I Don’t Have to Do It Alone…and Neither do You.

Sometimes I feel like I am alone in my quest to change the world for the better.

How about you? I think we all feel alone from time to time, especially in the moment we decide to take a risk, make a change, or challenge the status quo.  But I also think that many born leaders and world changers put so much expectation and unnecessary pressure on ourselves, we feel we must do it all alone, no matter the cost to our well-being.  And what we often don’t realize is that it is this expectation that we alone are responsible for changing the world that impedes us from actually being able to do the things we were born to do.

I was given this quote yesterday in a dance class I took and hearing the words was like hearing a Gong in my heart.  I instantly knew – “Oh, that’s what’s wrong. I’ve been trying to do this all by myself, and I don’t have to do it alone!” ….and neither do you!

TOGETHER WE INCREASE BRIGHTNESS!  That’s it. In those simple words is the Magic I’ve been looking for.

I am not the only person in the world capable of helping people discover, own, and share their authentic human story.

I alone am not responsible for helping women leaders become bold, brave agents of change.

I am not meant to help organizations of all shapes and size cultivate more courageous corporate cultures by myself!

The irony of this realization is that one of the very things I do in my work is help individuals, teams, and organizations recognize the powerful connection that authentic story sharing creates. In my workshops and engagements, we discover together the reality that we were each born to shine a unique light in the world, and that we are physiologically wired to exist together – in community!

And yet, lately, I’ve been feeling like I have to create all this magic FOR others (my clients, family, and friends).  The reality is I have to INVITE the magic to be created WITH others!  I have to be part of the constellation – both giving my light AND receiving light from the other stars – that’s YOU!

Look at this photograph – what do you see?

Do you see the stars in the jar giving light to the sky or do you see the stars in the sky giving light to the stars in the jar?

The reality is they are both GIVING and RECEIVING.

It’s like my concept of the Cycle of Abundance – we must learn to give wholeheartedly our gifts and talents as leaders.  AND we must learn to receive with equal gusto from the talents and gifts of those we lead and work with and for.  Only then can we provide real brilliance as leaders and only then can we be and do the incredible things we were born to be and do!

 

With love and light,