October Roundup: Lifelong Learning, Shame Gremlins, Menopause and the Power of Belief.

Are You Worth it?

When I was working for organizations, I remember my choices for learning being quite constrained. My mindset?at the time was?to limit the scope of my learning to what the?organization was willing to pay for.

Yet I still had a desire to grow, change, evolve and achieve? aspirations beyond what was available in terms of budget and role.

As an entrepreneur, I continue to invest in my learning professionally and personally in areas that are important to me.

As you consider what kind of investment you want to make in yourself, I'll leave you with this:?

?? What are you interested in learning more about?

?? How do you want to expand or grow as a human??

?? Do you?believe?you are worth it?

If you are willing to learn, I believe you can have a truly uplifting experience. Filling in some learning gaps, or embarking on something completely new can have profound positive effects both in your personal and professional life.

Don't Let Those Shame Gremlins Control You!

We all have shame as part of the human experience. It's what feeds us those stories that?say we're not good enough, we're not deserving, or we don't belong here - in other words,?that feeling of imposter syndrome.?These "shame gremlins" exist?to keep?us safe, and in?our comfort zone.

When?I have those moments of imposter syndrome, I notice that they tend to come up most often when I'm depleted or run down. Conversely, when I self-resource with rest, exercise and better nutrition, I'm able to access self-compassion more easily, and I have the strength to ignore those shame gremlins, align?with my values, and bring the best version of myself forward.

Understanding these things about myself helps quell?my impostor syndrome. I want to leave you with a?few?tips that I find helpful when these feelings come up:

?? In those moments of self-doubt, vulnerability, or feeling of unworthiness, think about how you're feeling physically. Are you tired or feeling run down? Remember, this is?the state where those shame gremlins love to flourish!

???When you have those feelings of imposter syndrome, are you practicing self-compassion? Are you being?kind to yourself?

???When you're navigating these feelings, are you clear on your values? Can?your personal values support or guide you in those moments?

Let's Talk About Menopause

I just read the newly released?Menopause at Work?report from the Menopause?Foundation of Canada.?It is absolutely shocking how much menopause?impacts women?while in the prime of our?lives!?For instance, 1/3 of women say their menopause symptoms negatively impacted their performance at work and 2/3 would not feel comfortable speaking to their supervisor about their symptoms.

I really see myself in this report. While I'm fortunate to?be self-employed?and have access to supportive resources, I look back now on how I spent?my late forties and early?fifties absolutely ignorant?of what was?actually going on with my body and my mental and emotional health.?

I wish I knew then what I know now. If I had, I wouldn't have?waited?so long to get help. This is why I am encouraging?everyone to?become more educated and more aware of this stage of life, and to normalize conversations around menopause!

Belief is More Than a Feeling. It's a Practice!

One of my favourite speeches is?Ted Lasso's locker room speech?to his team after they suffered a major loss on the field.

In his speech, Ted Lasso (who is also a coach!) tells his demoralized?players that things like envy, fear and shame interfere with our ability to believe in ourselves and each other. But if we can let go of those feelings, and start believing again, things can and?WILL get get better!

Creating the conditions where people believe in themselves and in each other takes intention and practice.

In the sessions I facilitate, we ask the team how they can create a culture of belief within their organization. I'm always?inspired by the ideas they come up with. I hear things like: expressing appreciation, celebrating success, acknowledging what we see in people, and giving credit where it's due (to name a few). These may seem like small gestures, but they can dramatically shift your mindset and your work culture.

If you're interested in creating a culture of belief for your organization, or any of our leadership programs please book a call!