There’s power in our words and our actions give life to those words. In any traumatic experience such as domestic violence, sexual assault, or even losing a loved one, there are necessary steps that should be taken to move a person from surviving/existing to thriving. In my humble opinion, there is a difference. Step by step, a beautiful journey of healing, self-care, and eventually finding purpose from the pain will be discovered. From a leadership perspective, these same steps can be used. It shows commitment and dedication to the position you uphold as well as the responsibility to ensure your business is thriving too.
I believe personal healing consists of acknowledging what you experienced, restoring your broken soul, and forgiving (self and others). We must be honest enough with ourselves to grieve the loss of our innocence, our trust, a relationship, and/or the love we held for someone dear to us. Much like personal healing, professional healing relies on the leader to become self-aware to refocus on rebuilding their company brand, employee loyalty, and customer satisfaction.
Next, self-care is critical to personal and professional growth. That may come in the form of counseling, a good cry, support groups, journaling, long walks, or drives, as well as soaking in a lavender bubble bath. Whatever the methods, let it be positive and nurturing to YOU. Finally, find purpose from the pain. No matter what we go through, good, or bad, there is a lesson to be learned. Within that lesson bares fruit of humility, strength, and resiliency. Through it all, find the purpose and it will birth your passion. In addition, self-care develops a F.I.T. (Focused, Intentional, and Thriving) mindset, which promotes a work-life balance. By doing so, it reduces burnout. Let us be honest, a burned-out leader only creates more problems for themselves and their employees.
Overall, be gentle with yourself. Do not suppress the hurt and pain. This will do more harm than good. It can take a toll mentally, physically, and emotionally. Denial feeds dysfunction and God cannot heal what we conceal. So, keep it real with yourself. By following these steps, every relationship (personal and professional) you have will benefit from your journey to thrive. Most importantly, YOU will be a better leader from it. Life is too short. It is my prayer that you do not give up on life and live it to the fullest. I do not want you to just exist. I want you to have a F.I.T. mindset!
