Paradox of Holding On | Relax | Daring Greatly
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
Paradox of Holding On
This week, our middle son leaves for his next adventure in New Zealand. He returned home six months ago after four years in Canada.
Meanwhile, our oldest son is about to return after a year travelling and working in Australia. Then there’s our daughter, who is spending a year at an outdoor centre, developing new skills, confidence and experiences of her own.
As parents, we've spent years helping our children grow. We teach them to be capable, encourage them to be independent. We work hard to give them the confidence to step into the world. Yet there is a paradox in all of this: the very thing we've worked so hard to help them become is the thing that asks us to let go.
Holding on can often feel that it comes from love - from protection, care and wanting to keep people close. Yet sometimes holding on too tightly creates more distance, not less.
The relationships that thrive are often the ones that have enough space to breathe. They are the ones that have enough freedom to grow, and enough trust to explore.
Perhaps our greatest challenge isn't learning how to hold on - but learning when to loosen our grip. It doesn’t mean we care less - instead it shows that we trust more.
This is true in leadership too. Sometimes the people, teams and businesses we care about most need less grip, and more trust.
ENERGY
Focusing on an emotion or energy; a stand-out word / s
Relax
From the Latin relaxare meaning "to loosen" or "to release." Relaxation is not the absence of care, it is the release of unnecessary tension.
The moment we stop gripping so tightly and trust what we have already built.
ACTION
Something small that you can do that might make a big difference
Loosen the Grip
Choose one area of your life where you may be holding on too tightly. Take one small step to create more space, trust or freedom.
PROCESSING
A question to think about and consider (you can discuss this with someone or write your thoughts down)
“Where in my life am I holding on too tightly?”
Sometimes we hold on because we care deeply - we can also hold on because we're afraid of what might happen if we let go. Take a moment to notice where you may be gripping rather than trusting.
What are you trying to protect?
What might become possible if you loosened your grip just a little?
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.
Adventurers
To the people willing to step into the unknown - including our three kids. To those who leave home, start again, take the flight, accept the challenge and embrace what comes next.
May your adventures expand your world, deepen your understanding and remind you what you're capable of. And to those cheering from the sidelines, may you find the courage to trust the journey too.
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 Brene Brown’s book Daring Greatly.
This is available to you for free (for 7 days) using the code: REMOVETHEMASK 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?
