Thought for the Day ~ We are Wired for Connection

Sometimes the obstacle we must overcome is the path itself.......because the only way out is through. We live in a world that encourages us to wear our busyness like a badge of honour. This inevitably leads us to fitting in to the spaces we work, play, and live in by subjugating our own values and principles to belong. As human beings we are all wired for connection. We crave belonging and feeling like we are a part of something bigger than we are. Yet as much as we crave connection we need the space to be authentic. We need to be able to stand in our power and shine our light the way we were meant to; so that we can dare to live our life as we understand it. Nothing will rob you of your spirit more than being somewhere where you are tolerated rather than celebrated. Where you are made to feel less than, because you refuse to participate in the game of exhaustion that society and organizations seem to value.

People have become more judgmental and mean spirited because when you focus on exhaustion as the measure of success, people lose sight of their humanity. The most powerful emotional response to an unhealthy culture is grief, fear, and discouragement. If allowed to take hold these emotions will seep into every crevice of your life. Our great internal divide is the distance between should and reality. The greater the distance the greater the pain. So we must have a strong back so that we can stand in our power; and a soft front so that we remain flexible and able to respond intelligently and authentically to our environment. So be who you truly are. Do not run your actions, and your decisions through the filter of what will they think? Recognize that it is not that you are incompatible with the environment or the people, it is the rituals of engagement that are unhealthy. So start there.....and always bring your authentic self to the party. Now you can soar.

Brene Brown said "True belonging is the spiritual practice of believing in and belonging to yourself so deeply that you can share your most authentic self with the world and find sacredness in both being a part of something and standing alone in the wilderness. The greatest barrier to true belonging is fitting in or changing who we are so we can be accepted. When we create a culture of fitting in and seeking approval at work, we are not only stifling our individuality, we are inhibiting people's sense of true belonging. People desperately want to be part of something, and they want to experience profound connection with others, but they don't want to sacrifice their authenticity, freedom, or power to do it."

By Lisa Scott ~ Certified Executive Life Coach