07.02.2024

Do The Work Needed | Belong | Reunion (& assessment)

Hello there! Welcome to my weekly LEAPS. 

You’re receiving this email because you subscribed to my weekly Wednesday feature or our mailing list. Every Wednesday, I share 5 things using our LEAPS approach: 

Learn: something new or an idea
Energy: something that’s creating an energy (good or bad) - a word
Action: something to do
Processing: a question to consider
Shout out: something or someone that I want to celebrate or acknowledge

Before I get into this week’s LEAPS, I wanted to share with you our latest news - we have finally launched the new assessment and beautiful report:

The GLAS Confidence and Clarity Builder

• Taking the assessment is free of charge and provides you with an instant score

• You can re-take as each week and get your team to also take it

• To purchase the 23-page personal report, it’s on special offer for the launch at £19.95 (usually £49.95)

LEARN
Something Worth Sharing

Do The Work Needed

I thought that I understood ‘shame’ and ‘guilt’ - having been a long-standing fan and follower of Brene Brown. However, this week I had a real ‘re-learn’ while reading the book that I’m recommending this week (see my gift to you). The book in question is by Jerry Colonna and throughout the book he references the work that he’s done over the years with his therapist.

As I kept reading this I questioned myself: “how does the fact that this amazing coach and author continues to see a therapist, make me feel about him?” My answer was very simple; I felt inspired and held Jerry in even higher regard with huge respect and admiration for him. So why did I even think about this? Because as Jerry also says in the book “your story is my story”. I too have done a great deal of work via therapists over the past 25 or so years. My question about Jerry wasn’t about him at all, it was about me - and why did I not tell anyone about the work I was doing? I am quite happy to share about my physical training - the work of being physically strong, and yet avoided the fact I was also working to be mentally strong.

The fact that I have gone through life-changing events didn’t seem to matter - I felt shame that I wasn’t able to cope as well as I wanted with these things and needed a little help at times. Most recently I started seeing a new therapist - the wonderful Dr Samantha. My reason, as I explained to her, was to just do the work on the deep stuff that I know has been pushed down over the years - so I could be the very best version of myself and a little lighter. After the second visit to Dr Samantha, she asked me how I felt about how things were progressing - and I replied by dropping my shoulders, smiling and saying I felt like I could put the weight I had been carrying down.

I’m sharing this with you - for you and for me; I’m sharing with you that I re-learned it’s okay - and very possible - to be highly functioning while also doing the work on the stuff you’ve been carrying. I’m also sharing this to remind myself that there is no shame in admitting we need help at times, and that mental health is something that needs attention just like our physical health.

ENERGY
Focusing on an emotion or energy; a stand-out word / s

Belong

This was a word that was discussed, considered and emphasised in a book I read last week. The origins of ‘belong’ are thought to be from Old English and formed from BE~: "about, around, on all sides" and LANGIAN: “to go along with”.

The modern senses of "be the property of" and "be a member of" are attested from late 14c. It seems as if BELONG really means to “fully go along with” - to be completely part of something. As it explains in the book (see my gift this week for details), creating a sense of belonging and being fully part of something is all of our responsibilities - but especially that of leaders.

ACTION
Something small that you can do that might make a big difference

See With Appreciation and Gratitude

While driving this morning, I made a conscious decision to actively see things with a newer, and dare I say it, nicer lens. To see with appreciation and gratitude, from the beautiful architecture to the man walking his beagle, from the very early signs of spring, to the car I get to drive. That’s your action for the week ahead - to see with a positive lens and deliberate appreciation and gratitude.

PROCESSING
A question to think about and consider (you can discuss this with someone or write your thoughts down)

“Why do you do what you do?”

You can see this question from the position of your career and job, or in a wider context - the general question of why you behave and act as you do in certain situations.

I’d love for you to send me your own stories / thoughts about this. Drop me a line with your answer / thoughts on this question

SHOUT OUT
Who / what I think deserves recognition, my gratitude or to be celebrated.

Explaining To Someone

Have you ever noticed that when you explain something to someone for them to understand an idea or event, that you often end up understanding it better too? Speaking about, and sharing your thoughts with someone is a brilliant way of hearing yourself. This week’s shout out is exactly this, the simplicity and brilliance of explaining something to someone and hearing it back!

BONUS GIFT FOR YOU
This week’s little extra for you - from me

It’s not often that I do this, but this week’s recommended book is from the same author as last week. I shared with you the visual for the book Reboot by Jerry Colonna - this week it’s his latest book, Reunion. Reunion focuses on the need for us to each reunite with our ancestors and their full stories in order to help us - and others - belong.

This visual is available to you for free (for 7 days) using the code: YOURSTORYISMYSTORY when you check out. Access is via the link below.

The artwork featured in this section is all copyrighted and for private use only. If you wish to use these online, in blogs / features or in presentations etc - we are happy to discuss licences. Please get in touch. The downloads do not have watermarks.

If you’d like to discuss having your ideas, business or culture captured visually - you can also let me know via email.

NOW LIVE!
TAKE THE BRAND NEW ASSESSMENT

THE CONFIDENCE AND CLARITY BUILDER

LEAPS is a process used by our team and clients all the time - and even my own family on a daily basis. 

I’ll be sharing a set of LEAPS each week with you and encourage you to do your own version:

• L: what have you learned?

• E: what’s your energy / feeling word

• A: what’s one thing you need to do?

• P: what are you thinking / processing?

• S: who or what can you shout out?