Why it’s better to lean in?!  What does that even mean?

While it sounds like the latest pop culture buzz word nonsense, leaning in has always been a method of growth for me.

Just like a hand in poker you gotta decide:  All-in (lean in)? All-out (lean out)?

What’s it gonna be?

FUN ASIDE: In poker, the term means that a player has put the last of their chips into the pot. When a player is “all-in”, they can not perform another action because they don’t have any chips left.

Leaning in to your life, to your business, to your personality, to your whatever, means you’re all-in.

Being all-in is leaning in. Accepting that you’re going to slide ALL YOUR CHIPS into the pot. It means you’re jumping in faith, you’re stopping the nonsense of lesser actions that have less risk and smaller payoffs.

Leaning in can be the most courageous thing you’ll ever do.

You’re defying odds. You’re shutting out the noise of those who insist you shouldn’t – you mustn’t – you can’t.

You’re taking a risk of the lionhearted: DO! STAND! LEAN IN!

Makes my stomach squinchy just writing the words, because I know the cost of leaning in.

Have an EXTRA! personality and folks don’t get you? (um, HELLO!)

If yes, I know there have been many times you simply wanted to go along to get along – meaning you leaned out. You didn’t embrace you. You took the easier path. No judgement, just example.

Ever made a decision in your life that evokes unsolicited opinions of why you’re a dumbass? (yes – speaking from experience)

Folks love telling other folks how their decisions are boneheaded. And I get if it was more than you could handle. The stress of leaning in is not for the gentle with-the-flow manatees of this world. (now I wanna go swimming with a roly poly manatee)

Have an idea that’s before it’s time and you excitedly told others about it, and they looked at you, like, well, like you have too much time on your hands and HOOBOY!, that imagination! (over 30 years ago, after ruining Boy’s 1000th diaper because I had attached it too tight/loose the first time, I had a true lightbulb moment – reattachable tabs! no more waste! – now common ever’where.  ~facepalm~)

There is a simple truth I want to share with you, one that may change the course of your life: find the voice within and listen to it.

Listen with all your heart. That voice, your intuition, leans in. The voice knows all and wishes you’d take a hot second to have a sit-down. It knows it’s not easy (if it were easy…)

When I find myself leaning out, I know I’m scared and need to correct course.

Scared others will be on to me. (Imposter Syndrome)

Scared to push against the popular view of the day (it’s exhausting being a woman of strong opinion).

Mostly, though, when I lean out, I understand what leaning in means: hard work. (MOMMA NEEDS A NAP, YO.)

Life is f’in’ hard. Pop culture will insist you ride with the herd. Be the same. Talk the same. Dress the same. Think the same.

If that is your leaning in – BRAVO. If it isn’t, stop leaning out.

There’s no payoff in that torture.

Be uniquely you.

As Dr Seuss famously wrote:

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.

The good doc was on to something.

My advice? Lean in. Always lean in. That’s where the magic hides.

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