Before 2026 Growth Goals, a Reunion with Who We Are
Parts of Us to Reawaken
This edition is one of my ongoing reflections - from real conversations, lived moments, and the quiet shifts I believe are reshaping how we lead today and tomorrow.
Last week visiting home with my family, we watched old videos from my childhood.
There I was - four years old, confident, sparkly-eyed, asking curious questions, dancing my heart out, and bossing adults around. I saw parts of me I’ve carried forward. Parts I’ve refined. And parts I’ve shut down - probably because life taught me to tuck them away.
And so I thought: what if our pursuit of growth sometimes leads us further away from ourselves? What if we’re chasing progress without pausing to remember who we were before the world told us who to be?
As I ease into the new year, I’m asking myself not just what I want to achieve - but what parts of me, and the soul of the child within me, I want to reawaken. And how I can create spaces - within and around me - where that version of me feels safe, joyful, and grounded… and where others, at work and in life, feel the same about themselves.
Reflections Shaping How We Lead
Reclaiming, Not Just Reinventing: Some changes are beautiful evolutions. Others are just adaptations. Over time, we pick up roles, habits, and personas that help us succeed - but not all of them serve our truth. This year, I want to unlearn the parts of me that grew from over-adapting or people-pleasing, and bring back some strengths I quieted along the way. Because real growth is all three: shedding what no longer fits, building what feels aligned, and reclaiming the parts of us we were never meant to lose.
Where There Is Joy, There Is Real Growth: Somewhere along the way, we were taught that growth had to feel heavy. Rigid. Structured. Gritty. But when I look back, my most expansive growth always came in moments of joy, curiosity, and lightness. Whether in our personal lives or the teams we lead, if we want to build cultures that support growth, we need to invite more joy back in. This year, I want to follow that trail more often.
The Environment And People Around Us Shape What Stays In Us: The people, systems, and cultures we’re part of either water our essence or slowly dry it out. When someone feels appreciated for their realness, their most potent gifts start to emerge. It’s worth asking: Are we surrounding ourselves with people who help us remember who we are? Are we building teams that allow others to bring their full, raw, and vibrant selves forward? Because the environments we build shape what thrives - and what stays buried.
Quotes I Keep Coming Back To
On Becoming
“Maybe the you you’ve been trying to become is actually the you you’ve always been.” - Glennon Doyle
On Reclaiming Our Joy
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” - Howard Thurman
A Question I’m Carrying
If my four-year-old self looked at me today, what would she celebrate in who I’ve become - and what parts would she long to find again?
With love, Vanessa
I love that last question so much, thank you for your wisdom Vanessa!