Box of Toys

We all have a box of toys that we LOVE and truly enjoy. We want to play with them as often as possible because they make us feel whole and bring energy to our lives. We hesitate sharing our toys with other kids because we are afraid of what they might say or what they might do. Someone might purposefully break our favorite ruler or call our Hello Kitty pencil sharpener, "Stupid". This hurts our feelings and makes us retreat, makes us sad, a bit angry, and makes us not want to share our amazing toys or talents again.

We want to share and we are scared.

Inevitably, part of growing up for many of us is forming a "tough skin" that allows us to carefully share our toys and talents with others without being too hurt by what they might say or do. There are a few people out there that have learned the opposite and have become well paid and influential bulls in china shops. Despite the tough skin and the bulls on parade, each of us had and still have a AMAZING box of toys and talents.

We have much to share and we are still scared.

As big kids, we now have the opportunity to build the cultures, companies, and communities we desire so that we can more fully share our amazing box of toys and talents. We have the ability to listen without judgement and apologize when we do. We have the ability to share our toys with others and expect them to take care of them like their own. The future we want can be created together.

We have much to share and together we can get there.

So, what does it take to share our toys and talents with less fear? Fear cannot be completely eliminated, yet it can be drastically reduced. By cultivating and supporting cultures of empathy, compassion, and respect, we open the doors back up to imagination, curiosity, and inclusion. By practicing self-empathy and empathy for others, we can hear each other with more curiosity and less judgement. We can collaborate with more imagination and less bullying. We can innovate for many, not just for some.

We can share our box of toys and amazing talents!
We can be heard.
We can be understood.
We can be supported in our ‘pursuit of happyness’.
We can be tolerant and not passive.
We can be bold and cuddly.
We can be successful.
We can be care for.
We can be emotional.
We can be loved.

We must build cultures of empathy and compassion within our teams, companies, and communities so that we can share our AMAZING toys and talents.