Helping Others Reflect on Their Inner Selves
“A peaceful mind comes from regularly observing your inner thoughts, not being swayed by external circumstances. This is something we can all achieve.” This message appears in one of Betty Yang’s social media posts. The concept of “reflection” she references comes from Buddhist philosophy, referring to the practice of observing and understanding one’s own mind without being influenced by the outside world. Today, Yang works as a practicing counselor, having completed master’s degrees in both Buddhist studies and counseling. If this represents the second half of her life journey, then her first chapter was dedicated to the textile industry.
After finishing her undergraduate degree, Yang established her own company—a path that might seem disconnected from her journalism and communication studies. However, she insists this wasn’t the case at all. “What I learned in those programs proved incredibly valuable,” she explains. She took a “STOT” course and wrote her thesis under the guidance of Professor Lee Siu-Nam, Paul, where she developed critical research skills: forming hypotheses, finding solutions, and identifying the conditions and limitations that lead to specific outcomes. “The principle of ‘bold hypothesis, careful verification’ aligned perfectly with my approach to business. Though I was breaking new ground with no precedents to follow, I felt incredibly well-equipped because journalism and communication had given me so many tools to tackle difficult problems.”
Starting with a small shop in Sham Shui Po, she grew her business significantly over more than two decades, eventually partnering with several internationally renowned brands. Yet at the height of this success, Yang decided to take a step back, passing the leadership responsibilities to her second-in-command team, and embarked on a path of self-reflection.
She recalled the local people she encountered during a four-wheel off-road driving tour in Tibet, and several employees who had become monks while she was managing a project in Thailand. Curious about how people draw spiritual strength from religious practice, she enrolled in a master’s program in Buddhist studies. One of the counseling courses focused on end-of-life care resonated deeply with her personal experience. “My father passed away when I was 31. In the years that followed, whenever colleagues or friends lost loved ones, I found myself naturally drawn to supporting them. Years later, many told me, ‘Thank you for guiding me through that difficult time.’ That’s when I realized my father had given me a profound gift—by facing mortality at a relatively young age, I had developed the capacity to help others through similar experiences.”
She began volunteering at a Buddhist hospital visitation department, visiting hospitalized and palliative patients. To further her end-of-life care skills, she pursued a master’s degree in counseling. As her second life unfolded, Yang became a practicing counselor, specializing in counseling cancer patients, adolescents, and parents, helping others reflect on their hearts.
She recalls Professor Lee once sharing that communication has different levels: mass communication aims to deliver messages to a broad audience, but he was more interested in self-communication and interpersonal communication. It took her a long time to understand this. Her current aspirations are still related to communication, but counseling emphasizes listening more. “The more actively and willingly you listen, the more your words can penetrate the client’s heart.”
“When you listen to someone’s difficulties and circumstances, you can help them in their own way. I’m not telling them what to do, but rather helping them realize how they can move forward on their own.”
Profile:
Betty Yang graduated from the Chinese University of Hong Kong with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Communication in 1990. She was one of the founders of a textile business that she ran for 25 years. She later completed master’s degrees in Buddhist studies and counseling and is currently a practicing counselor.
