June is my liberation month.
It holds my birthday, Juneteenth, and the anniversary of one of the most pivotal decisions I’ve ever made.
Three years ago, I sat on a quiet set of steps and said something aloud that I had been holding for far too long. I didn’t know exactly what would happen next. But I knew, with every part of me, that everything would change when I spoke those words.
I felt sadness and peace. Grief and relief.
And most of all, I felt free.
Sometimes, we don’t always know a moment is big until we’re on the other side of it.
Other times, we do know. Our bodies and our hearts register something our minds can’t fully articulate yet.
That day on the steps was one of those rare, crystal-clear moments. Sitting there again this June, three years later, I felt no tears, just immense gratitude.
I recorded this short video while sitting on the steps where it all began three years ago. It’s what liberation, clarity, and leadership have come to mean for me.
What I didn’t realize then was that the way I navigated that moment reflected the very values I now teach through my BRAVE™ framework.
Belonging
Leaving what no longer fits is part of the journey home to ourselves.
It’s not always about people or positions. Sometimes it’s about the internal shift when you realize you’re shrinking to stay in a situation that no longer honors your whole self.
Choosing to walk away wasn’t easy. But it was an act of belonging and coming home to myself.
Respect
Respect isn’t only external. Self-respect is a quiet, necessary kind of power.
I had spent months—years—questioning myself. Second-guessing. Wondering if the discomfort was simply my burden to carry. But something settled in me when I said the truth out loud.
The weight didn’t lift because the situation changed. It lifted because I changed. Because I finally respected what I already knew to be true for me.
Accountability
We often talk about accountability as something we owe to others. But there’s also a sacred accountability to ourselves.
No one could make that decision for me. And no one else was responsible for the consequences of staying silent.
Liberation came when I stopped waiting for external permission and held myself accountable to my values, well-being, and future.
Voice
Saying the hard thing out loud changed everything.
There’s something holy about naming what’s true even if it’s unpopular. It gives shape to our knowing. It makes space for forward movement.
And when we use our voice, we model for others what’s possible when truth and courage work together. In leadership, our voice isn’t just about speaking. It’s about creating clarity when silence costs too much.
Empathy
That day, I let myself feel it all. Not just the relief, but the grief, too.
Empathy means making space for complexity. It means not rushing to the silver lining, but honoring the full emotional spectrum of what a hard decision costs, even when it’s the right one.
I’m not the only one who’s had a moment like that. So many people are sitting on their own “steps”, holding what they know, hoping for clarity, and wondering when or how to act.
Sharing this story is a reminder that even the most private moments of clarity shape how we live and how we lead.
The decisions we make when no one’s watching are often the ones that shape how we lead when everyone is.
Whether you’re guiding a team, mentoring others, or building something new, liberation begins with honest alignment.
And leadership deepens when we learn to speak clearly, hold compassion, and give feedback that builds trust.
Coming July 15, 2025 at 12:30pm ET: The Feedback Equation: Giving Clear, Actionable Feedback That Builds Trust
Save the date for our upcoming webinar! We’ll explore the exact skills that turn courageous decisions into collaborative action.
