"Sometimes it gets hard
Just to listen to my heart
'Cause my mind plays tricks on me."
– The Green
When I feel burned out.
When I feel overwhelmed.
When I've made a mistake.
When I've had someone's truth weaponized against me.
When I'm told I don't know what I'm doing.
When my integrity has been questioned.
When people don't believe my story.
When people try to shame and embarrass and humiliate me.
When people who don't know me come at me.
When I get dragged in devolving arguments that go nowhere.
When people aren't hearing my ideas.
When my words don't land.
When I've failed to show up as optimally as I would have liked.
When I haven't been as empathetic or compassionate I know I am.
When I fail to recognize and take opportunities for deeper connection.
When I lead with judgment instead of curiosity.
When I mistake arrogance for confidence.
When I conflate debate and dialogue.
When I pretend to listen but am really thinking about what I'm going to say.
When equanimity escapes me.
When I'm tricked into thinking that publicly shaming is the right path.
When I'm in my head and not in my heart.
When I'm in my head and not in my heart.
When I'm in my head.
And not in my heart.
When I don't listen to my heart.
'Cause my mind plays tricks on me.