Dear Reader,

Remember the last time you felt triggered? That moment when your reaction felt bigger than the situation itself?

Maybe it was a colleague dismissing your idea in a meeting. A friend not responding the way you’d hoped. A client pushing back harder than expected. You felt a surge of irritation, maybe even anger.

I quickly tell myself: They’re so dismissive. They don't understand. They don't take me seriously...

I used to think radical honesty was about voicing these frustrations, speaking my mind, being brutally honest with others.

Little did I know when I signed up for a workshop in December 😅

I learned that the hardest part of radical honesty isn’t about others. It’s about being honest with myself.

Radical honesty might suggest voicing our frustration directly. But the deeper, harder work is turning that honesty inward.

Once we pause and examine our reaction, we quickly realise: I’m not just angry at them. I’m hurt because I wanted to be seen. I feel insecure about whether my ideas are good enough. And if we dig deeper, we may recognise that this isn’t just about this meeting/ friend/ client. There might be a pattern of feeling dismissed.

That’s the real work of radical honesty. It’s not just about calling others out. It’s about calling ourselves in.

Workshops work when they break our usual patterns. And this one did. Two months later, I am looking at a conflictual situation with a client where my emotional reaction felt almost overwhelming.

Suddenly, it clicked: It's not about the client. I'm having a trauma response (learn more from Maggie Coulter on the podcast).

Triggers are tricky. We think they’re caused by what’s happening in front of us, but they’re often echoes of something unresolved from our past. And, as facilitators, leaders, space holders, unexamined triggers can be especially dangerous.

My realisation didn’t instantly solve the problem, but it changed my approach. Instead of blaming and indulging in anger, I explored my emotions. Then, I reached out and found a new way forward #bigwin

This is what “owning” our triggers looks like: not shaming ourselves but gently asking, What is this really about? Once we dig deeper, we can separate the emotional charge of the past from the reality of the present. It's hard and it’s freeing. When we take responsibility for our emotional responses, we stop being at their mercy.

And this is why emotions matter at work! We’re not machines, and we’re not meant to be perfect. It’s time to dare to be human.

🎙 Meanwhile, on the podcast…

If joy was an episode, then it would be episode 307. Welcome back, for the third time, to Jacques The Party Scientist, sober rave host, and social norm disruptor!

I’ve witnessed Jacques’ journey for quite some years now as he’s facilitated joy, spread his natural antidepressants, and created experiences that unite people through the hedonism of human connection.

He joins us with a party bag of life-affirming, inspiring ideas; from the natural forces of neuroscience, to taking social risks, and being misunderstood - but doing it anyway. Feel the flood of neurochemicals with Jacques, as he brings his goofy, gorgeous, full-of-life self.

Find out about:

• How Jacques facilitates joy and creates the mental health tonic of human connection
• The 3 Cs of Joy: Cultivate physiological state, Celebrate social risks and Co-create community
• Expressing our needs through the liberating act of Radical Honesty
• How Jacques designs psychologically safe spaces that allow people to push past fear
• Sober raves, consensual hugging and platonic intimacy

🎧 Click here to listen to the interview

📥 Check out my 1-page summary

👀 Watch the unedited interview on Youtube​

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🔖 Inspiration at Your Fingertips: Get the Podcast Summary eBooks

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That’s it from my side! I hope you enjoy the content and find inspiration in the stories and podcast. I wish you a week of reflection, connection, and growth—see you next week!

Myriam

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