Lean In

Coaching questions to consider:

What is your go-to action when faced with a feeling of not being good enough?

What can you do to lean in and let go and propel forward?

Last week I leaned into feeling vulnerable and attended Institute for Veterans and Military Families - IVMF #EDGE conference for Veteran entrepreneurs.

It was a fantastic conference, and the lessons were plentiful.

One of my lessons came from the imperfect feeling of shame.

At the final dinner, I chose to sit at a table with people I didn't know. I recognized two Veterans who spoke about resilience in an earlier break-out. I was excited to chat with them and learn more about their story. After initial introductions, the two speakers had a sidebar pointing at me and after a little group chit chat about where we all lived they began to talk quietly to the people next to them and I couldn’t re-enter the conversation. As dessert arrived, I slipped quietly away, which is what I do when I feel the shame of not being good enough to be part of the crowd.

I reverted to old behaviors of slipping to the background (and, in this case, I left) when I could have just got up with my dessert and sat with a different group.

Identifying withdrawal is my go-to behavior will help me lean in and not let fear of others' opinions about me hold me back.

Next time I feel this shame of not belonging, my goal is to lean in and not shrink away. My new mantra is, “Breath, ground ground, lean in.”

Coaching questions to consider:

What is your go-to action when faced with a feeling of not being good enough?

What can you do to lean in and let go and propel forward?

I would love to hear from you!

Namaste and have a good day.