Trusting The We Space: Team Support & Culture
As you may already be aware, I am just returning from my maternity leave where we welcomed my daughter Ajla Julienne Li into the world October 28th, 2022. If you haven’t already, I invite you to read my previous journal entry “An Entrepreneur’s Journey into Motherhood” prior to reading this one. It details the processes, systems and operations I had in place to have the opportunity as a business owner to take a maternity leave.
I feel called in this moment to write more about the virtue of Trust within the We space. After all the preparations prior to my maternity leave it was time to bless + release.
To Trust the Wisdom of a dynamic group of colleagues to continue to lead with thoughtfulness, care and support of one another.
To Trust the work we’ve done on team culture connected to respect, honouring and loving kindness for self, our team, our clients and community.
To Trust the rest space that I knew my heart needed as I ventured into the journey of motherhood
How did it go during my maternity leave? Well, there were definitely some pulls from my shadow side saying that I needed to check in, that I should feel guilty for taking a break, that something was going to go horribly wrong while I was away. That I should always be present and available with both my companies, especially Find Your Voice Music Therapy as the sole Owner and Founder. A special shout out here to FYVMT’s Office Manager Michelle Greyling and FYVMT’s Clinical Lead Alexa Munroe Choquette as well as the clinical team of Graylen Howard, Amelia McGaugh and Sonja Moller-Hatfield. Your Wisdom, Kindness, and Radiance shined bright as leaders and team members of the Find Your Voice Music Therapy with the team and with our community. I found it was a blessing to have Costron + Co be a co-ownership model during my maternity leave. As Jacquie could step into managing all parts of the business seamlessly.
During this time I actively practiced leaning into Trust. Closing my eyes to simply breathe and connect to the present moment. Visualizations to embody the virtue of Trust. Energetically sending support, blessings, wishes to those being of service in the Find Your Voice Music Therapy and Costron + Co spaces. It was the longest time I have ever been away from work but I knew it was important to me, my motherhood journey and my family. A practice of trust did certainly epitomize the term ‘practice’ as I leaned into Trust with some days it being relatively easy and other times more difficult. On the other side of honouring Trust I do feel an expansion in Gentleness and Loving Kindness in connection with self, work, motherhood and life.
What happened after my return? My plan was that I would have some runway to ease into the flow of work, some space to do creative work, light administration and catch ups with my teams. This is where the gifts of flexibility and resilience served me well, as when I returned to work there were transitions to support. As a human response to change, learning how to serve the needs of my baby, myself, and my businesses, I experienced a range of emotions. But when I took a moment to pause and breathe I saw there’s a lesson: Patience and Acceptance… “It is what it is. You are divinely guided and supported. There is no right or wrong way. Receptivity: receive and respond.”
In these times I’ve also noticed a change in an underlying pulse of Loving Kindness, Grace and Grit both from a Me space and naturally from the We space. I feel deeply proud and grateful for the community space we’ve created. And would feel honoured to connect with you if you’re looking for logistical and/or wellness support in a transition you’re navigating as a solopreneur or business owner with a team. An invitation to book a Discovery Call to connect further!
