Why is self-compassion critical for Catalysts?

Each month in the Catalyst Constellations Galaxy - our global network of Catalysts from all industries and stages - we spotlight a different community member. Rejuvenation was the Galaxy theme for June and we are so thrilled to highlight Breana Teubner:

Head of Strategy & Operations, Banana Republic

Investor and Advisory Board Member, Alante Capital.

Here's a snippet of the interview:

Shannon: Self-compassion is a key topic for Catalysts. We have often been told our whole lives that we are troublemakers, disruptors, too intense, too loud, too fast, too arrogant and we end up internalizing some of this negative feedback into negative self-talk. What role do you see self-compassion playing for you on your journey? How do you cultivate it? How do you sustain it?

Breana: "Self-compassion is a subtle practice. Like you say, in order to do what we do as Catalysts we have to think differently, push boundaries, and make people feel uncomfortable. Naturally this brings up fear, in others and ourselves. And most of us have fairly sophisticated coping mechanisms to avoid that fear. In the past, when I’ve been fearful a voice would kick in and say “just work harder, you are strong enough to take on the work of others,” sacrificing my health in the process. Or perhaps your voice is defensive, angry, or berating at times like mine? What I didn’t realize is that I was ignoring a part of myself that needed attention: the fear itself. And this is where self-compassion comes in: first an awareness of the underlying fear or suffering (which is us wanting things to be different than they are in the present moment), and then simply being present with that suffering. It's unbelievable. You don’t need to do anything, just being present, curious, and accepting will shift your mindset.

Self-compassion is a practice, like building abs. You can’t just do 30 sit-ups on Monday and wonder why you don’t have a six pack at the beach on Saturday. If you don’t have a daily meditation practice, I’d recommend picking one small daily habit and practicing presence. For example, watch your thoughts while you brush your teeth everyday for a week and see what happens. The hardest part of cultivating compassion is committing to small, everyday efforts before you actually experience the powerful change they bring."

If you're interested in reading more about Breana, learning more about the importance of rejuvenation and self-compassion to be a more effective #Catalyst, or to find your tribe, join the us in the Galaxy.

https://catalystconstellations.com/