A Week of Hypocrisy and Harm
Last week’s headlines troubled me. I heard the tragic news while driving to facilitate a wolf advisory group. Increasingly, people seem to be resorting to violence against those with different beliefs. Political institutions value performance over principle. Public shows of loyalty from people who, in the same breath, punish peaceful dissent.
I’ve experienced this before, so it’s not new to me.
There have been times when I chose to stand by my values and watched others get rewarded for conforming to the status quo. I’ve missed opportunities, dealt with rumors, and been told I’m “Too much” in spaces that thrive if I stay silent. Even in my pain, I remain unshakeable with the quiet peace of staying true to myself.
Returning to What Grounds Me
As I reflected on the noise around me and in my mind, I decided to revisit the guiding principles of Anavah Consulting LLC. These principles call me to:
- Strength – relying on inner courage to confront tough truths, even when it’s costly.
- Curiosity – listening carefully before responding, especially when there’s disagreement.
- Humility – embracing shared learning, recognizing I am always both teacher and student.
- Authenticity – remaining genuine and vulnerable, because real results demand real presence.
- Connection – forming deep, trust-based bonds that energize, not just produce results.
Thank goodness I had the awareness to check back in with these principles as I found myself in reactive mode. Living these principles isn’t always easy, especially when no one is watching and when it costs something. These serve as my compass when I feel lost.
Practicing What I Teach: Connect-Encourage-Thrive
The Connect-Encourage-Thrive (CET) model isn’t just a framework I share. It’s also a practice I turn to when the world tries to pull me away from my center.
Connect – Before I can connect with others, I must be grounded in my own values and principles. This week, I asked myself: Am I aligned with what truly matters?
Encourage – Encouragement isn’t soft. It’s a fierce and steady presence. It helps others stand in their truth and values by showing what it looks like, even when it’s uncomfortable or lonely.
Thrive – Thriving isn’t about public applause. It is being grounded in the joy of knowing you didn’t abandon your integrity to be accepted. It is inner peace that doesn’t depend on outside approval.
Leadership Beyond the Headlines
This moment is about more than politics, sports, or media spin. It is about the kind of leadership we reward and what we punish. When powerful institutions offer moments of silence for one figure but penalize peaceful protest for another, that’s not neutrality. That’s selective accountability.
Whether in conservation, business, education, or government, the core question is: Do we live by our values when it’s inconvenient or only when it benefits us?
Performative leadership tends to be loud. Principled and value-based leadership is often quiet, steady, and can come with a cost.
An Invitation to Reflect
This is about reclaiming clarity, not taking sides. Ask yourself:
- Where do you feel tempted to conform when your values or principles push you toward a different path?
- What values or principles help you stay centered when pressure arises?
- How can you cultivate connection, encouragement, and thriving – even when the price is high?
Integrity is Relational
There are real costs to maintaining integrity. In my case, I took a significant financial hit. But there is also a cost to abandoning it – a harmed soul is harder to heal.
Integrity isn’t just personal; it’s relational. It fosters conditions where others feel safe to uphold their truth as well. So, I choose it again today—not because it’s easy, but because my body recognizes it as right. I hope others will benefit from me staying true to my core.
Want to Practice with Me?
Here are three simple, quiet ways to return to your own integrity:
- Check your alignment: Where do your values and actions need to align better?
- Support quiet courage: Offer private support to someone living their values, even if no one else notices.
- Resist performance: Ask yourself, Am I doing this to be seen or stay true?
Integrity becomes stronger each time it’s shared. How will you stand in integrity as the noise overtakes us?
Call to Action
If this message resonates and you’d like support in bringing these ideas to life, I offer both team workshops and individual coaching on:
- Living and leading from your core values
- Clarifying and acting on purpose
- Cultivating the courage and vulnerability that integrity requires
Let’s explore how you or your team can move from intention to aligned action. Contact me to start the conversation.