The Power of Emotional Presence
Image created with AI assistance: Conceptual artwork depicting resilience and emotional depth
Over the last few years, I have felt my empathy slip from my fingertips, and with it, my humanness as well. This is not due to a lack of caring—quite the opposite, actually. Feeling everything all the time became too much of a load to bear. Over time, I watched as my judgment of myself and others nudged out my undying compassion and understanding. After years of desperately trying to understand the human experience (and failing), it became easier to abandon my connectedness to humanity than to continue feeling like I was carrying the weight of the world.
After years of brokenheartedness, life began to feel like a humiliation ritual at best.
So what does this have to do with leadership? Love is our lifeline as human beings. And without connection to the heart, we have no substance. I can’t think of something more heartbreaking than a world full of people walking around as shells of themselves because we are too afraid to feel. Making decisions solely from a place of logic and disconnection will produce empty results. When decisions are made from love and empathy for ourselves and others, it is not only about what’s best for us but also what’s best for the world. While that will most likely involve sitting with uncomfortable emotions, the juice is absolutely worth the squeeze.
I would love to say this is a challenge I have overcome, but honestly, I am just not there yet. Some days, I feel as though I am overflowing with love and connection, and on others, it is like the valve is completely shut off. What I have learned is that while it may not feel like it at times, my participation in the human experience is 100% my choice. I have to opt in and say yes to all of it in order to stay connected. And it is ALWAYS a blessing. What a privilege it is to have a heart that can be broken. The point of love isn’t to feel better all the time; it is to become better at feeling. I can now say with full conviction that carrying the weight of the world is a load best shared.
Fundamental of the Week #20: APPRECIATE AND ACKNOWLEDGE
Regularly let people know you appreciate their qualities. Being acknowledged for a task well done is important; being acknowledged for a character quality is lasting.
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