Addressing Suffering to Find Inner Peace and Joy
Today, I want to continue to address the suffering I see in so many CEOs, business owners, and leaders. In this context, suffering means the absence of inner peace and joy. It encompasses feelings of anxiety, fear, sadness, anger, frustration, and irritation that rob us of our well-being.
As leaders, we often experience this suffering due to the pressures we create daily. Both internal and external. Over my years of coaching executives, I’ve noticed a recurring theme: internal tension and misalignment within ourselves and our teams. Why does this happen?
It stems from a fundamental belief many of us were raised with: it’s not okay to prioritize ourselves. We were taught not to be selfish, which leads us to neglect our own needs. We put everything and everyone else first—our kids, clients, team members—and leave no time for ourselves. This neglect may breed resentment, exhaustion, dissatisfaction, inner misalignment, and a lack of clarity- often subconsciously. There is a sense of surviving versus fully living!
To counteract this, it's crucial to recognize that self-care is not selfish. Prioritizing our well-being allows us to be more effective leaders, better parents, and more supportive colleagues. By addressing our internal needs, we can foster a more harmonious and productive environment for ourselves and those around us. And, taking time to ourselves helps us to know what we truly want and how to create that. This is a necessity for clarity and decision-making that leads to the results we desire. We become empowered to be the creator of our life, versus being at the effect of what is around us -creator vs victim.
Here are a few steps to start reclaiming your inner peace and joy:
Acknowledge Your Needs: Understand that your needs are important and valid.
Set Boundaries: Learn to say no and listen to your whole yes. What do your head, heart, and gut say? Pausing to listen to yourself and giving yourself space to do so when making decisions is the opposite of what we normally do. In fact, putting yourself on a “No Diet” for 30 days helps you understand your whole yes. Sharing with others that you have a no for now, and that you want to listen for your whole yes, allows you to understand what integrity means to yourself. Integrity with oneself is the only way we can have integrity with someone else. This is how you gain your energy back, because you’re not scattering yourself all over the place doing what you don’t fully want to do.
Practice Self-Care: Engage in activities that rejuvenate you, whether it's reading, exercising, or simply taking a moment to breathe. Practice coming in words and being aware of your feelings, your thoughts, and your behaviors. Just noticing who is inside of your body gives you the opportunity to choose who you want to become.
Seek Support: Let’s schedule a complimentary 45-minute coaching session where we’ll discuss where you're thriving, what energizes you, and what doesn't. We'll explore how to release unfulfilling tasks and overcome limiting patterns holding you back from achieving fulfillment and the outcomes you desire. Together, we can unlock your true potential and help your team thrive.
By taking these steps, we reduce internal tension and create a more positive and aligned atmosphere both within ourselves and in our teams.
Let’s strive for an inner knowing that promotes inner peace and joy, not just for ourselves but for everyone around us.
Joy to you!
Xxoo
Debra