Authentic Presence Grows When We Slow Down
“If I can’t show up authentically, I’d rather not show up at all.” Those were the words I found myself saying during a conversation last week. Every month, at Tribal, we have Fika chats - organised by Anna and our amazing wellness team. A chance to connect with a colleague you wouldn’t otherwise spend time with each day. Last Friday Nikki Sawyer lifted my Fika spirits. We talked about being kind to ourselves during challenging life moments. Timely, considering it was #MentalHealthAwareness week. Our conversation reminded me of this picture I took a few months ago when I took a peri-menopause induced break from the business. A pansy, flowering in our driveway. The busy, multi-tasking version of me wouldn’t have noticed this little plant poking through. If I did, I’d likely pluck it out the ground thinking it was a weed before it had a chance to flower. As I began to slow down last year, I noticed more. More self-seeded pansies, more growth, more flowers. But at the same time, I felt pressure to find clarity. To have answers. To keep showing up online. Ironically, as someone who encourages leaders to be more visible online, I struggled with visibility myself. But sometimes stepping back is more authentic than showing up for the sake of staying visible. In a world where it’s easier than ever to produce content using AI or outsource the sharing task to a tool or team, I believe it’s the human part of us that will cut through loudest. Not polished perfection. Not constant visibility. The stories, the imperfections and the wonderful weirdness (thanks for that Faye ) that makes us, us! So on this, the last day of a week that holds special meaning for me, I’m looking at the pansies - now rehomed into a pot on my patio - reminding myself that it’s okay to pause. That’s human. #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek #PauseForPansies
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