
Reading "The Body Says No" by Gabor Mate started me reflecting on how trauma isn’t a full stop. It’s the start of a new cycle. I have several thoughts about this and I would like to share two with you, if you have a moment?
The first is that anyone who expereinces a trauma has choices in how they process this. A friend shared a piece of thought leadership with me by Lexy Florentina
" The opposite of trauma isn't "healed" it's aliveness
The opposite of trauma isn't "healed" it's connection
The opposite of trauma isn't "healed" it's curiosity
The opposite of trauma isn't "healed" it's play
The opposite of trauma isn't "healed" it's presence
The opposite of trauma isn't to find perfection, to become a contained or even calm version of ourselves. But, rather, its where we begin to experience what couldn't exist when all our body could do was survive."
The second reflection is that the number of cycles that we go through with trauma can be endless! Trauma has the same impact as dropping a pebble into a pond. The ripples spread out far and wide. They bounce against the opposite back and come back stronger and we need to find ways to ride those waves. It's ugly...But...
There are many things in the world that look ugly on the surface and when we pause, slow down and really look we can see the most amazing things being revealed to us.
The most impactful leaders understand this truth: growth is rarely graceful.
Think about it: a cracked seed, a chrysalis, or even compost—they all look unremarkable, even ugly. But from these humble beginnings, nature creates forests, butterflies, and lush gardens.
This is why I designed Collective Ascent, a programme that helps leaders and teams navigate their “messy middle.” We take the tough, uncomfortable aspects of leadership—conflict, self-doubt, uncertainty—and transform them into sources of beauty, resilience, and connection.
💡 If this post resonates with you, or you are turning your thoughts to a member of your team, then invite you to call me and let's talk about your "messy middles" and how Collective Ascent might help.
The next programme still has space available. You can join us on February 20th with a 25% discount for bookings before January 31st. Also more programmes start in May and September 2025.
👉 Rethinking leadership means managing your mind set, connecting to yourself and others and being a full expression of who you are. Here’s to those of us redefining what it means to lead—let’s keep rethinking leadership together.

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