Foe to flourish

I often feel I found yoga for a reason. I flourish.

The tree pose is one of the most fascinating yet challenging. When you stand tall on one leg grounded and at peace, your arms up high, you are strong, confident and blossoming. You're deeply connected to your own roots. Some days you lose balance and fall. This is part of life.

There's a tree I love. Every single time I see her (no idea why she is a she to me)I stop. Symbolic, mostly because she is still there, grounded firmly, battered by the elements, often vulnerable and exposed but most of the time elegantly strong in her confidence & beauty. I can relate. There was a moment when I allowed those elements to batter me so much metaphorically with words that I began to believe I was all roots never to flourish.

If you've read my first blog then you'll know that the last 12 months have been a whirlwind of self discovery, bolstered by a new found sense of well-being. I wouldn't be here doing this if it wasn't for a particularly traumatic experience. So today I'm dipping back to that, it's the root cause, where the story began. From foe to flourish.

I'm a huge believer in emotionally intelligent, empathetic and positive leadership. It's not fluff- it's sustainable, creates long term value and keeps your people focussed, productive and profitable. People are capital, "psychological capital". (Positive Psychology)

But the capital is suffering. Flourish feels a long way off for many. I've had so many messages from people really suffering with this. The roots are exposed and there's no growth. Or so it feels.

Interestingly in a recent report by PWC, 59% of businesses agree that employee health has had an impact on economical performance. In addition Hunt announced in the recent budget a £400M plan to provide more psychological & mental health support in the workplace. In the wake of Covid, the workplace has shifted. That's not new news. The question might be around the pace at which some businesses are moving to support the wellbeing element or addressing the pieces that threaten it. If at all. Covid was a foe that accelerated all kinds of shifts, exciting ones and yet exposed some serious flaws. Step by step. Flourish is a necessity.

My experience was a one off with monumental implications on my own mental health and one that could easily have been avoided. When I reflect I realise I was simply balancing trying to fit in against staying true to my values. With no support. Some of the moral dilemmas I faced made me feel completely alone. When I read about "cultural numbness" in a recent HBR article (https://hbr.org/2019/04/the-psychology-behind-unethical-behavior?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=hbr&) it hit the nail on the head.

Omnipotence, abuse of power & narcissistic behaviour create workplace impotence. This stunts growth. Yet the longer you're in it, the further you may sometimes be from your own values. You are being to work. Not well-being.

I threw myself into the usual. What's wrong with me, what did I do wrong, why didn't I fit in. And then, all of a sudden, down days, up days, research, reading and time by myself, it clicked. I had been in a situation that was so far detached from my values of authenticity and openness, I'd lost my sense of self.

So remember your foe, the foe, the disruption, will ALWAYS make you flourish. Here's to exploring & finding the business or the project that allows us to flourish. Be your tree.