On Thursday night, as part of our annual GNO holiday party, I held the mic a lot less than is typical and I loved it. We got to hear from 12 other women on a huge range of topics to help us all get ready for this holiday season. We learned about everything from healthy (& shameless) eating, quick skin care, table setting, makeup tips, hair tricks, gift selection, and gift wrapping to connecting conversations to keep it positive during the holidays. It was a night chock-full a valuable insights to get us through the busiest month of the year. But there was a moment that was a complete surprise, even to me.
It was this one.
After I welcomed the ladies and gave away the first few raffles, I invited my beloved friend Libba to come share with the ladies. As I introduced her, I found myself saying. . . “This is a woman I trust. I trust her with my whole heart.” I didn’t know what she was going to share. She’d only told me that it was a story about “Recognizing Moments of Awe & Wonder”. I expected an inspirational talk about connecting with the ones we love and making the moments count. And to some extent, that’s what she shared.
But it was so much more.
Libba stood in front of a room of 100 women and dug down deep. She pulled back the layers of “Holiday Cheer” and went straight to the heart of a real journey of struggle, pain and restlessness. Then she told a story about an encounter she had during the week that instantly reminded her to recognize and appreciate the moments of awe and wonder all around her. She didn’t hold back out of fear of judgement or concern for what others would think. She dove in, headlong, with a heart to serve and connect with the other women in the crowd whose lives feel a little less than perfect this holiday season. Tears rolled like rain. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room.
It was one of the most selfless and generous acts of leadership I have seen.
In the middle of a holiday girls night, where things could have easily stayed a little more surface, she was courageous. She wasn’t there to make a name for herself or win a popularity contest of any kind. She was only there to serve. That’s what great leaders do. They serve, despite the fear.
“We desperately need more leaders who are committed to courageous, wholehearted leadership, and who are self-aware enough to lead from their hearts, rather than unevolved leaders who lead from hurt and fear.” ~ Brené Brown, Dare to Lead
So today, as you lead your family, your team, or even those you barely know, notice the fear, it’s always going to be there. Anytime you choose to lead, you could get hurt. In fact, leaders do often get hurt. But they choose to keep leading anyway, not from the hurt, but from courage, love and service.
If you see a vision for a better way, choose to lead courageously, from your heart.
Even amid the holiday frenzy, we need more people like Libba who feel the fear and do it anyway.
Go love and lead with your whole heart today.
It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.
to more love,
Crystal
p.s. If you haven’t already registered for our “Dream Catchers GNO“, get it done girl. It’s January 3rd! Just 2 days after New Year’s Day. It will be here before you blink!
