April Edition: Reflecting on Nature's Wisdom

Welcome to my monthly newsletter, where I share insights, stories, and resources related to leadership, personal growth, and creativity. As a lifelong learner and explorer, I'm passionate about helping people tap into their potential, expand their horizons, and connect with their deeper selves and the world around them. So let's dive in.

April has been a busy month for me at work where my team launched several new features and a lot of progress on many other still in the oven. I want to share two big ones which found a mention in the PR - Custom Button on Premium Profiles and Generative AI assisted inMails. On the personal front my son had spring break and several birthday celebrations to attend, so I barely had time to sit down and reflect. But amidst the hustle and bustle, there were two things that I wanted to take the time to celebrate: National Poetry Month and Earth Day.

For Earth Day, I was reminded of a poem by David Wagoner called "Lost." The poem explores the intelligence of nature and how we must let ourselves be found by it in order to truly appreciate its beauty. My favorite lines from the poem reads:

No two trees are the same to Raven.

No two branches are the same to Wren.

If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you,

you are surely lost. Stand still.

The forest knows where you are.

You must let it find you.

??As leaders, we can learn a lot from nature. Just like how no two trees are the same to Raven and no two branches are the same to Wren, each member of our team is unique and has their own strengths and perspectives to offer. By creating a culture of psychological safety and trust, we can help our team members feel valued and empowered to contribute their best ideas and talents.

??And just like how standing still in the forest can help us find our way, taking a moment to listen and reflect can help us lead with clarity and purpose. Effective leaders understand the power of active listening. When you actively listen to your team members, you not only show them that you value their input, but you also gain valuable insights and perspectives that can inform your decision-making.

?? I want to invite you to practice active listening. You can start by setting aside distractions, asking open-ended questions, and summarizing what you hear to ensure you understand correctly.

Another highlight of my month was listening to a podcast by Arisudan Yadav, where he discussed the Madhushala, a classic Hindi poem by Harivansh Rai Bacchan and his life story. I was particularly struck by the context behind one of the most misplaced shlokas from the Ramayana. I highly recommend this episode to anyone who has been affected by misinterpretations of this classic text.

In the spirit of National Poetry Month, I wrote a poem that I wanted to share with you all:

the point of being

is to not hold

but to feel it all

to express it all

to dive right in,

not scared of the fall.

To cry in agony

Till the eyes are blurry

To shout those lungs out

when it’s an unfair knockout

To never pick silence

In the wake of violence

To use your strength

And your spine’s length

Fight for the causes that are right

With all your might, like a knight.

You can read the full poem here.

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