The Forest Child || The Strategic Wanderer || The Queen of Rest with Ula Caroto

Ula Caroto is a former wealth management professional turned energy intelligence coach who discovered that true success isn't about pushing harder - it's about resting smarter. Born in Poland and raised by her grandmother in a small forest town, she learned early that she would "never stay still" after witnessing her mother feel trapped in an unhappy marriage.What started as a three-month summer job in London at age 19 became a life-changing pivot. Falling in love with the city's multicultural energy, she strategically transferred her financial mathematics studies to London Metropolitan University. Her practical approach of "following what others do" when she saw good opportunities served her well, leading to a 16-year career climbing the corporate ladder at investment firms.Despite outward success, something fundamental was missing. She felt disconnected from herself and her unique talents, burning out despite achieving every traditional marker of achievement. The death of a 26-year-old friend from cancer became her wake-up call - she couldn't wait for some distant future to live authentically.Her transition to coaching seemed smooth until two nervous breakdowns last year revealed the depth of her own struggles with rest. Even as someone teaching others about energy management, she discovered she was missing crucial emotional rest. These breakdowns, rather than derailing her, crystallized her expertise and earned her the title "Queen of Rest" from her clients.Today, she helps high-achievers understand that rest isn't just sleep - it's a seven-dimensional practice including mental, emotional, social, creative, sensory, and spiritual restoration. Her work combines polyvagal theory with practical energy intelligence, helping clients reconnect with their true selves through nervous system regulation. From her plant-filled office in Hertfordshire, she's building a business that honors both growth and genuine restoration.Find out more about UlaBook linksBook in me: Beautifully SELFish. Break Free from People-Pleasing and Thrive on Your Terms ; Books that have influenced me - where do I start?Give and Take by Adam GrantUnbound. A Woman's Guide to Power by Kasia UrbaniakSorry I'm Late, I didn't want to come. An introvert's Year of Living Dangerously by Jessica PanWild Power. Discover the Magic of Your Menstrual Cycle and Awaken the Feminine Path to Power by Alexandra Pope and Sjanie Hugo WurlitzerEvery single book written by Brene Brown Websitehttps://queenofrest.co.ukSocial MediaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/urszula-caroto/Thanks for listening to 'not a straight line'!If this conversation inspired you, please leave me a Rating & Review! Here are some instructions on how: https://podcast.notastraightline.life/rate.And share the episode with a friend.Would you like to be a guest, or know someone who should be? Visit https://podcast.notastraightline.life/guest.And thanks to Matthew Blissfor his audio engineering excellenceYou can find out more about his services at https://www.mbpod.com/.