Leaders, beginnings are times of tremendous potential. They can be intimidating — the curtain is raised and a fresh stage awaits — but beginnings offer unique opportunities for transformation and growth. This week, let's explore our relationship to beginnings in order to approach them with curiosity instead of fear. Ask yourself questions like: “What comes before a beginning?” or “How do I mark a beginning in my day?” We lose sight of how powerful each present moment is when starting something new – untangle it now so that you can flow through your future with ease and confidence. Your first journal prompt!
We all have a burning desire inside us for connection - with ourselves, the world around us, and even those closest to us. But too often we choose emotional (or physical) distance when faced with uncertainty or challenge. In doing so, we miss out on potent opportunities for true presence in our own lives as well as potentially deep meaningful relationships with others. I invite you to explore how bringing more mindfulness into your daily interactions can help you reclaim that closeness in life by creating space for dialogue, understanding emotionality better, and opening up our hearts more authentically.
As humans, we can be driven by the power of desire. No matter our circumstance in life, longing for something bigger or better is a common thread that binds us all together. Whether it’s an intense longing for true love, family, success or just being able to return ‘home’ and live happily amongst family and friends; each individual need is personalized and unique. But what happens when these longings remain unfulfilled? How can we approach the notion of longing while getting a better understanding of ourselves and our emotions along the way? This week, we dive deep into this often overlooked area to discover some powerful insights about how to confront those longings.
Trust is an essential element of success for any leader. It helps build confidence in your team and strengthen morale, ultimately leading to improved performance and increased collaboration within an organization. As a leader, it's imperative to understand that trust isn't built overnight; instead it takes time, consistency, good communication skills, active listening & responsiveness, and focused effort towards creating the right environment and culture. Investing in fostering trust within your team creates long-term rewards like creative collaboration and strong relationships based on mutual respect. So let’s take a look at how you can become a better leader by understanding what trust is really about —and why developing this quality matters so much.
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough and more." - Melody Beattie
At its core, gratitude is an attitude of appreciation and thankfulness. For social change leaders, it serves as a powerful catalyst for building connections with team members, partners, and the communities they serve. By integrating gratitude into our daily lives, we can cultivate a sense of abundance, resilience, and empathy as leaders. Throughout this course and our collective journey towards greater self-awareness, we will embark on a transformative exploration of gratitude. Let gratitude be a guiding light on this journey of self-discovery and transformation.
Life is a constant process of change and evolution, and within that dynamic, there are always new possibilities and potentials waiting to emerge. Take a moment to reflect on what is currently emerging in your life—new ideas, relationships, or opportunities that are taking shape. Consider the subtle shifts, the signs of growth, and the hints of transformation that you may be witnessing. Through this intentional practice of journeying inwards, we share how you can reconnect with your radiance and self-expression - liberating the beautiful potential held deep inside of you.
Welcome! This week, I invite you to pause and reflect upon the meaning of love in your life. What has been your experience of love this year? How have you shown love to yourself and others? Have there been any questions or intentions that come up when you think of bringing more love into your life? By exploring these questions together, we can better understand what it looks like for each one of us to embody true love in action. Let’s dive deep together as we consider all kinds of love – at work, in public spaces, in nature... and beyond. It is my hope that through this reflection we may gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and find new ways to express our passion for living with greater appreciation and compassion for ourselves and the others around us.
The values that drive your work and leadership is an incredible source of inspiration and guidance. Creating lasting social change involves taking action towards creating a better future based on those values. Knowing how to take ideas about values, such as integrity or compassion, and transform them into actionable behaviors is essential for social change leaders in order to create meaningful movements. By incorporating our core values into our work, we are able to dictate the type of changes we’re striving to make with clarity and purpose. But what exactly does this process look like? This week will walk you through activating your own values so that you lead with a greater sense of direction towards lasting impactful social change.
Purpose is the driving force that infuses our actions with meaning, direction, and fulfillment. It is the compass that guides us towards our deepest desires and aligns our values with our actions. Take a moment to reflect on what purpose means to you personally. Consider the areas of your life where you feel a strong sense of purpose and those where you may seek greater clarity. Reflect on the activities, relationships, and endeavors that ignite your passion and make you feel truly alive. Use your journal as a space to delve into the depths of your purpose, exploring the values, talents, and aspirations that underpin it.
Creativity is a powerful force that sparks innovation, fosters growth, and allows for unique expressions of your authentic self. As a leader, embracing creativity not only enhances your problem-solving abilities but also encourages a culture of exploration, adaptability, and inclusivity within your team. Throughout this year-long course, you will have the opportunity to explore numerous practices that nurture and cultivate creativity, allowing it to emerge and flourish. By engaging in these practices, you will unlock the wellspring of imagination, broaden your perspectives, and enhance your ability to lead with empathy and self-awareness. Embrace this journaling opportunity to tap into your innate creative potential, and allow your journey through this course to inspire and ignite the flames of creativity within you.
It’s important to develop an understanding of how to work with our emotions in order to lead effectively. While this can be a challenging practice for many of us, the truth is that cultivating mindfulness and compassion around our feelings can be highly transformative. Developing skills that allow us to recognize our emotions - both in ourselves and from those around us - will help better equip you as a leader capable of responding skillfully in difficult moments. This week, we explore our feelings and dive into what Tara Brach calls her RAIN practice which she outlines in her book "Radical Compassion". This exercise seeks to provide guidance on ways we can all learn more about working through our emotions while remaining grounded and balanced within ourselves.
We live in a world where the body and mind are constantly asked to be separate. We’re encouraged to figure it all out in our heads, but is that really an effective or spiritual way of navigating through life? We can embrace a different approach – one that allows us to pause, reflect, and observe on what’s going on both mentally and emotionally before taking any action. This week's journal prompt & meditation highlights the power of the pause – from discovering inner wisdom within ourselves to practicing mindfulness when dealing with uncertainty, complexity and even mystery.
When was the last time you asked yourself what it might mean to start your day intentionally? To bring greater presence and awareness to your morning ritual? How would that help you become more prepared for the rest of your day? Starting a daily practice can help unlock opportunity and potential. What if you created space devoted solely to reflecting on your current state--mindfully allowing yourself to be open and radically present in just how life is right now? This week, we explore why developing a daily practice matters and offer some ideas and prompts for getting started.
Sometimes in the chaos and busyness of our lives, it can be easy to lose sight of the inspiration that surrounds us. That's why this week's exercise is all about bringing awareness and presence to the beauty in our lives. By taking a few minutes to pause, we connect to the inspiration within and around us. And when we tap into that inspiration, we may find that is has something to do with how we show up as leaders. So let's take this opportunity to reconnect with ourselves and our surroundings, and remember the power and importance of inspiration in our lives.
As we go through our days this week, it's important to take notice of the emotion that can so easily take hold of us: fear. It can be gripping and consuming, causing us to feel isolated and alone. However, in these moments, it's crucial to remind ourselves that we are accompanied by love. As we sit with our fears, we can begin to unpack the thoughts, stories, and assumptions that swirl around them. Through mindful reflection and journaling, we can better understand our feelings and thoughts, and what it takes to bring presence and kindness to them. When we lead with love and compassion, we allow our fears to soften and dissipate, making space for growth and healing. We can model presence and compassion, creating a culture of emotional safety and trust. So, as you move through this week, make an intention to cultivate love and compassion amidst your fears, allowing yourself to experience the transformative power of these qualities.
The journey towards wholeness and being-ness can be a difficult one, especially for those of us who have a bias towards action. We often feel as though we need to be constantly doing something in order to feel fulfilled. But what if we could learn to love our presence, our being, without the need for constant movement and productivity? As someone who has struggled with this myself, I understand the fear that can come with simply being. However, embracing a love of being doesn't mean we have to throw away our ambition or our desire for leadership. In fact, it is only by fully embracing our being-ness that we can lead from a place of true authenticity and wholeness. So, take a moment to write down what you love about being. Maybe it's the feeling of warmth from the sun on your skin or the sound of a loved one's laugh. Whatever it is, let it remind you of the beauty and power of simply being present in the moment.
This week's reflective practice and journal prompt is an invitation to embark on a journey of appreciation. As we navigate through our daily lives, it's easy to get caught up in our routines and forget to acknowledge the acts of kindness, patience, and generosity that we or others display. However, cultivating appreciation is crucial, especially when it comes to leadership. As leaders, we must set an example by recognizing the efforts of those around us. It's not just about praising their good work, but also accepting and appreciating the inward and outward movements of generosity, patience, and kindness that they demonstrate towards themselves and others. So, let's take a moment each day to reflect on these qualities that make us grateful for those around us, and let these moments of gratitude and appreciation pave the way towards more compassionate leadership.
At its core, our work as social change leaders is about creating trust through connectedness that transcends individual goals, ideas and beliefs in order to achieve a common result. As leaders we should strive to remain mindful of and tap into this invaluable connection; understanding the strength derived from different backgrounds, values and perspectives is fundamental in driving social change. This week will explore how tapping into this powerful kind of collective intelligence can help create meaningful progress for everyone involved.
In a world where we are constantly bombarded with news of what's not working, it can be easy to adopt a mindset of always looking for areas to improve. But this week's practice invites us to shift our focus and take a moment to reflect on what is already going well. Pause and consider all that is whole and enough just as it is right now. Perhaps it's a personal accomplishment you're proud of, or a positive interaction you had with a colleague. And if you're on a leadership journey, it can be especially valuable to take note of what's working within your team or organization.
As for this course, we want to know what's working for you. How has your journey been so far? Do you feel like you could use some extra support? We understand that leadership can sometimes be challenging. That's why we offer coaching for teams and individuals. If you're interested, please reach out to us at admin@rootwiseleadership.com.
As children, we were masters of imagination and play. We created entire worlds in our minds, filled with characters and stories that brought us endless joy. But as we grow older, we tend to forget that sense of wonder and lose touch with our inner child. And for those who did engage in play, connecting with that energy can feel like a comforting hug from an old friend. It's important to remember that our imagination is a powerful tool that can help us in all aspects of life, including leadership. By taking some time to connect with our sense of imagination and play, we can tap into our creative side and approach problems with a fresh perspective. So, let's take a moment now to remember those carefree days of make-believe and embrace the power of our imagination.
Dear friend, in a world that often focuses on our weaknesses and flaws, it's important to take a moment to reflect on our strengths and gifts. Recognizing where we shine can not only boost our self-confidence but also help us identify our potential as leaders. Don't be afraid to take pride in what you do well, whether it's your creativity, your kindness, your organizational skills, or anything else that makes you unique. Remember, our strengths are not only a source of personal fulfillment but can also have a positive impact on those around us. So take some time to deeply reflect on what you bring to the table.
It can be challenging to step outside of our own perspectives, especially as leaders in our respective fields. But taking the time to consider new perspectives is crucial for personal growth and effective leadership. So, how can we expand and change our perspectives? Try intentionally exploring a current challenge in your journal this week. Cultivate equanimity by seeking a wider perspective, while still actively participating in your day-to-day life. This wisdom allows us to be present in the moment, while also having the ability to watch life unfold. It's important to be kind to ourselves as we navigate this process of broadening our perspectives.
As we begin this week, let us take a moment to explore the concept of expansion and making space. Our leadership can be greatly improved when we align ourselves with the idea of growth and taking up space. So, what parts of ourselves need to expand and claim their rightful place? It is important to reflect on this question, both in our personal and professional lives. How are we making space for ourselves, for our relationships, and in our workplaces? Equally important is our attention to the spaces between the things we do, the tasks we complete. Are we giving enough attention to the mysterious spaces that exist between? These questions are not meant for us to rush into answering, but rather for us to contemplate and really let settle into our awareness. By doing so, we can bring greater intention and attention to places that we might otherwise ignore.
Integrity is a topic that can elicit a great deal of reflection and contemplation, especially in the realm of leadership. For many of us, integrity means living in a way that is consistent with our deepest values and principles. It means being honest and truthful, even when it's hard. It means striving to align our actions with our intentions, and holding ourselves accountable when we fall short. When we operate with integrity, we cultivate a sense of wholeness and purpose that permeates every aspect of our lives. As leaders, this is especially important, as our words and actions have a profound impact on those around us. At its core, integrity is a way of being that allows us to show up authentically in all that we do. This week in our journal practice, let's explore what integrity means to you.
"Drink your tea slowly and reverently as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves." - Thich Nhat Hanh
Have you ever noticed the tension between the way we often operate from a place of urgency and compulsion in our everyday lives, versus the gentle yet powerful invitation to slow down and embrace presence that is available to us? Our tendency for things to happen quickly can result in stress and overwhelm - something I've experienced deeply myself. But when we surrender into slowness with reverence, accepting only this moment as life, an incredible shift happens within us. In additional to journaling, I want to share with you my reflections on how to cultivate this wisdom using a quote from a great teacher of mine as our guide: So let's take a few breaths together here and now, settle into presence and explore how slowing down might be transformational for leaders like yourself.
Sometimes it takes a little sunshine to reveal the rough spots in our leadership. It's important to remember that our values are like light, able to illuminate a clear vision of a positive future and shed light into dark corners. By growing our self-awareness, we can better understand who we are and live our core values and strengths. This light not only helps us to set goals and chart our direction, but it also opens us up to new learning and discovery. In our journal practice this week, let's embrace the power of light and sunshine to reveal what may need attention.
Taking the time to meet with yourself is a deeply transformative ritual. It is a powerful way to connect with your innermost thoughts and reflections, and to set intentions for your life. As we lead busy lives, with demands from work, family, and friends, it can be all too easy to lose touch with ourselves. Meeting with yourself is a way to step into leadership, to be intentional with your time and energy, and to create a deeper sense of fulfillment and purpose.
When faced with change, it is natural to experience a range of emotions, thoughts, and sensations. Some may resist change, while others may embrace it as an opportunity for growth. It is essential to approach change with an open mindset and a willingness to adapt. Throughout this journal prompt, focus on noticing your initial reactions to change in the various aspects of life.
Continuing our journey of developing a gratitude practice, this journal prompt invites you to explore the powerful experience of feeling grateful. As we continue our course, we recognize the importance of gratitude as a foundational practice for personal growth and effective leadership. In this prompt, take a moment to reflect on the moments, experiences, and people in your life for which you feel grateful. Use your journal as a space to delve into the depths of gratitude, exploring the emotions, thoughts, and sensations that arise when you allow yourself to truly feel grateful.
This week invites you to explore the transformative concept of composting and reflect on what needs to be released into the metaphorical compost pile this week. Just like the natural process of composting, where organic matter decomposes and becomes nutrient-rich soil, we can apply this principle to aspects of our lives that have served their purpose. Reflect on what you are ready to release, letting go of attachments and expectations. Embrace the cycle of release and renewal, allowing the composting process to nurture your personal and creative evolution.
Self-expression is the art of conveying your thoughts, emotions, and unique essence in a way that feels authentic and true to who you are. It is a gateway to understanding and connecting with yourself on a deeper level. Take a moment to reflect on how you cultivate a connection with your self-expression. Consider the various ways in which you communicate—both verbal and non-verbal—and reflect on your strengths and areas for growth in this realm. By nurturing your self-expression, you create space for authenticity, connection, and personal growth.
Setting intentions - intentional actions taken with full focus and determination - can be an incredibly powerful way to bring clarity, direction, and motivation into your life. Whether it’s for the day ahead, the next month, or even just a moment of self-reflection – carving out time for intention setting is essential in guiding our decisions and cultivating leadership presence. Consider beginning with the grounding meditation when preparing for intention-setting this week: establish calmness within, notice what's present right now without judgment or clinging onto outcomes; take time to observe potential intentions that arise from your heart mind.
Waiting can be challenging, especially when we lack information about when it will end. It can leave us feeling unsettled, making it difficult to fully engage in life. However, waiting is an inevitable part of the human experience. It teaches us patience, resilience, and the importance of surrendering control when circumstances are beyond our influence. This prompt offers three questions to reflect upon during moments of nervous waiting. Embrace the opportunity to journal with these questions throughout the week, allowing yourself to gain insights and find solace amidst the waiting period.
Love in action extends beyond mere sentiment and encompasses a dynamic, intentional, and transformative way of being in the world. Drawing inspiration from bell hooks' book, "all about love," reflect on the dimensions of love that hooks identifies. Imagine embodying a powerful love ethic, where your interactions are rooted in care, your commitments are grounded in trust, and your responsibilities are upheld with respect. Journal this week and envision the impact of embodying love in action, and consider what you will do differently with this guiding principle at the forefront of your consciousness.
This week's journal prompt invites you to take a moment to reflect on the various aspects of your life that are budding or emerging—those projects, relationships, and ideas that are on the verge of blooming. Just as nature experiences seasons of growth and renewal, our lives also go through cycles of change and transformation. Consider what is currently sprouting in your life, what holds the potential to blossom into something beautiful and meaningful.
Asking questions is not only a means of acquiring information but also a powerful tool for fostering deeper connections and promoting understanding. By setting the intention to ask more open, honest, and humble questions, you create a space for authentic and meaningful connection. Use your journal this week as a space to articulate your intention, reflect on any challenges or barriers that may arise, and explore strategies for integrating this intention into your daily interactions. Embrace the transformative power of asking thoughtful and compassionate questions, as you embark on a journey of deeper connections, self-discovery, and empathetic communication.
Flow, as described by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, is a state of optimal experience characterized by complete immersion and focused engagement in an activity. It is a state where our energy aligns effortlessly with our actions, and we experience a sense of deep concentration and enjoyment. In this state, time seems to fly by, and we are fully absorbed in the present moment. The clarity of our direction and the alignment between our intentions and actions create a seamless flow, enabling us to perform at our best. This week's journal prompt invites you to reflect on the last time you felt connected to a state of flow. Delve deeper into this profound experience of flow, gaining insights into the conditions that enable you to connect with it more frequently in your life.
Dear friend, sometimes we need to take a break. In the fast-paced world we live in, it can be tempting to push ourselves relentlessly without allowing time for rest and rejuvenation. This week, explore activities that truly nourish and recharge you, whether it's taking a walk in nature or engaging in a creative pursuit. Reflect on the impact of these intentional breaks on your overall well-being, productivity, and ability to lead with clarity and presence. Embrace this journaling opportunity to cultivate a healthier relationship with breaks and discover new ways to engage in restorative practices that align with your values and enhance your leadership abilities. Remember, in taking care of yourself, you are better equipped support others on their journeys.
Building upon the exploration of clarifying our values, this journal prompt delves into the practical implementation of our values in daily life. Values serve as guiding principles that shape our thoughts, decisions, and actions. However, it is essential to move beyond abstract ideals and define how we can actively embody our values as a practice. Embrace the opportunity to reflect on a value you hold dear and bridge the gap between value identification and value manifestation.
To further support your exploration, consider using the impactful worksheet "Defining Values: Getting Into Action." This resource will assist you in mapping out practical steps to integrate your values into your everyday experiences. If you find this work resonating deeply and yearn for additional support in your leadership development, both for individuals and teams, I encourage you to reach out to admin@rootwiseleadership.com.
As Brene Brown, a renowned researcher and author, emphasizes, play is not just an indulgence; it is an essential component of our well-being and creativity. Play serves a vital purpose in helping us navigate difficulties, expand our horizons, and find fulfillment in our work. Engaging offers us a pathway to joy and satisfaction. Explore the ways in which you can intentionally integrate play into your life, recognizing its importance as an essential counterpart to work.
Whether you are seeking inspiration to infuse more joy and spontaneity into your life or looking to integrate play as a leadership tool, "Practicing Play" is an excellent resource. Dive into this thought-provoking reading as a valuable complement to your journaling journey this week.
In this prompt, take a moment to reflect on the various people, experiences, and aspects of your life that you are grateful for. Consider the impact that expressing gratitude through thank you notes can have, both on yourself and on those who receive them. Reflect on the ways in which you can incorporate this gratitude practice into your leadership, acknowledging and appreciating the efforts and contributions of others.
When faced with a lack of clarity and a multitude of unknowns, effective communication becomes an anchor that keeps us grounded. In this prompt, take a moment to reflect on the quality of your communication, whether it fosters understanding, connection, and trust. Journal this week about the ways in which communication can serve as an anchor in times of ambiguity, both for yourself and for those you lead.
Life is a journey filled with ups and downs, twists and turns, and countless opportunities for growth and transformation. In this prompt, take a moment to reflect on the notion of starting anew, whether it's in a specific area of your life or in a more holistic sense. Consider the possibilities that arise when we release the weight of past experiences and open ourselves to the potential of a fresh start. Reflect on how embracing the idea of beginning again can empower you to let go of self-limiting beliefs, embrace resilience, and step into a renewed sense of purpose and possibility.
Our emotions serve as a rich and complex language that allows us to convey our experiences, needs, and desires. However, we often find it challenging to accurately identify and articulate our emotions, leading to misunderstandings and barriers in our relationships. In this prompt, take the time to delve into the depths of your emotional landscape and reflect on the words that best capture the nuances of your feelings. Consider how expanding your emotional vocabulary can offer you a more profound understanding of yourself, enabling you to communicate your emotions with greater clarity.
This week's journal prompt invites you to explore the profound concept of connecting to the creativity within yourself. Creativity is not limited to artists or musicians; it is a universal human trait that resides within each of us. In this prompt, you are encouraged to delve deep into your own inner wellspring of creativity and reflect on how it manifests in your life. Consider the various forms of creativity that bring you joy and fulfillment, whether it be through writing, problem-solving, design, or any other avenue. Embrace the opportunity to connect with the boundless well of creativity within you and let your journal be a gateway to self-discovery and inspiration.
In a world that seems to be always rushing forward, the concept of slowness may feel foreign or even uncomfortable. However, when we allow ourselves to pause and contemplate our own relationship with speed, we may uncover meaningful insights and opportunities for growth. Embracing slowness can provide us with the space to reflect on our energy, emotions, and thoughts, ultimately leading to a deeper sense of connection with ourselves and those around us. So, take a deep breath, slow down, and allow yourself the time and space to explore what slowness means for you.
The idea of wilderness as a metaphor intrigues me deeply. It speaks to the journey that we take when we encounter things that are unknown, untamed, and uncontrollable. For some, the wilderness is a place to be conquered and tamed, while for others, it is a place to be explored and enjoyed. As a leadership coach, I see the wilderness as a challenging yet rewarding place to be. It is where we can learn valuable lessons about ourselves and the world around us. The journey through the wilderness is not always easy, but it is worth it. It teaches us about resilience, flexibility, and adaptability. As we meditate and journal this week, let us embrace the wilderness as a place of growth and discovery, rather than a place of fear and uncertainty. Let us find the beauty, mystery, and uncertainty in the meandering path, and enjoy the journey.
As a leader, it can sometimes feel like giving yourself permission to focus on love is a luxury. After all, there are always deadlines to meet, crises to navigate, and goals to achieve. Yet, when we take a step back and contemplate the power of love, we begin to see that it's not simply a nice-to-have component of our lives, but a necessary one. Love has the ability to transform relationships, heal wounds, and bring joy and inspiration to our every day. So, this week, I invite you to spend some time contemplating and imagining love. Let yourself feel the peace that comes from loving and being loved. Consider how you can infuse more acts of love into your daily leadership practice. By starting with the felt sense of love, you may just find that you're able to show up in your work with greater compassion and strength.
This week, the spotlight is on joy. I know that for some of us, especially those going through a difficult time, joy can feel like an unwelcome stranger. But I want to extend an invitation to simply notice moments of joy and make note of them, no matter how small they may seem. It doesn't mean you're denying your pain or struggles, but rather allowing yourself to be present to moments of lightness and beauty that exist even in the midst of difficulty. As leaders, we often carry a heavy load and it can be easy to dismiss or ignore the moments of joy in our lives. But when we give ourselves permission to pay attention to them, we open up a new dimension of awareness and possibility. So go ahead and allow yourself to resist this invitation if you need to, but don't let that resistance prevent you from experiencing moments of joy. With presence and curiosity, you may find that joy is just waiting to be noticed.
Time is a powerful and intangible force that impacts our lives in countless ways. For leaders, time management is crucial to success. Balancing the responsibilities of leadership can cause stress, but when we approach time with mindfulness, it can become a source of meaning and fulfillment. When you reflect on your relationship with time, consider when it feels spacious and when it feels rushed. Think about the moments when time seems to slip away and those when it drags on. By nurturing your relationship with time, you can become a more effective and empathetic leader. What changes can you make to support this process? Let this week's reflective practice and journal prompt guide you on your journey to a deeper understanding of the role time plays in your life and leadership.
Letting go can be one of the most difficult yet transformative things we do in life. It requires us to release our tight grip and surrender to the unknown. This week, I invite you to reflect on what you might be holding on to more tightly than needed. Maybe it's a project at work, a relationship, or your own ego. Whatever it may be, consider how you can create space around it. Making space gives us room to breathe and to see things in a new light. As leaders, we can have a tendency towards control - but by letting go, we can empower ourselves and others.