Definition of Buoyancy:
The power to float or rise in a fluid; relative lightness.
Lightness or resilience of spirit; cheerfulness.
As I was laying in bed this morning, listening to the sounds of the sleepy beach town come to life, I reflected on my day yesterday. I had snatched a boogie board from one of the kids and it wasn't until hours later that I emerged from the water. Over and over again, I walked toward the waves, hypnotized by their rhythmic lure, wondering if this was the wave that would take me all the way to shore.
"Ride the wave," I repeated in my head as I caught the crest of each breaking wave. The phrase seemed fitting for how life is unfolding right now. Last year I rode the wave of the Courage Wall media blitz. Right now I'm riding the wave of the UNITY project's spread around the world. Riding these waves feels buoyant. It's fun, and I feel like things are moving in the right direction, even when I don't feel completely in control.
How different this feels than my water-themed mantra just a few years ago: Just Float. In 2013, as I was going through Georgetown's Leadership Coaching program, I was struggling to make a decision about the future of my career. I loved my business and the work we did for our clients, but I felt like I could make a bigger impact if I turned my focus to coaching.
When I look back, the decision of how to move forward felt like I was thrashing about just trying to keep my head above water. My coach at the time asked a question that changed everything. "What would happen if you just floated for a while?"
And so, I floated. I let life unfold, and in doing so found a natural balance that may not have emerged any other way.
In life it can feel like you've always got to be on the move. When everyone around you is moving at full speed, it's hard to feel like floating is okay. But sometimes, you just need to float. If you can resist the need to be in constant motion, you'll find that you are naturally buoyant. Life will hold you in those spots of indecision. Not only will you float, you may even feel the resilience of your spirit and the cheerfulness buoyancy's definition promises.
How can you find more buoyancy in your life right now? Is it by swimming with strong and determined strokes? Is it by riding the powerful wave you're on? Or is it by simply letting go and allowing life to hold you?
In Other News
We always love seeing the Vessence pink show up in the most unexpected places. We were pleased to see that the creative directors of the Olympic Opening Ceremonies think the color is as hot as we do. How contemporary are your company's colors? Is it time for an update? We love working with organizations that want to honor their legacy while moving their brand forward. Give us a call and find out how more about how we can align your team and build a brand with a bright future.