My Best Self: Omaira Halwani

Omaira Halwani
Orion Canada, Media Buyer – Media Activation

How do you define striving to be your “Best Self?”
Striving for my “Best Self” means more than a concept or a goal. It means “taking action” continuously and consistently in every aspect of my life.

Becoming the best version of myself is a mindset and lifestyle. I believe that every day of my life is a new opportunity to learn, grow and become a better person. “Best Self” means being aware of who I am and how I can positively impact my life, both professionally and personally. I am accountable for my actions, and I ensure that I am an effective influence on any person I interact with in my life.

I deeply believe that acting passionately will improve my life and enhance my position in all areas.

And last, being my “Best Self” means I can sleep every night knowing I did my very best to improve my life as well as others.

Where did you grow up?
I grew up in a small town south of Venezuela beside the Orinoco River (the fourth largest river in the world). My childhood was rich with nature and adventure. I had the opportunity to ride horses, navigate the Orinoco River while watching river dolphins, camp on many of the river islands and water ski. Growing up in a developing country expanded my awareness of life and increased my appreciation for life’s opportunities.

Something interesting you might not know about me … 
I don’t give up on challenges and believe there is always a solution.

I am a physician who had to rebuild her life and start on a path to a new career. I had the courage to go back to school, graduate and successfully gain employment with Orion without impacting my life as a single parent of two girls.

I was able to accomplish this new career path thanks to Orion, which became my home and workplace!

What do you try and do frequently to focus on mental health/wellness? 
I practice meditation and mindfulness. I mainly focus on increasing self-value and setting boundaries. I learned that to give my best, I must “feel” my best. Knowing that we can’t pull water from a dry well, I work on filling it up first.

Besides meditation and insights, I like to work out and gain additional knowledge about investments and real estate in my spare time at night.

What mistake did you learn the most from having experienced?
Through my learning and growth, I have come to understand that I am “enough” and don’t need external validation. Sometimes in life, we expect those around us to validate our work, but I learned that doing my best in each task and being mindful of my effort is enough.

I believe that if we act with a positive and sincere motive, the opportunities will come to fruition.

This learning took me a while because I used to try to satisfy everyone around me, from family members to authority figures. Finally, I learned to focus on my actions and strive to become and evolve into my “Best Self.”