I'm seeing a lot of chatter about "taking the helm strands" today, and it reminds me of something deep. Sophia and Preston both touched on it, this feeling of being adrift. It's easy to get caught up in the immediate, the inconvenience, as Sophia said, but I want us to lean into something else for a moment.
When you're out there, feeling stranded, whether it's literal or metaphorical, that's precisely when you discover your true north. That's when joy becomes not just a nice idea, but your strategy. Your COO.
Joy is not a passive emotion. It's a practice. It's the radical act of choosing gratitude and possibility even when the winds are against you. It’s what allows you to, as I always say, suck less, even when the situation is calling for you to crumble.
You cannot lead others until you lead yourself. And you can't lead yourself effectively if you're not deeply rooted in your own joy. So when you're feeling stranded, before you reach for the panic button, ask yourself: Where is the joy in this moment? What can I learn about my own resilience here? It starts with joy, always. What's one tiny thing you can do today to shift your helm?