial spirit took over, leading me into the hospitality industry—a drastic shift from aircraft maintenance, I know. However, I truly honed my daily operations and financial management skills in this field.

One of my proudest moments came when I won a North American marketing competition, earning more than 700 independent business owners’ votes at a Chicago conference. I was the only Canadian presenting, and standing on that stage reinforced something I already knew—I do not fear public speaking.

After my time in hospitality, I transitioned into the corporate world, working with international companies. It didn’t take long to realize that the endless red tape and slow decision-making weren’t for me. I wanted to make an impact, not wait for approval to get things done.

That realization led me here—to writing this book. My story is a testament to embracing new opportunities, pushing past comfort zones, and forging meaningful connections along the way. I’ve never been afraid of jumping into something new. I hope you aren’t either.

Preface

Dear Reader,

Welcome to Awaken Your Phoenix: A Self-centered Journey. This book is not just a collection of words but a reflection of my journey—one filled with questions, struggles, and moments of realization. For a long time, I carried a fire within me, a burning desire to fulfill my potential, but I often wondered if that fire would ever find its way out.

You see, this journey is still ongoing for me. I don’t claim to have all the answers, special skills, or training. But what I do have is my story—an honest account of my experiences and the insights I’ve gained along the way. I hope some of this information will resonate with you and perhaps even help you navigate your own path.

Throughout these pages, you’ll find reflections on embracing change, celebrating small victories, living authentically, and, more importantly, awakening your Phoenix. Believe it or not, we can all take control of our story and rise from the ashes of our old selves to be born anew.

Each chapter that you are about to read is a piece of the puzzle that shaped my journey toward awakening my inner Phoenix. It’s about finding strength in vulnerability, learning from the past, and constantly striving to align my actions with my true values and beliefs.

I invite you to join me on this journey, not as a student or a teacher but as a fellow traveler. Let’s explore the terrain of self-discovery and personal growth together. May you find your fire within and allow it to lead you toward fulfilling your unique potential.

With warmth and sincerity,

Lesley Leclair

Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgment

About the Author

Preface

Introduction: The Rise of the Phoenix

Part 1: The Ashes - Understanding Your Current State

Chapter 1: Acknowledging the Burnout

Chapter 2: Embracing Vulnerability

Chapter 3: Identifying Your Core Beliefs

Part 2: The Spark - Igniting Change

Chapter 4: Setting Intentions

Chapter 5: Cultivating Self-love

Chapter 6: Discovering Your Inner Passion

Part 3: The Flames – Taking Action

Chapter 7: Overcoming Fear

Chapter 8: Building Resilience

Chapter 9: Creating Healthy Boundaries

Part 4: The Rebirth – Embracing Your New Self

Chapter 10: Embracing Change

Chapter 11: Celebrating Small Victories

Chapter 12: Living Authentically

Conclusion: Soaring As the Phoenix

Introduction: The Rise of the Phoenix

The story of the Phoenix is a legend of vibrant mythology, full of symbolism intricately sewn into many cultures’ mythology. Greek, Egyptian, and Chinese cultures each share their unique story of this mystical bird of fire and rebirth.

The Bennu bird was considered to represent the Phoenix in Egyptian mythology, a sacred bird connected to the sun god Ra and the idea of creation. This bird was said to be a heron of exquisite plumage, connected with the sun cult at Heliopolis. Within Egyptian mythology, the Bennu would self-destruct in flames at the end of its cycle and then be born out of those ashes again. This cycle of death and rebirth spoke to that of the yearly cycle of the Nile in nature and spoke of resurrection and the power of life that endures.

The Greeks accepted the Egyptian tale of the Bennu and assimilated the mythology of the Phoenix into their culture. This is how the Greek Phoenix became an eagle-like bird with brilliant red-gold feathers. The Greeks believed the Phoenix lived for 500 years, and at the end of its life cycle, it constructed a nest of aromatic spices and set itself on fire. From the ashes, a young phoenix would rise to symbolize the triumph of life over death and personify resiliency, hope, and eternality. Thus, the Greek Phoenix became a metaphor for immortality and rebirth.

Feng Huang is the Chinese counterpart of the Phoenix and symbolizes the yin and yang—both the feminine and masculine halves of the universe. The Feng Huang incorporates the forces of femininity and masculinity, thus balancing the two. Here, this fiery bird is not synonymous with rebirth; instead, it is a symbol of peace, harmony, prosperity, and virtue. It is said to be associated with the empress and is considered a sign of beauty, elegance, and the Mandate of Heaven, informing the people about the presence of sage and just rulers. The Feng Huang is thought to make the world harmonious, so it is an omen for good fortune and high morality.

Yet, despite differences in culture, there is still an underlying motif to most phoenix stories: change, power, and the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth. The Egyptian Bennu reminds us of the rhythm of nature’s cycles; the Greek Phoenix emphasizes rebirth from adversity, whereas the Chinese Feng Huang invokes harmony and balance. All these stories bring forth the Phoenix as a timeless, cross-cultural symbol of renewal, power, and the unbreakable spirit of life, representing hope and a universal desire for transformation and transcendence.

The inspiring personal growth and self-discovery of the Phoenix can be seen as a powerful symbol whose core aspects can be a framework for working out many of the troubles we face in life. Let’s explore what we can learn from the Rebirth, Resilience, Hope, Transformation, and Immortality of the Phoenix.

For once, the Phoenix’s rebirth speaks to the human capacity for being reborn from ashes. Rebirth, through personal growth, means letting go of all those past versions of ourselves—the version that might have been shaped by failure, pain, or fear. Of course, as with the Phoenix, which only rises again after submitting to the fire, people need to allow for necessary endings to find strength in their rebirth.

Such practice is difficult for sure and involves many processes, such as redefining who we are, letting go of past involvements and associated associations, and being open to new opportunities. The rebirth of the Phoenix teaches us that every end holds the seed of a new beginning, encouraging us to trust in the cyclical nature of growth.

Similarly, resilience is at the heart of the Phoenix myth. Rising from its ashes, the Phoenix reminds us that setbacks and hardships do not define us but shape our character through the act of rising above them. This characteristic of the Phoenix molds us for resilience and flexibility, demonstrating ways we can derive strength from our inner selves during life's critical and unfortunate events.

The Phoenix is the classic symbol of hope—the promise that something alive and beautiful can come from ashes. This is especially true when things seem uncertain or precarious. For in the myth of the Phoenix rising from its ashes lies the promise that no matter how bleak the moment may appear, there is light and potential on the other side of it.

It is hope that reminds us of our big dreams, aids our survival through failures, and keeps us dreaming of a better world. It makes us look at the future and encourages us to believe in things that are not yet seen.

The most central theme of the Phoenix’s story is transformation. Each cycle of its life is a transformation. By the fires that burn it, it is cleansed and reborn. This transformation ensures that the Phoenix is changing its appearance and something deeper in mindset, belief, and behavior. For us, this process involves experiencing fears, questioning old habits, and having to push out of our comfort zones. The Phoenix reminds us that transformation is not just an event but a lifetime of peeling layers off and wearing new ones so we can continue striving to become the best versions of ourselves.

The image of immortality through this myth about the Phoenix represents the power that goes into a lifetime lived with passion, resilience, and growth toward extending greatness. It reminds us that though we change, it is still ourselves who continue to contribute and make a positive difference in the hearts and minds of others.

All these five different aspects depict the five key phases and attitudes that are essential for personal growth. Rebirth makes it possible for one to let go and bring new things to life. Resilience teaches one to recover from adversity. Hope gives a view of a brighter tomorrow. Transformation fosters lifelong progress and rejuvenation, and Immortality inspires us to leave something behind.

A deeper look at the myth of the Phoenix encourages people to understand that trials and challenges are part of life and essentially lead to profound inner strength, wisdom, and fulfillment of one’s potential. Embracing these qualities in our lives allows us to walk through life challenges and heal from past wounds. However, if we take this understanding one step further, we see that the Phoenix is a self-reliant being at the crux of it all.

Some might even say it represents a selfish notion of being born again and again to fulfill its personal aspirations. Yet, by redefining selfishness as a healthy power, we open the doors of self-awareness, authentic expression, and individual growth.

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