Permission to Glow

What if unleashing your full power in life and work isn't about being invincible, but about being more human?

1. Expand Yourself to Grow as a Leader

Becoming a better leader isn't about more strategies or tools—it's about personal inner growth. Leaders often face countless challenges simultaneously, making it tempting to operate on autopilot. However, self-awareness and intentionality are needed to unlock their own potential and that of their team.

Leaders are like guides helping their team cross the metaphorical chasm between "what is" and "what could be." But before showing others the way, leaders must take charge of their own inner growth. Expanding internal resources—like patience, adaptability, and empathy—helps leaders reach their best and enables others to thrive too.

Turning inward isn't limited to business leadership. Anyone nurturing another person—parents, teachers, or friends—can benefit from this approach. By committing to personal development, you create an environment where others feel supported to grow toward their possibilities.

Examples

• A team leader learns active listening to build better connections within her team.
• A parent practices patience by journaling their frustrations and reflecting on better responses.
• A mentor chooses to focus on their emotional resilience first, setting an example for their mentees.

2. Feel True Peace When Living Your Vocation

A career is what you do, but a vocation is your purpose. Those who align their work with what genuinely fulfills them radiate excitement and gratitude. On the other hand, staying in a role that isn't aligned leaves a gnawing “what else is out there?” feeling.

Your peace of mind comes when your actions sync with your purpose. This alignment not only quiets your doubts but also fosters resilience, even when challenges arise. Living your vocation means advancing in a field or undertaking projects that feel deeply meaningful to you.

Recognizing your discomfort is the first step to pursuing your calling. Often, behaviors like procrastination, overworking, or indulging in distractions are signs you're avoiding deeper questions. By acknowledging this longing for purpose, you open the door to meaningful change.

Examples

• A teacher switches careers to non-profit work, finding more alignment with their passion for helping underserved communities.
• A software developer realizes their love for creativity and pivots into writing novels.
• A mid-level employee starts a side gig that fulfills their love for environmental conservation.

3. Pause Before Reacting

Modern life feels like an endless race, where high-speed actions often bypass thoughtfulness. However, taking a deliberate pause creates space for clearer thinking and more intentional responses. For leaders and individuals alike, pressing pause enables better choices.

This practice lets you separate a stimulus—like criticism or stress—from how you react to it. By pausing, you turn off autopilot and give yourself time to assess what matters. Slowing down isn't a sign of weakness; it's a strategy for staying centered amidst chaos.

Simple practices like meditation reinforce this habit. Five minutes of silent breathing each day can rewire your brain to handle stress or disruptive emotions better. Over time, pausing becomes second nature, saving energy and leading to healthier decisions.

Examples

• A manager delays responding to an angry email, choosing a thoughtful reply after calming down.
• During a family argument, a parent takes a pause to breathe before contributing constructively.
• A student faced with career uncertainty uses meditation to reflect on choices instead of panicking.

4. Embracing Emotions is Essential

Emotions are messengers carrying useful information. Suppressing these feelings causes missed opportunities for growth. Society often teaches us to avoid emotions, but tuning in helps us learn what they are pointing to.

For instance, tears after a small disagreement may seem uncalled for. But digging deeper might reveal stress or unmet needs at work. Acknowledging your emotions opens the door to effective problem-solving, whether in relationships or leadership contexts.

To make the most of your emotions, identify triggers and patterns. Instead of suppressing feelings, respond with curiosity. Understanding your emotions' root cause can inform conversations, build healthier bonds, and clarify your needs.

Examples

• A CEO notices their frustration with a team member stems from unclear expectations and schedules a clarifying meeting.
• A spouse reflects on their anger during a conversation and expresses how they feel unheard instead of lashing out.
• A friend decodes jealousy as a reminder to nurture their own personal goals.

5. Befriend Fear to Help You Shine

Fear can act like an over-protective guide, holding you back under the guise of safety. Embracing fear rather than avoiding it is key to embracing your full potential. Fear doesn’t disappear, but it teaches valuable lessons if you let it.

Fear and excitement are largely the same bodily sensation; the only difference is how you frame it. Shifting fear into excitement allows you to take positive actions despite apprehension. This transformation begins by breathing deeply through scary moments.

Taking action while acknowledging fear showcases true bravery. This is where real self-expression and growth flourish—when you stop holding yourself back due to imagined limits.

Examples

• An aspiring entrepreneur turns their fear of failure into a bold decision to start their business.
• A public speaker reframes their stage fright as excitement to share their message.
• A team member speaks up during meetings, recognizing that fear holds them back from contributing.

6. Uplift Others to Strengthen the Whole

Supporting someone else to shine doesn’t dim your light—it makes you collectively stronger. By fostering inclusion and collaboration, leaders create teams that achieve things individuals couldn’t.

Encouraging others to excel starts by respecting their unique strengths. Sharing openly where their contributions inspire you amplifies this dynamic. Focus shifts from control to empowerment, fostering both individual wins and team success.

When you align your vision with trust in others, collective confidence grows. This approach doesn’t dilute leadership; instead, it positions you as the catalyst for collective progress.

Examples

• A manager publicly thanks a colleague for their innovation during a project.
• A teacher highlights a student's creative solution to encourage classroom collaboration.
• A team leader empowers employees by involving them in decision-making discussions.

7. The Power of Self-Compassion

Learning and transformation require patience. High achievers sometimes push themselves too hard, expecting dramatic results quickly. Instead, self-compassion allows for gradual but steady expansion.

Treat your journey like a toddler learning to walk—it's not about never falling but about building consistency. Commit to small, reachable goals over time and celebrate incremental wins to reinforce growth.

The road to embracing peace and intentionality is lifelong. With persistence and self-kindness, you uncover limitless opportunities for growth and fulfillment.

Examples

• A person struggling with meditation commits to short but frequent sessions, rather than trying an hour-long routine daily.
• An overwhelmed leader grants themselves grace during uncertain times and starts again without dwelling on setbacks.
• A volunteer chooses sustainable, small contributions instead of burning out with overcommitment.

Takeaways

1. Pause daily to reconsider automatic reactions—start with a five-minute meditation practice.
2. Embrace discomfort by reframing fear into excitement using deep, steady breaths.
3. Acknowledge and celebrate contributions from teammates to foster collaboration and empowerment.