A Simple Tool for Self-Discovery — Finding Yourself Again as a Carer

When you spend your days caring for others, it’s easy to lose sight of who you are. In part two of Conversations with G&G’s chat with Danni Synot, she shared a simple but powerful exercise to help carers reconnect with themselves and rediscover joy.

Danni described how, after years of juggling family and professional responsibilities, she reached a point where she didn’t recognise herself. “I was someone’s mum, someone’s carer, someone’s colleague — but who was I underneath that?”

To find out, she sat down with a blank sheet of paper and coloured pens, listing everything that brought her joy — favourite foods, people, moments, and places. She calls it “a personal joy map.”

This tool, she explains, helps people identify patterns — the experiences and values that make them feel alive. “When you start writing, you realise what truly matters to you. It’s often small, simple things — time outdoors, laughter, connection.”

For carers, this self-reflection can be life-changing. It’s a reminder that you matter too — and that rediscovering your own identity is part of providing better care for others.

Try this yourself: take 10 minutes today to list what brings you happiness. Notice what stands out — it may just reconnect you with your sense of purpose.

Listen to the full episode — “Finding Meaning and Purpose in the Caregiving Journey”