It’s easy to get numb to certain things. Repeated exposure to things can be a great thing. Facing your fears and uncomfortable situations repeatedly reduces fear levels and one acclimates. Repeated tasks are the basis of habit formation, and consistency in words, actions, and both over time builds trust. However, […]
Category: belonging
When Did You Last Feel Trust?
When was the last time that you felt like there was trust? If it was recently, then great! If it wasn’t, then what are you doing to change that? PS – If you’re looking to build more trust but don’t know the concrete ways to start, perhaps this might interest […]
Superheroes and Superpowers
Superheroes are great escapist fantasy, as it allows us to escape from our current responsibility. When we’re looking at Superman trying to punch some giant alien who is trying to destroy us, we can dream of having his power – which also necessitates reconciling the fact we’re not bulletproof nor […]
Your Worth
Knowing one’s worth is different than being able to articulate the value you bring to an organization. Knowing one’s worth means that you fundamentally understand that you deserve to be treated with dignity, respect, and that you treat others the same way. It’s internalizing that you are more than your […]
Ostrich Syndrome
I know my zoologist friends are going to get angry at me for this one, but I’m pushing ahead regardless. The phrase “burying one’s head in the sand” is based on the common misperception that an ostrich buries its head in the sand to hide from predators. While upon a […]
Don’t Ask Questions When You’ve Made Up Your Mind
If you’re at the top, decisions, ultimately, are up to you. Even if you’re leading a committee, or asking for feedback, if you can reject or approve a decision, at the end it’s up to you. You can go about owning the fact that you’re the end of the line […]
No Life Hacks
I know, it’s all about semantics, but I really dislike the term “life hack,” even though I use it for it’s cultural shorthand utility. You can’t “hack” life, or most things. You’re making life improvements. There are no “culture hacks” when you’re working on building teams. It’s just simple things […]
Rising Tides
In a general sense, I truly believe in the saying that “A rising tide floats all boats.” When looked at with a spirit of generosity, often when you make things better for everyone, you benefit as well. The only issues with this is when not everyone has boats, or the […]
The Underprivileged Privileged
My family struggled with finances when I was growing up, and as a person of color, I often saw myself as underprivileged. My family has been directly affected by racism in terms of internment camps, loss of property, hate crimes, and of course being stared at when I walk into […]
Acute Vs. Systemic
I think a common sticking point when we’re talking about things like sexism, transphobia, racism, ableism, etc., is confusing the systems of oppression with the acute expressions of these systems. Using an ableist slur is an acute expression. Falling prey to implicit biases and not looking into more inclusive hiring […]