“The work of shifting from reactive to conscious leadership isn't something you do once. It's a practice you return to again and again. And it's worth it.”
I love this post from Founders Who Thrive! They outline 10 shifts from conditioned, unhealthy reactions to conscious, healthy responses to life & the world around us.
In my opinion, these shifts can help not just founders, but anyone, including #designers, developers, and other creative professionals to stay human in the face of life and work.
Here are my highlights. For their full list, follow the link below 👇🏼.
MY FAVORITE SHIFTS
Shift 3: From "They triggered me" to "That reaction belongs to me - what's it showing me?"
“When you blame others for your reactions, you stay stuck. The shift is owning your response. Not as self-criticism, but as information. What old wound just got activated? What boundary got crossed? Your reactions are messengers.”
Shift 4: From "I can't say no; they'll be upset" to "A clear no protects both of us from resentment"
“People-pleasing feels like kindness but it's often fear. Fear of conflict, of disappointing others, of not being liked. The shift is understanding that unclear boundaries damage relationships more than honest ones. Your resentment will leak out eventually.”
As a compulsive people pleaser, this one is HUGE for me! I struggle with boundaries to this day, but shifts like this have helped me immensely along my healing journey.
Shift 7: From "Emotions make me weak" to "Emotions give me data I can't access through logic alone"
“Founders are taught to be rational, logical, data-driven. But your emotions are data. They tell you when something's misaligned, when a relationship isn't working, when you're compromising your values. The shift is learning to listen without being controlled by them.”
Not only founders are taught to disregard or suppress #emotion. In Western society, I think we’re all taught this, especially boys and men. Reframing emotions as data empowers us to listen to the messages our intuition and body is telling us.
MY FAVORITE ENABLERS
“Work with Your Body, Not Just Your Mind
These shifts aren't cognitive exercises. They're somatic retraining. Your body holds the patterns. Walking, stretching, shaking out tension after a hard conversation - these aren't luxuries. They're how you complete the stress cycle and reset your system.”
“Practice the Pause
Between stimulus and response, there's a space. That's where your power lives. Start with just one situation per day where you practice pausing before reacting. Three breaths. Notice what's happening in your body. Then respond.”
THANK YOU! 🙏🏼
Thank you, Founders Who Thrive for framing this conversation and these shifts in ways that (I imagine) resonate with the people who need them most.
And thank you, Steven Ebbers for posting about FWT, and for the great work it looks like you’re doing there!
✌🏼 Lots of love!
#SelfCare #MentalFitness #ConsciousCommunication
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