At the time, Yee had suffered from severe depression for over 10 years and, despite a successful corporate career, had lost her will to live.
“I’d tried [taking my life] before, but I was rescued. It isn’t fun to be rescued when you don’t want to be,” she admitted.
“So, for the second time, I wanted to go somewhere far away where no one could rescue me.”
But before she got around to committing the deed, she came across an advertisement for a motivational talk for troubled persons. With nothing to lose, she decided to attend it.
Today, Yee, 45, still alive, is the author of her first self-published book, “Boss, Your Wish is Your Command”. The self-improvement tome spanning over 500 pages sheds insight into how she managed to regain control of her life.
She told FMT that the talk in London allowed her to engage in some much-needed introspection. “Certain thoughts and beliefs that I held about myself had kept me thinking ‘I’m not worthy, I’m not good enough, I’m not needed, I’m not important’,” she said.
Traumatic childhood experiences, she realised, had begun her spiral into depression long before adulthood. “It felt like the more that I worked, the more I felt I wasn’t needed. Even though people needed me, I didn’t believe it.”
What people do in life is based on what they believe about themselves, Yee added, and this realisation is what inspired her to press on.
Upon returning from London, she left her corporate job and began a psychotherapy practice, hoping to help others who were in her position.
She started off by assisting family and friends but, as word of mouth spread, found herself meeting more and more people. Her confidence grew and she began to speak internationally, with talks in Singapore, the United Kingdom, and South Africa.
‘Transformational’
During the recent lockdowns, Yee sat down to write what would become “Boss, Your Wish is Your Command”, recognising her knowledge could potentially help others turn their lives around.
She calls her work a “one-of-a-kind transformational book” that explains why it’s difficult for people to change, drawing on her personal experiences as well as neuroscientific studies.
“It also helps people understand the failed systems around us, and shows how humans are kept mediocre from the very beginning in childhood.”
Unlike most other self-help books, “Boss, Your Wish is Your Command” does not solely feed readers with knowledge – it also provides “step-by-step instructions for a person to get to know themselves and their limitations, as well as bridge the gap between where they are and where they want to go”.
The first part of the book explores why people are the way they are, while the second explains humans’ reactions to scenarios such as rejection or criticism.
Readers are also encouraged to do more than just read – exercises are included to help people understand themselves and their values.
The third part of the book helps the reader to “rewire”, to “deduce what is important in their life, and what they want to be”.
“Boss, Your Wish Is Your Command” also helps people recognise their leadership potential. “Whenever we have the capability to influence others, we already are a leader. It’s just a matter of embracing that title,” Yee said.
Relatedly, she is now working on a second book aimed at empowering women and inspiring them to take on leadership roles.
So, who stands to benefit the most from reading Yee’s debut work? She replied: “For people who want to understand their own limitations, or go through personal development, this book is for you.”
Get your copy of ‘Boss, Your Wish is Your Command’ by clicking here or here.