Studies using brain imaging such as functional MRI suggest that our minds spend approximately 50% in time travel to the future.
If we spend up to 50% of our waking hours projecting the future (especially in light of politics, climate change, polarizing values, rising costs of shelter and food, ever-present loss, wars and rumors of wars etc) the dread and negative bias or conscious worry and stress will influence the health of our body, mind and brain (which will directly influence our leadership capacity).
Perhaps we might eek out a bit of wisdom from Charlie Brown's philosophy about our chosen thoughts for 'one day at a time'.
What we think about grows.
Thoughts that we nurture wire together to create default highways of thinking, being and behaving - all of which directly impacts our desired leadership outcomes.
Notice. Name. Choose.
Lead yourself well.
One of the under acknowledged attributes and virtues of leadership, is the brave attention to loss.
Cheers to the courageous ones who allow the integration of loss to be acknowledged and validated.
What is your loss? A person, a dream, health, a relationship, a pet, the life you thought you'd live, ________________.
Everyone grieves, but it takes courage to mourn, to acknowledge and allow the 'homesickness' with no home to return to.
In loss and grief, it takes time for wounds to fade into scars. Give yourself that time of acknowledging the vastness of your loss, without judgement, shame, blame or condemnation.
Lead yourself well in the grit of learning and losing and validating the full human experience.
Leaders, supervisors, managers, bosses, HR team - when an individual on your team (of any position) experiences grief and loss - how are you encouraging, affirming, or allowing space for self-care?
Neighbour, family member, friend, relative, stranger - how are you extending curiosity, understanding, empathy, kindness and encouragement of self-care to those who experience grief and loss?
Individuals with or without a title other than a *human* - how are you validating, respecting, honouring and allowing space for your self-care when you experience grief and loss?
Self-care is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation. It's really important to give respectful space for your preservation. You matter. Your life and experiences matter.
Notice. Name. Choose.
Lead yourself well.
Practicing the behaviour that you want others to follow, is on your shoulders. Let's call it agency and awareness and a life dedicated to leading yourself well.
Check in on your own behaviours:
People may hear your words, but your actions and ways of being will be the louder communication.
Lead yourself well.
