The question is not 'Where are you from?' it is 'Who are you?'

I set myself a challenge to be vulnerable eight weeks in a row, as I keep asking you all to be vulnerable all the time.

This is week four.

Let me know how you feel about the articles.

This article, is about navigating belonging and inquiring into who you are, deep down.

Asking the right question:

Where are you from?

Where did you use to work?

What do you do?

They are all the wrong questions.

Who are you?

That’s the real question to ask.

Not to ask someone else, but to ask yourself.

Who are you?

Are you your name?

Your previous experience?

Your emotions?

So who am I?

I love connecting with people.

I push for more and accept when it's not possible.

I love music and dancing. The feeling on body, thoughts and feelings connected.

Sleep is important to me. My boundaries are sacred.

I have a thirst for knowledge and reading but I’m a slow reader as I’m partially blind.

I remind myself that every day can be the most incredible day.

I hated travelling when my son was little – a boundary I have learnt from.

Going further, more deeply.

Asking again.

Who am I?

I’m the part of me, embracing the spirituality of my mother (something I spent most of my life thinking it’s something to shed).

I’m the part of me, that absorbed the knowledge and joy of my father (something I see now he’s passed away that never saw when was alive, death is the biggest of teachers).

I live without a clear history of my ancestors, but with confidence they passed on the energy and insights I need. “Where are you from?” becomes irrelevant.

I have always loved deep conversations, something I forgot whilst writing reports, chasing consultancies and 'deliverables'.

I show emotions and appreciate releasing them free.

But really, who am I? ?????

I am just like you – a messy, human, floating in space.

I’m also unique from you, in interpreting the world around me.

I’m unique from you, in handling the thoughts, emotions and voice in my mind.

I am the one that realises that my freedom should never be based on someone else, nor my internal narrative.

Isn’t that just beautiful?

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Why do I write this?

Inquiry is incredibly important to me.

Asking hard questions of myself is a big part of my leadership approach.

Doing things that aren’t the ‘norm’ is also me.

Navigating belonging is a journey not a outcome, to-do list or action plan.

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When you are ready, I’m running Standing in your power - a process where I support purpose driven change makers to inquire into themselves, unlocking their ambition and real goals.

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