A few weeks back, someone in my FB community asked a question after listening to an interview that I shared featuring Reverend Deborah L. Johnson from my Awaken Your Soul at Work Telesummit . If you missed that interview, you can still catch it here.
I thought that the question that was posed was really powerful and so with her permission, I captured the conversation and wanted to share it with you. In the way of background, you should know that in the interview, Reverend Deborah and I talk about learning to be and bring your best, wherever you might find yourself within the world of work.
Here’s the Q &A:
Question:
“How do you tell when you need to shine unapologetically in the face of darkness, opposition, etc. or when it is time to go where you are valued, appreciated, or free?”
My Answer:
“I love your question and I have to say that I don’t believe there’s a quick and easy, cookie-cutter response to this because what’s being required in each moment and situation depends completely on the individual and their own personal “lessons of the day”.
For one person, it could be to learn to “be patient and content”, and for another it could be to learn to, “leap and have faith”. Each person has to determine the prevailing message that wants attention in his/her life at that time.
I’ll also say that while we can’t codify one’s actions, we can codify the questions that are helpful.
#1: “Am I being a martyr or a motivator?” i.e. are you just taking hits or is there evidence that the folks around you are growing with you? I don’t believe that work related situations are different from any other relationship. Martyrs are not required. If folks aren’t ready to grow, they just aren’t ready to grow.
Which leads to question #2: “What is my predominant state of being while operating in this capacity?” i.e., is it mostly feeding you or depleting you? If most of your energy goes towards maintenance and recovery, then something is awry. I like to apply the 80/20 rule where we ask, does this position allow me to be my best (and bring my best) at least 80% of the time?
Final note — At one point in the interview Rev. D. encourages listeners to “make the best of where you are”. It’s important to note, however, that you can totally do this and shine like nobody’s business, while simultaneously planting seeds to land in a place that is absolutely more aligned and that allows you to shine even more.”
Additional Thoughts:
A significant part of the journey towards wholeheartedness is about learning to “shine unapologetically” and operating in wholeness. And each person has to evaluate the degree to which the work in which they are engaged allows them to do this.
In this season of love, it is interesting to note that Jim Selman, a leader in organizational transformation and culture change, defines love as “granting the space to be”. The reality, however, is that most organizations simply do not know how to provide this type of space for their employees. They don’t know how to love. They are still operating using old, outdated paradigms.
And what they earn in return for their lack of courageousness is a bunch of individuals who will commit to only showing up “half-heartedly” instead of “wholeheartedly”. Thus all of their leading key success indicators such as productivity and overall profitability fall short of what they are truly capable of.
But you do not have to sit on the sidelines of your own life waiting for organizations to become conscious enough to contain your goodness.
You get to determine the degree to which you will bring your whole, integrated, full-soul-on-deck self into your work. And you also get to determine which work environment or organization is most aligned with who you are and what you came to do.
Don’t wait for someone to give you permission to show up wholeheartedly at work. Your talents, your gifts, your passion and your own personal sense of fulfillment are all worth too much for that.
Owning Change Quote of the Week: “Above all, be true to yourself, and if you cannot put your heart in it, take yourself out of it.” – Unknown
Monica Moody
Monica Moody
