Diana Chapman - Conscious Self-Leadership

Greetings from New York City. After weeks of unbounded creative energy, I finally hit a wall earlier this week and was stopped in my tracks. It was frustrating. I discovered that when my creativity is flowing I have a tendency to tackle too many things at once. This can leave me feeling overwhelmed if I’m not careful. I initially tried to resist the wall, but instead of fighting it and recycling drama, I saw it as an opportunity to step back, reevaluate and take some time to rest.

This reminded me of something that all of us need to keep in mind—our bodies and minds operate in microcycles of energy and motivation all the time. Sometimes, we have an abundance of energy and creativity, while other times we feel fatigued or blocked. Being aware of these rhythms and cycles is essential because it allows us to tune into our bodies and minds, and determine what we need at any given moment.

When I hit the wall earlier this week, I recognized that my body was telling me to take a step back and recover. Instead of fighting it, I listened to my body and gave myself the time and space to rest. It wasn't easy, as I wanted to push through and keep going, but I knew this was exactly what I needed. As soon as I stopped pushing and took a long-term mindset, the energy and creativity started to slowly seep back into my veins. I’m now finishing the week energized.

In other news, I’m excited to share the next episode of Where the Road Bends. In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Diana Chapman, one of the most sought-after executive coaches in the world. Diana is the founding partner of The Conscious Leadership Group (CLG) and the co-author of The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership. Diana has worked with over 1,000 organizational leaders and their teams over the past 20 years.

Before becoming a coach, Diana was a stay-at-home mom for nearly a decade. A weekend retreat with Gay and Katie Hendricks changed the course of her life, leading her to become a couples coach and eventually co-found CLG with Jim Dethmer. Diana’s mission is to help leaders and organizations reduce drama and create more conscious workplaces.

According to Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz, “Working with Diana has dramatically changed the way I react to challenges and stress in my life, preserving my energy to direct toward more constructive pursuits.” As someone who trained with Diana and CLG throughout 2021, I can attest to the transformative impact she has on those around her.

We covered a lot of ground in this conversation, including: 

• Tools To Navigate Difficult Feelings

• How To Honor Your Truth and Take Ownership for Your Reality

• The Importance of Body Mindfulness in Emotional Shifts

• The Link Between Personal Integrity and Creativity

• The Importance of Curiosity and Play in Drama Reduction

• Reinterpreting Stories of Identity and Entering the Zone of Genius

I'm excited for you to hear our conversation and gain insights into how the principles of conscious leadership can be applied to change and transition.

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, Simplecast or below. I hope you enjoy this conversation with Diana.

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🤔 For Contemplation

I'm currently absorbed in the book Not Fade Away: A Short Life Well Lived by Peter Barton and Laurence Shames. A father and successful executive, Barton was diagnosed with stomach cancer at the age of 47, despite living a healthy life and doing all the things we’re told to do. This book is a poignant reflection on life, death, and everything in between. In the shower this morning,  I found myself pondering a question that Peter's book raised for me: 

If today was my last day on Earth, what would I regret not having done?

This question made me pause and reflect on my priorities, values, and the things that truly matter in my life.

I invite you to take a moment and ask yourself this same question. What comes up for you? Is there something you've been putting off or a dream you've been neglecting? What can you do about it today?

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🌱 Seeds of Change

Here are five things I’ve been pondering over the last few weeks. If any resonate, feel free to share them with those in your life.

🙁 This Isn’t What Millennial Middle Age Was Supposed to Look Like

A few weeks ago, several friends sent me an excellent piece by Jessica Grose that explores the challenges facing many millennials in midlife. This generation is dealing with a range of headwinds that previous generations didn't have to face, including COVID, student loan debt, rising housing costs, and a volatile job market. Millennials are also juggling the demands of raising children later in life while caring for aging parents, making midlife a vastly different experience from that of their parents. The article provides a thought-provoking look at these unique challenges and cites compelling research on midlife. Read in The New York Times (12 minutes)

🛑 How to Know When to Stop

This week, I had the opportunity to record a podcast episode with my friend Andy Johns. He’s the former President of Wealthfront and an early Facebook employee who’s been on a healing journey for the past decade. In fact, he’s spent 10,000 hours and more than $200,000 working on his mental health, and he’s now creating the most useful mental health library on the internet. When I was preparing for our conversation, I revisited more than a dozen of his essays, and this one on burnout caught my attention as particularly insightful and practical. It's all about identifying whether you're experiencing burnout by looking at various psychological, physiological, and environmental factors. I believe it's one of the best essays on burnout that has been written. I highly recommend it to anyone who's feeling physically and emotionally drained. Read on Clues Dot Life (15 minutes)

🤖 The Age of AI has begun

This week, I came across a thought-provoking piece by Bill Gates, whom I've long admired, on the age of AI. He writes that "the development of AI is as fundamental as the creation of the microprocessor, the personal computer, the Internet, and the mobile phone." Gates isn't one to use hyperbole, so we need to take this seriously. I’m sharing this because AI is going to usher in a period of dramatic change and transition over the next decade. None of us will be able to escape its gravitational pull. AI is going to reshape the way we live, work, and interact with each other. By understanding the potential of AI and its implications, we can prepare ourselves for a future filled with change. Read on Gates Notes (15 minutes)

🤗 How to Show Up for Someone in Crisis

As I've grown both personally and professionally, I've come to realize that in times of crisis, most people don't need solutions; they need space and support. Before becoming a coach, I used to struggle when trying to help friends or family members in crisis. I just didn’t know what to do, so I would often go into problem solving mode. This is common. That's why I was thrilled to come across a helpful piece by Laurel Braitman, PhD, a writer, teacher, and secular, clinical chaplain-in-training. In this article, Braitman unpacks what to do if a friend or loved one is in crisis, offering practical advice and guidance for those who want to provide meaningful support during difficult times. Read on Tim.blog (5 minutes)

🤝 The Myth of Normal & The Power of Connection

I’ve long admired the work of Dr. Gabor Maté, a distinguished Canadian physician, author, and speaker who has dedicated his career to the study and treatment of addiction, trauma, and mind-body wellness. In this thought-provoking talk, he argues that genuine human connection is crucial to our health and well-being, and highlights how a lack of connection contributes to the flood of health issues we see today. Drawing on his extensive experience working with patients, Maté's insights offer a roadmap for cultivating deeper connections and improving our physical and emotional health, especially in our fast-paced, technology-driven society. Watch on YouTube (1 hour, 10 minutes)