when our work is hard and important.

I have been having so many conversations lately about feeling stuck, disempowered, or held back by larger systems, policies, and procedures.

What happens when we feel like the larger entity isn’t aligned with our values? Or worse, we feel like it makes our job a lot harder? Or even worse, when we think it has lost sight of the mission?

It is so hard when we feel like we have no power over the larger piece. It can bring up fear, scarcity, and feelings of total powerlessness.

What’s the point?

Which is such a dangerous place to be at work, especially when our work is hard and important.

For me, I must remember that I only have control over how I think, feel, and behave – how I respond to life and connect with others. And though this doesn’t feel like much control, it is all the control I have and, therefore is ultimate control.

I also want to get really clear on my values and my mission. How do they show up within the larger entity? What is my scope of influence? Am I walking out the mission and values to my circle, the people who I connect with and have influence over?

Does this feel like it is enough?
Not every day, that’s for sure.
It is what is in my scope of influence, though.
And what I know for sure is that the ripples from that scope can and will change the bigger systems, sure slowly, and still, I trust and know it will.

I’ve seen it time and time again.