THRIVE IMPACT

When You Need More Than One Person to Hold Your Deep

The words stung.

My instinct was to focus on how much his words hurt, instead of whether what he was saying might be true.

“I can’t be the only person you talk to about this stuff,” he said. “I wish I could, but I am simply insufficient for what you need right now. And frankly, Julie, I can’t hold the space that you want from me—it’s too much.”

He wasn’t cold or dismissive. He was calm, steady… and painfully honest.

I wanted him to be that person. The one I could always open up to. The one with whom I could dive off the deep end of my feels.

After the heaviness faded, anger crept in. Was he saying I’m needy? I defensively mentioned how I’d talked to two friends earlier that week.

He didnt let my defensive tactics derail him. He pressed forward, annoyingly calm and stable. “I’m not talking about friends, Julie. You need a coach—someone who can guide you and help you filter through the deep. I will fall short of being that person for you, and it isn’t fair to either of us for me to be the hinge in the middle.”

And he was right.

I hadn’t realized the toll it was taking on him to be my only place to process. Especially when the waves of my emotions ripple into his wellbeing, too.

Life is complex and relentless—it doesn’t slow down when things feel off. If I want to keep growing toward wholeness, I need more than one outlet. I need people who can guide me, hold me accountable, and help me keep moving toward the person I want to be.

As a coach, I’m not immune to needing my own coach, too. What would my future self want? She wouldn’t want me to stay stuck. She’d be grateful I leaned into finding the support I need to grow.

If you’ve ever found yourself leaning on one person to hold all of your emotional weight, maybe it’s time to widen your circle of support, too.

https://thriveimpact.org/insights

Last month we had an incredible time at the Business For The Common Good conference put on by the Denver Institute for Faith & Work, where Tucker Wannamaker was honored to speak and facilitate. It was a dynamic, thought-provoking gathering of Christian leaders filled with thoughtful discussions and fresh perspectives on leadership that prioritizes the flourishing of all.

KEY INSIGHTS:
👉 Leadership is a collective art. We lead best when we learn and lead together.

👉 Embracing our humanity as leaders. Moving away from the pressure to be “superhuman” and leaning into being beautifully human fosters genuine connection and better outcomes.

👉 Collaboration and empathy are at the heart of creating lasting, positive impact for our communities and organizations.

It was an honor to be part of an event that brought together diverse voices to reimagine leadership for the greater good. ❤️

The Courage to Be Authentic: A Journey Toward Wholeness in Leadership

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Being a whole human means embracing the courage to show up as our authentic, complex, and unique selves in every aspect of life. It’s a journey of vulnerability, self-awareness, and conscious leadership—one that impacts not only our well-being but also the environments we create for others.

What if, by stepping beyond the facade and embracing authenticity, we unlock connection, growth, and joy in ourselves and those around us?

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Read the full post here: https://bit.ly/3Ws6LO0

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