Spring Forward

Spring is an exciting time to spring forward. What it is about seeing more of the sun and warmer temperatures that put everyone in a better, motivated mood? There is a relief about not having to protect ourselves from the brutal winter weather by being cooped up in warm indoor places. Although it is a fact in the northeast, that there are four seasons, I am not sure whether the transitions are any easier. I am thankful that winter is for reflection and that spring is about the growth of light. We spring forward our clocks and let the light be with us longer.

Easter is a celebration connected with springtime. What stands out about Easter is all the bright colors that come with the celebration. Spring is such a vibrant season. Flowers appear of all shapes, shades and sizes. More outdoor activities get on the calendar. It is easier to enjoy the outdoors because we are not shielding ourselves from freezing temperatures.

All transitions are opportunities. Spring is a time to start fresh and write new goals. It is an opportune time to revamp any experienced delays. A lot of us look forward to spring. More light means we have a better attitude and feel better about ourselves. Phrases like, “spring cleaning” and spring cleansings spring up. The motivation we wish we had during the winter seems to appear, probably because we are more willing to be out and about.

As the old saying goes out with the old and in with the new. With that, I am grateful for winter and certainly have been making room for spring and to spring forward. Some transitions are universal.

Let’s be reminded that the Goddess Ostara offers, “springtime is any time when the light increases within your mind and entire system.” This is a great time to start new projects and give birth to new conditions. Call upon her when you need more light in your life. We all are stars and should be shining all the time. Happy Spring, everyone! Let’s learn to shine in darkness and in light.

The Quiet Leader

I am a proud introvert. Although, most people do not believe me when I say it, I am happy to operate from a place of quiet and calm. Russell Simmons just recently released a new book, Success through Stillness. This book is demonstrating how to effectively advance your goals and dreams from the practice of quieting your mind. For many introverts, this comes naturally.

I am happy to see that being a powerful and effective leader is no longer only associated with extroverts. Although, we still have work to do in being inclusive as to who leaders are and what qualities they possess, at least there are many telling the stories of introverted leaders. A lot has been written about leaders like Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Abraham Lincoln who have been identified as introverted.

In the spirit of women’s history month, I would like to briefly highlight leaders that I see as quiet strengths. As a quiet leader myself, I appreciate and look up to Dolores Huerta for her strength, perseverance and loving spirit. She is one of my sheroes because so much of how she leads is how I lead. Her intuition and hard work took her leadership to the front of the farmer’s movement and as an advocate for children’s and immigrant rights. Introverts don’t boost and brag about their accomplishments which is why many people don’t know that she coined the phrase, “Si se puede” (yes, we can).

Susan L. Taylor is known for being the force behind Essence Magazine. My favorite part of her involvement with Essence was a column she wrote named, In the Spirit. She went on to reprint the collection of essays from her column in a book of the same name. The tales of her leadership experience both growth and struggles were expressed in personal and meaningfully ways; an aspect of my writings that I strive for. She uses her experiences to help others and now she is focused on doing so through mentoring and encouraging others to mentor young minds.

Susan Cain has been an instrumental leader in leading the conversation about quiet leadership with her book, Quiet; the Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking. Jennifer Kahnweiler has written two books on the subject, The Introverted Leader: Building on your Quiet Strength and Quiet Influence: the Introvert’s Guide to Making a Difference. Kahnweiler highlights 4 key skills introverts possess; they prepare, push themselves, practice and are present.

Introverts may be reserved and understated, yet we make ourselves heard when we have something that needs to be said. All this while we manage to successfully operate within a world that champions extroverts. Next time you participate in a discussion, meeting and/or conversation think about your intentions with what you are going to share. Am I speaking just to speak or do I have something to say? Explore your quiet strength of leadership, perhaps you can learn to call upon this part of yourself when you need it most.

The Yin Yang Balance

The people who physically bring life into this world are hardly recognized. Mothers are unsung heroes, especially those who are raising children without any partners and within small communities of support. What do we need to do to move more women into positions of power & influence? A lot of time and energy well spent is put into providing the pathway for women to trail into positions of power and leadership. Not only do women leaders need to be uplifted, valued and visible, the feminine equation of the yin yang needs to be restored. Everyone can benefit from balancing the masculine and feminine energies we all hold within ourselves.

I appreciate male allies who stand for feminism and do their best to hold spaces for the feminine. I think is it important to be reminded what this means? Our view has been distorted with qualities of male dominance (yang) having driven the direction of leadership and power for so long. Naturally, not all masculine qualities we hold are bad; I am suggesting that we raise our awareness to balance out these qualities with the feminine ones that are already present within us. If you notice you are coming on to strong perhaps take a step back and listen for a bit. If you have been pushing yourself to do something so desperately, stop for a moment and ask yourself what your intentions are?

This imbalance of these energies leads to illness, burn out, and bad feelings about yourself and those around you. What can you do to work toward the balance? One feminine quality that continues to be a necessity is one of introspection. The culture of busy has been tolerated for too long. Mistakes could be avoided if we were open to kind self analysis that connected us with true feelings and allowances to listen to that intuitive inner voice. The term “burn out” was conceived out of workers driving themselves so hard that they knocked themselves out. To avoid burn out, balance needs to be a practice. For checks and balances to be in place, regular feedback certainly can help. Giving ourselves permission to say “no” also is a healthy practice. I don’t use the word practice lightly; you must learn and practice these habits in order to restore more balance.

What are your favorite masculine qualities? What are your favorite feminine qualities? None of them will make you less of a man, woman, and/or however you choose to identify yourself. The entire point of the yin and yang is to flow with the balance of both energies; they should exist together even though they are direct opposites, like dark and light, cold and hot, passive and active, the moon and the sun. One can not exist without the other; actually they rely on each other. How do they work together for you and make you a happy, balanced person? You can be tough and tender at the same time. I encourage you to embrace the yin as much as the yang. Look for the softer qualities in yourself that work with the harder qualities. Look for the quietness in action and the action in quietness.

The entrepreneurial spirit voice

I began to hear this voice early in life. I wondered what more there was to life. You just go to school then work? Is life just going to school and getting a job? Is getting a job, my only option? The voice grew strong and loud during the college years. The time and space lead me to learn about and research women like Madam CJ Walker, said to be the first self made female millionaire who built a hair business and product empire in the late 1800s. I started to hear some of the answers to the questions I had been asking. I started to learn this powerful part of me.

Growing up along and with hip hop, no surprise that such a voice emerged. I bared witness to examples of how to get your voice heard, grow the voice and add the voice to wanted and unwanted circles. I also took notice of how leaders like Russell Simmons and P. Diddy built on top of hip hop, with clothing lines and various products and services.

(The voice speaks) I build on ideas and mental capacities to bring them to life. I build with community to touch and positively impact as many people as able. I inhale partnerships and bringing people together. I am rooted in intellectual curiosity, creativity, courage and compassion. I stem from the parts of me that are student and teacher that continue to strive for growth, inspiration and challenges. I read and write about current and anticipated community issues. In this present day & age, I am aware that teamwork, community building, and offering & seeking solutions are essential to being heard successfully.

I am thankful for the cracks in my voice pursuing risks and the desire to stretch myself and others. I attract opportunities to sing, dance and even move choirs. It does not work without intuition and what appears in front of me. It does not work without good and meaningful feelings. The result has been participation in never done before projects, pilots, and programs.

I surrender to the drive and ambition of working through purpose, passion and possibilities. I surrender to the sounds of what sometimes feels and appears to be magic. I surrender to the natural solutions that present themselves. I surrender to engaging in dialogue vs. debate. I surrender to opening up the conversation to all that would like to speak and listen. I surrender to the unknown and imagination.

I hear the voices of others with similar intentions; we carry the same tune sometimes. We exchange verses and build new songs. We spread the lyrics around and ask if they truly are a reflection of more than just one experience. The communities of voices transform and grow into businesses, unique partnerships and innovative programming and ways to make life better. Have you ever heard such a voice? Are you willing and open to listening?

Lessons of Leadership

The current US President Barack Obama has definitely changed the way many look at leadership. I don’t think I have ever heard of so many children and young people that know who the President is and even have thoughts of becoming the President one day. Lessons from Presidential leadership can be applied to your life, work and who you are. Presidents, certainly work under pressure, make hard decisions and develop relationships that impact the entire world.

Have you looked at your leadership? How do you problem solve? Build community? How do you lead and manage? What is your favorite part about leadership? How do you handle power? Who do you learn from to better your leadership?

I look at my leadership all the time. I believe there is a difference between leadership and management. I believe in power with as opposed to power over. What are your leadership traits and strengths? What do you believe in? Leadership is largely rooted in values and beliefs you live by. I believe in leading with heart and courage which I am thrilled is discussed in books like Resonant Leadership by Richard Boyatzis & Annie McKee and the Leadership Challenge by James M. Kouzes & Barry Posner.

Winston Churchill reminds us, “To improve is to change, to be perfect is to change often.” I believe he was referring to the growth process. As change is constant in all lives, I think it is important to look at your leadership from time to time. Growing and evolving is apart of the human experience and as the process takes place, your values and beliefs need to be updated to stay aligned with your true self. The most difficult part is to let go and unlearn old ways that no longer serve us and others anymore. Staying relevant allows us to apply new ways to tackle challenges and decisions. It invites us to learn new things and allow growth to take place.

The image of leadership that our society amplifies is one of Presidency, one of visual, take charge leadership. It is a picture of a very masculine, one sized leadership that fits all. Everyone is a leader and leads in their own way. There are loud and quiet leaders, leaders who lead from the front and back. Which one are you? Discover for yourself the leader that you are and embrace it. Be sure to examine your leadership and challenge yourself to expand on your strengths and improve your weaknesses. As the well known philosopher Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”

Love is everywhere

Love, dove, glove- what is that romantic love feeling? Are poems, chocolate and roses the only thing that comes to mind when you think of love. Love is at the center of everything and you can find it anywhere. Yet, how often do you speak of love? Think of it? Act on it?

Just like the monthly themed celebrations, holidays are just a beginning point that should go beyond what others may or may not honor. I am not sure of the meaning and background of Valentine’s Day anymore. I see it as another Love day. My hope is that everyday is love day and certainly anytime is the time to celebrate and honor love.

Folks usually do something special for their romantic partner on Valentine’s Day. It gives everyone the excuse to get as emotional and excited about their romantic love as they want. Why do we need an excuse to behave in this manner? Why is it that the expression of love and demonstration of love is associated with being weak and uncool? After all, we all are human and have feelings, fact?

I hear of love mostly in the context of romantic relationships. Parents, how often do you say and express love explicitly to your children? Children, how often do you say and express love explicitly to your parent(s)? Same goes from sibling to sibling, friend to friend, another family member to another family member? How do you show love at work? How do you show love of self? That is where love really begins.

Love is everywhere. You love what you do; it helps to have love for those you work with. Why do we only speak of love interests and feelings for our romantic partner? Why not acknowledge love everywhere? You find love in hobbies. You find love in who you are. You find love in feelings and doing your best. You find love in miracles, the unlikely and the likely. Love is in the smallest of things, moments and places and in the biggest of things, moments and places. Where are your favorite places you uncover love? Connect with love?

What is love? was the most googled question in 2012. For me, love is that natural indescribable good, positive feeling that expands from the heart. Whenever you allow the heart to connect beautiful feelings flood in. Being present in the moment enables the possibility. Allowing your heart to open and expand, not only do you feel love, other good feelings will be experienced like compassion, peace and joy. I wish you all love, on Love day and everyday. Carry in your heart and bring it to all the places and all the people you come in contact with. Love is contagious and someone needs to be the instigator. What if that instigator is you?

Celebrate yourself

As we move through February, Black History Month, let us be reminded to celebrate ourselves. Avoid waiting until your month, to celebrate yourself and see yourself in the world. Every month has a theme to raise awareness and to drive inclusion. Celebrate yourself by being who you truly are every single day.

We still need the black history month, and other months that recognize and uplift stories that otherwise would not be told. Diversity and inclusion are significant to a well rounded and productive future. After all these years of Februaries and other months, there are still stories that I hear for the first time. There continues to be stories that I am proud of and that inspire me. A month may not be enough and it is a start. Imagine those who do not embrace diversity, at least they may have to put up with it and maybe they just might learn something.

Stories, our stories, different stories should not be contained to a month. Black History Month is still necessary and relevant otherwise there are folks who would go unrecognized, not celebrated and overlooked. I believe in these monthly themed celebrations. The intention is to practice inclusion and educate. Everyone should have the opportunity to tell their story, no matter where they come from. Everyone should have the opportunity to be celebrated and recognized as well.

Recognition is something for everyone to learn and embrace. Studies have shown that employee recognition is linked to positive performance and retention. It is about being accepted, being seen as true and valid. There are certainly a number of months that I can relate to and I also do not wait until these months to know who I am and celebrate. At times, these months make it easier to secure that I am included and recognized.

As the United States continues to diversify, these months should be natural practices not just a set aside celebration. How can we recognize ourselves, regularly? How can we celebrate different cultures and different stories? How can we make diversity a natural part of everyone’s life? How can we embrace the invisible as visible, somehow?

Celebrate all of you. It should not only be about celebrating accomplishments and positive feedback. We need our shadow side and mistakes to be celebrated because they teach us and allow us to grow. How can we embrace our shadow side fully so that we celebrate everything about ourselves not only the things we like?

Celebrate yourself by treating yourself with kindness and compassion. Forgive yourself when you need to. Honor yourself and honor your history. When you celebrate yourself, you celebrate those who have come before you. I am thankful for Black History month because remembering who you are is priceless.