There is a moment that repeats itself often for me. I join a Zoom meeting where I do not have anything specific to contribute and almost immediately feel the pull of an old story.
Why am I here.
My time is not valued.
I must not matter.
These thoughts are quiet but powerful, and they change how I sit in my chair and how I breathe. They tighten my chest and narrow my attention until I feel far away from the conversation.
Something shifted for me after a conversation with my coach Julie Flippin. Julie has a presence that feels warm and safe, like being wrapped in a loving hug. She once invited me to try sending energy in meetings. Just allow my hands to soften out of sight and let the warmth move through the space. Even over Zoom, presence travels.
In one of those meetings where I felt useless, I tried it again.
I softened my breath.
I let my awareness settle.
I sent energy into the room.
My body relaxed first.
Then something in my attention widened.
I felt connected and part of the meeting even without speaking.
It reminded me that presence is participation.
This is feminine intelligence.
A way of working that honors humanity in places that often reward speed and pressure.
I have worked in environments where technical brilliance was everything. I once worked with a coworker who was praised for his skill but burned out the team because he pushed so hard and everyone tried to keep up with him. I used to dropped everything to answer his calls, even when my daughter needed me.
In contrast, I have seen how presence shifts moments of crisis. During system failures, pressure fills the room quickly. People race, panic, and spiral. A simple pause often becomes the turning point. A breath. A moment to ground. And suddenly creativity returns, solutions open, and the room softens just enough for progress.
Presence does not solve everything, but it changes the energy so solutions can appear.
This week my intention is to anchor belonging. To trust the energy I bring into every room. To let presence be enough.
Curious reflection: Where can you bring just a little more presence into one interaction this week?