When strength hides struggle | Capability | Don’t Call It Art
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: an energy (good or bad) word and it’s meaning
Action: something to do
Processing: a question to consider
Shout out: something or someone that I want to celebrate or acknowledge
LEARN
Something Worth Sharing
When Strength Hides Struggle
Everything can become imbalanced, even our greatest strengths.
Over years of working with people, families and organisations, we’ve found five fundamental beliefs sitting beneath so much of who we are and what we do:
I am good enough.
I belong.
I am loveable.
I am deserving.
I am responsible.
When these beliefs are balanced, they provide a strong foundation. But when they become imbalanced, we tend to move in one of two directions: under, driven by doubt, or over, driven by force.
And sometimes that imbalance can be surprisingly difficult to see.
If somewhere underneath - subconsciously - we doubt whether we are good enough, belong, are deserving or are lovable, we might withdraw or we might do more. We might go harder, faster, or bigger.
This is certainly how it shows up for me. In the past I longed to feel that I was good enough because I always felt unseen and unheard. My answer was to take on more responsibility, solve more problems in the hope of being noticed. I found myself saying ‘yes’ more often. I became the person everyone can rely on.
And here’s the paradox: the more I did, the stronger I appeared.
Others see someone who has everything under control. Someone who can cope. Someone who doesn’t need checking on, supporting or helping.
So they give me more - and I keep carrying it. What I still didn’t get was a feeling of being good enough.
Sometimes the very strengths that help us succeed can also make it harder for others, and for us, to see what is happening underneath.
Perhaps the question isn’t simply “Can I do this?”, it’s “What is driving me?”
ENERGY
Focusing on an emotion or energy; a stand-out word / s
Capable
From the Latin capax, meaning able to hold, contain or grasp.
Being capable isn’t about knowing or doing everything - it’s about recognising what you can hold, learn, navigate and work out. Sometimes, you are capable of far more than you realise.
ACTION
Something small that you can do that might make a big difference
What’s The Trigger
The next time you notice yourself pushing harder, taking on more, reacting strongly or feeling unsettled, pause.
Ask yourself which of these might be sitting underneath:
Am I questioning whether I’m good enough?
Do I feel I don’t belong?
Am I questioning whether I’m loveable?
Do I feel I don’t deserve something?
Am I taking too much, or too little, responsibility?
PROCESSING
A question to think about and consider (you can discuss this with someone or write your thoughts down)
“Where in your life are you doing more because you’re able to, and where are you doing more because something inside you feels you have to?”
There’s a difference between using our strengths by choice and using them to prove something.
Consider where you might be taking on more, pushing harder or carrying something simply because you can.
If you knew you were already enough, belonged, were loved, deserving and appropriately responsible, would you still choose to do it?
This question will be added to the Community Space in the Leapers Club for you to share your thoughts.
SHOUT OUT
Who / what I think deserves recognition, my gratitude or to be celebrated.
Storytelling
We recently went to a steakhouse with a great reputation. When we arrived, I was a little taken aback. It was dark and a bit scruffy around the edges. The staff were great, and I remember thinking, the steak must be incredible. To be fair, it was.
But then I discovered the restaurant had been there since 1901 and started reading its story. Suddenly, everything changed: the darkness felt atmospheric. The worn edges felt like history. What had looked old now felt authentic. Nothing about the restaurant had changed.
The story had changed how I saw it. That’s the power of storytelling - which is why it gets a big shout out!
Next Live Leaps Virtual Event:
Finding Your Balance
When: 11th August (4pm BST)
CLICK TO REGISTER
BONUS GIFT FOR YOU
This week’s little extra for you - from me.
This week’s gift is my visual for a brand new book - Don’t Call It Art by Austin Kleon
This is available to you for free (for 7 days) using the code: PLAY when you check out. Access is via the link / button below.
Please note that if you miss the 7 day offer, we can not extend this for you. You can, however always access the download for a nominal charge.
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.
Join The Leapers Club
A clear starting point for learning the GLAS Method and understanding the wider framework
A private community space
Dedicated chat areas for focused conversations
Curated non-fiction book recommendations
Themed 90 day self-led Sets with online and downloadable Playbooks
L.E.A.P.S spaces to share your Learn, Energy word, Action, Processing, and Shout Out
Specialist sector Sets for teachers, family businesses, leadership development, and professional advisers (with many more to follow)
Check in quizzes to deepen reflection
Live and recorded events
Practical visuals and tools you can use immediately
Once a member, you have life-time community access
New: Free Family Business Scorecard
A simple way to identify where balance exists, where pressure may be building, and where conversations may be needed across a family business.
Complete the quick scorecard and receive a personalised PDF report.
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?
