A Powerful Question to Help Cut Through the Noise

In our daily lives we are bombarded by opinions and commentary from other people. As we form our own views, it can be tricky to discern what is truly ‘ours’ and what we may have unconsciously internalised from people we know, or the culture at large. When it’s the latter, despite doing what we think is 'right' it can feel as though something is off.

As leaders who want to develop our careers in a way that feel authentic, it can be useful to get curious about how this manifests for us as individuals.

If I do not check myself, I slip into ‘taking on’ standards that do not feel authentic in various areas of my life. Some examples:

- What a healthy body looks like: "like the woman on my exercise DVD"
- What success in my working life looks like: "bigger is better"
- What it is to be a good mum: "to always put my children first"

A simple but powerful question we can ask ourselves in any moment, to help overcome this is:

What is true for me right now?

This question invites us to put down the views of the world for a moment, and consult with ourselves. Practiced each day, as we journal or reflect, and in moments of decision, it can lead to greater clarity and meaning amidst the noise.

Email me at claire@clairemackinnon.com with your reflections, comments and questions, or join the conversation on LinkedIn.

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