Conventional belief: If we allow colleagues to share negative or personal emotions at work, it will derail the work. We’d be talking about our feelings all day and get nothing done.

Yes, that is possible. But what else is possible? I’d like to share a personal anecdote to fuel our collective imagination around this topic.

It was August 2020, our 5th month of shelter-in-place when I found myself in a homework screaming match with my 8-yr-old. He was in his first week of distance learning at school. We need to turn in homework before 5pm everyday. On that day, I have back-to-back meetings on Zoom. I only have 30 minutes to help him…

One of the oldest stories I hold as a protecting truth is that my needs are a burden. The story is that if I share my needs and ask for help, support, and care from others, that I’ll destroy the relationships that mean so much to me.

From the earliest of my memories, my needs have been a bomb that can destroy a family. This story has caused so much pain and ultimately has created such a low ceiling on my life. It is a limiting belief I dream of shattering one day…