Monday Madness

"No one can, for any significant length of time, wear one face to themselves and another to the world without eventually losing track of which is real."

— Adapted from Nathaniel Hawthorne

Pause. Ground yourself. Be here...

Take a deep breath in...Exhale slowly...Again, in...And out...One more time...Let go of what’s not serving you. Arrive fully.

There’s powerful truth in this statement. It speaks directly to authenticity, alignment, and self-awareness—core pillars of personal and leadership development.

As a coach, I invite you to explore two important concepts that often surface in transformational coaching work:

Personas

noun The constructed identities we present to others. These roles may be shaped by societal expectations, workplace dynamics, or unconscious beliefs about who we should be.

Reflect:

What personas do you carry into your relationships, your leadership, your work?
Are they congruent with your core values and authentic self?
How are you currently showing up?

Projections

noun Unconscious attributions of one’s own thoughts, feelings, or impulses onto someone else. In coaching, projections can cloud perception and disrupt connection.

Ask yourself:

Am I responding to what’s actually happening or to a story I’ve created?
How have my projections impacted trust, communication, or emotional safety in key relationships?

Gay Hendricks offers this powerful reframe:

"When you find yourself complaining about another, try applying that complaint to yourself first."

This is a gateway to radical responsibility—a hallmark of emotional intelligence and conscious leadership.

Signs You Might Be Projecting

(Source: Kristen Beesley, Ph.D., Psychology Today)

Feeling disproportionately triggered or defensive
Reacting impulsively or assigning blame
Struggling to take perspective
Recognizing repeating patterns in conflict

Projection often indicates an area ripe for coaching inquiry and growth.

Today’s Challenge: Mastering Projection

(from A Year of Living Consciously)

Engage in reflective inquiry:

What’s a recurring complaint I have in a close relationship or professional context?
How might that same pattern be playing out in me?

Lean into curiosity, not judgment. Clarity and connection follow conscious self-inquiry.

Deepak Chopra reminds us:

“Our minds influence the key activity of the brain, which then influences everything... relationships are projections of our inner world.”

So... what’s one courageous step you’re willing to take today?

Don’t miss your opportunity to lead with intention and inspire others to do the same. Authenticity is contagious... Presence is power!

You’ve got this!

With belief in your growth,

Coach Tavia

#trustyourself #coachapproach #selfawareness #emotionalintelligence #leadershipdevelopment #radicalresponsibility #presence #curiosity #growthmindset #alignment #authenticity #dothework #coachingconversation #leadbyexample #mindfulleadership #transformationalcoaching #beconscious #livewithintention #coachlife #bethechange

References:

Hendricks, Gay. A Year of Living Consciously. Harper One, 1998.

Beesley, K. (2021). How to Spot Projection. Psychology Today