There's something to be said about feeling the freedom to be wholly & unapologetically yourself in every aspect of your life and through every step of your career. You must feel, and help others to feel, the freedom to bring their whole selves to work. The military is without a doubt a professional environment, as are most places of work, but that doesn't mean that we shouldn’t be ourselves. It also doesn't mean we should take ourselves too seriously.

Me. . not taking myself too seriously :)

If you know me well, you know I can and prefer to be silly and carefree. For the longest time I struggled to balance truly being myself and sending the message that I had the qualifications and experience to effectively lead my office. For my first few months in South Carolina I was "all work & no play," which helped me demonstrate my abilities, but also presented me with a no-fun, internal struggle. We don’t have a professional self that we don Monday through Friday and a real self for the rest of the time.

This photo was taken after spending 8+ hours herding hundreds and hundreds of people around in 90+ degree S.C. heat and humidity to take a massive group photo.  We needed to be silly! Never be fearful of living and speaking your truth! — This photo was taken after spending 8+ hours herding hundreds and hundreds of people around in 90+ degree S.C. heat and humidity to take a massive group photo. We needed to be silly! Never be fearful of living and speaking your truth!

We grow, our organizations grow and the people around us grow when we are true to the core version of ourselves in the workplace. That cubical mate who loves to whistle the last song he heard on the radio before stepping into the office each day is either A. helping you perfect your patience, or B. helping you overcome your fear of situations that could present confrontation. :) If you’re a new mama navigating keeping up with a toddler, meetings, the hundreds of emails you receive daily, anxious clients, etc., while being unapologetically yourself (cheerios falling from your purse and all) you show other women in your work-place that they too can have and be it all. They can be a caring mother who nurtures her child, but also performs well at work. By sharing a laugh or a silly joke, you show others they can do the same and you grow a deeper, more personal connection with your coworker.

My first Air Force assignment had me stations at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware.  This photo was taken early in my time there.  I felt the most connected to the people in my office there when I gave up trying to come across as perfect and … — My first Air Force assignment had me stations at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. This photo was taken early in my time there. I felt the most connected to the people in my office there when I gave up trying to come across as perfect and let them see the real me.

We all, our organizations included, benefit from every individual having the freedom to express their truth, talk about their personal lives and even be silly. By sharing a laugh, a silly joke or even a more personal experience you had during a challenging time in your life you show others they can do the same and you grow a deeper, more personal connection with the people around you. As an added bonus, when you're entirely yourself in all facets of your life you show yourself sincere self-love by refusing to stray from who you truly are at your core.

It can be challenging to remove those layers you may have built up over the years when interacting with people in your work place. My challenge to you is to start removing them one-by-one so that others can see the real you and most importantly, so you can feel more yourself.

Love, Light & the Highest Vibrations

Lon