Dear Reader,

Have you noticed how the moments that make you hesitate - where you feel that slight discomfort - are usually the ones that truly matter?

It might happen before speaking up in a meeting, before sharing an idea that feels different, before initiating a conversation that might shift things or before posting on social media. It’s that moment of tension before we take a risk.

Although I post a lot on LinkedIn and have almost removed all filters from this newsletter, some moments still feel more daring than others.

And those are usually the ones that reveal what I really care about.

That’s when I catch myself procrastinating, making excuses, or softening the message; changing statements into questions to blurr the edges so it feels safer. My default strategy? Over-intellectualising. Hiding behind theories, rationality and smart questions instead of bold statement.

If it feels uncomfortable, it means I care.

And if I care, others will too.

I’ve seen this over and over again. When I share something that makes me hesitate before hitting “post,” I’m rewarded with reactions, comments, and support. But when I dilute the message - when I write something half-baked just because “it’s LinkedIn posting day” - I could have saved myself the time. The post disappears unnoticed.

Because people know.

We have an instinct for it. We sense when someone is taking a risk. And, it is risky to care in public.

What if our ideas are dismissed?

What if we’re rejected?

What if no one responds?

That’s why I’ve come to believe: If what we’re sharing doesn’t feel uncomfortable, we probably don’t care enough.

Even as I write this newsletter, I notice myself tuning the message up and down. Adjusting how much I reveal. But if I want to walk the talk, I have to make bolder statements. Not soften them with “maybes.” Not hide behind endless questions. Just say it.

Why bother? It's not for the followship and for being noticed. It's not for the likes.

If we stop caring and stop sharing what really matters, we end up with a flood of bland LinkedIn posts, forgettable emails, and flat conversations. All because we avoided the discomfort of taking the risk of being human.

It’s easy to hide behind a professional safety mask.

If we polish our words, soften our feedback; if we stick to what’s been done before, we pay a price far greater than discomfort: We lose our voice, our creativity, our uniqueness. And, most of all, our connection with others. If we don't care, why would they??

So next time you hesitate before posting, before speaking up, before asking the question that might shift the whole room -- pause.

Ask yourself: Why does this feel uncomfortable?

And if the answer is because I care, then that’s exactly why it’s worth doing.

I do. Every day, I try to push myself slightly outside my comfort zone to prove to myself that I care.

Now it’s your turn.

🎙 Meanwhile, on the podcast…

As executive coach Akshay Kapur will tell you, silence isn’t just a pause - but spaciousness that allows for someone to jump into its still, shiny waters.

And our conversation this week was a celebration of these gorgeous, ripe spaces in between. The moments before asking the right question, the invitation that comes before an answer, and the needs that reveal themselves when we listen deeply, and lean in with full, unbridled curiosity.

Akshay brings beautiful, articulate thoughts to some facilitation truths, sharing how he steps from coach to facilitator, and finds his wisdom from the unknown.

Find out about:

• Where facilitation and coaching meet, and where they depart
• How to create space for participants to reflect and engage in thoughtful dialogue
• The importance of asking the right question, by interrogating the need behind the need and being prepared for a potential trauma response
• Why facilitation can teach us something about ourselves every time we leave the room
• Tuning into the different energetic requirement of in-person and online facilitation

🎧 Click here to listen to the interview

📥 Check out my 1-page summary

👀 Watch the unedited interview on Youtube​

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📌 Find podcast episodes that match your needs

Did you know? You can search all episodes by keyword on our Buzzsprout page to find exactly what you need.

​Click here to find the episodes by keyword.

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🔖 Inspiration at Your Fingertips: Get the Podcast Summary eBooks

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​Click here to get your copies.

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That’s it from my side! I hope this sparks some reflection and maybe even a moment of leaning into discomfort. Wishing you a week of meaningful conversations, bold ideas, and moments that make you pause—in the best way. See you next week!

Myriam

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