One Paradigm Getting in Our Way
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So here I am saying that our bodies are a leadership tool to support us in doing our best work.
That’s a big, bold statement.
I get that.
My hope is that you’ll stay with me over the next several newsletters as I validate that claim bit by bit each week.
But what I want to explore today is what gets in the way.
What exactly keeps so many of us from seeing our bodies as a tool to support ourselves in life and in our leadership.
You know what it is? Body as Object.
We exist in a cultural epoch where our bodies are often seen through specific lenses.
Chew on the following:
Body as a pretty object: Something to be manicured, plucked, shaved, beautified, adorned.
Body as a mechanical engine: A bunch of separate parts instead of a team. See your podiatrist for a foot problem, your ENT for a throat issue.
Body as obstacle: Ugh, it’s always demanding sleep, food, rest, attention. Why can’t it just keep going?
Body as a status symbol: "Look at me, my body's my brand!" How thin, strong or beautiful can I be?
Body as performance machine: How can I hack my body through fasting, bullet coffee, ice baths to make it work better.
Body as brain taxi – my favourite – coined by Mark Walsh. Seeing the body as that thing that moves the all-mightly brain around
No judgment here—I've been there and done that too!
But what if there's another way? What if our bodies aren't just things that get in our way, but key players in how we experience and succeed in life?
So, for 2024, let's try this on for size:
Body as Resource
I invite you to imagine your body as this super toolkit for self-awareness, self-regulation, and kicking life’s butt.
Because when you learn to connect with your body, you have access to a tremendous tool for insight, learning and powerful change.
Join me every Friday, for a fresh edition of this newsletter. I'll drop some new ideas, including practical stuff you can actually use because, trust me, change doesn't come from just knowing things. It's all about putting this into practice.
I help visionary leaders and teams be at their best more often so they can do their best work.
As a leadership coach, and former yoga and mindfulness teacher, I help leaders access the intelligence of the body in generating that transformation.
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