You Are Not Alone

Remember who inspires you and inspire others similarly

March to Valley Forge by William B. Trego, 1883 (public domain)

“An army of principles can penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot.” — Thomas Paine, 1797

Leaders are expected always to have the answers.

The question doesn’t matter, nor do the circumstances, nor even the urgency of a crisis.

We look to leaders we respect to help us make sense of things and to provide a plan of action.

I almost wrote “to tell us how to feel.” But that would have felt disingenuous. No one can tell you how to feel — even a leader you admire.

What they can tell you is how they feel. And how they imagine you might be feeling.

This isn’t just for leaders, either. Anyone can practice this kind of vulnerability, honesty, and empathy.

These sensitivities soften the blow, creating a connection and a common bond. They make us more relatable, more human. Even in the most dire of circumstances.