Welcome to BUG Voices, our dedicated space where inspiring people share their stories to uplift and empower others. In each guest blog, we bring you the stories by remarkable individuals who have defied the odds and pursued their passions.
Languages have always felt natural to me. Growing up in India, it was just the way things were – a beautiful symphony of tongues swirling around you. You learn by listening, mimicking, without fear of messing up. That’s probably why I find myself comfortable navigating French, German, and even a bunch of Indian languages. Tamil, for instance, I picked up during my Masters in Chennai – curiosity is a powerful force!
But fluency is just the beginning. My Masters in psychotherapy opened a fascinating door: psycholinguistics. So the simplified version is how do I use language to work in therapy? Because I really believe that your word is the currency of everything you say, think, or do. So if I can change the word internally and externally, can I better impact people?
Don’t get me wrong, I had a successful corporate life, heading L&D for Southeast Asia. But let’s just say, I wasn’t built for dull office buildings. Freelancing gives me the freedom to choose what I do, how I do it, and for whom.
This love for freedom spills into everything. My husband’s a musician, my whole family is a bunch of creative souls, and I’m constantly learning. A PhD in psycholinguistics is on the horizon, books are my constant companions, and new adventures are always calling. That’s the life I crave – exploration and growth.
What inspired me to focus on training and development? Somewhere I wanted to be this bridge between people and their ultimate potential. If you had to draw a common thread between everything I’ve done till now, it would be language and people. I’m absolutely fascinated by people, the human race, per se. And when I look at a person, I see magic. I don’t see a person. So somewhere, it has always connected to people.
Humans are amazing, but what holds us back from truly thriving? Psychology often focuses on managing problems, but what about using it to live a more fulfilling life, however you define it?
Everywhere we go, there’s pressure to be “okay” all the time. But that’s unrealistic! Maybe the real message is “It’s okay to not be okay.” We need to embrace our full humanity, including our struggles. Pretending everything’s fine is exhausting. Let’s ditch the facade and allow ourselves to truly express ourselves. That’s when we can really start to thrive.
What’s next? Maybe a book on harnessing language for a positive life? Maybe a deeper dive into Sanskrit’s beauty? One thing’s for sure, my journey of empowering people through the magic of language is just beginning.
Author: Tejo Turner is a Psychotherapist & Linguist in 9 languages. Her journey blends linguistic prowess with a profound passion for human development, from corporate leadership to her current pursuit of a PhD in psycholinguistics.
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