As we’re sure you’ve noticed it’s a challenge to manage big ideas and visions alongside our human limitations. As I (Alexandra) shared at the beginning of today’s email - my sensitive nervous system often feels at odds with the huge charge that comes with my calling (not to mention my to do list!).
Then there are the self doubts, fears and inner critic attacks that inevitably come when you say yes to living your calling. Leadership asks a lot of us, physically, emotionally and spiritually - it’s no wonder that many of us can end up feeling burned out.
Luckily, we have menstruality on our side and today we’re going to tease out two of the twelve menstruality leadership skills we teach on our Menstruality Leadership Programme, to help you to step into your leadership, without burning out.
#1: The menstruality leadership skill of restraint (aka how to deal with a never ending to do list):
Running Red School is a big job. And this week has been an especially big week in the run up to our summer break. We’ve been wrapping up our - wonderful! - live round of Cycle Power (you can find the self-paced version of the Cycle Power Course here), we’re preparing for our post-graduate training, we’ve had (lots of big, exciting!) interviews and a million and one other things to do.
Even in the face of it all, rather than moving faster and faster to try to somehow keep up, I’ve been getting really disciplined about how I use my time.
I’ve set very clear time boundaries, and inside of those, I’ve been slowing right down and pulling back into myself. And it's a real act of choicefulness and trust. It’s the work of restraint - which we are schooled in during the premenstrual phase of the cycle, and given a masterclass in at menopause.
I imagine I'm slowing down time, I don't look at the clock, and I don't focus on anything except what needs to be done in that particular moment. And somehow, everything always seems to get done, and my nervous system stays (mostly) soothed.
#2: The menstruality leadership skill of intentionality
So, working with this menstruality skill of restraint stops me from going into panic and drama. And instead, I’ve been anchoring myself in my deep being.
My next step is to get fiercely intentional.
I’ve been reminding myself what this phase of my life is for – to serve the world through my creativity. And I’ve been calling myself back to that, time and time again.
Occasionally I might have a little whinge, especially if I haven't had enough sleep, but I really don't let myself go there – that's the restraint again!
And the deep truth is that it's my decades of menstrual cycle awareness, and the dignity and fortitude I forged in consciously meeting the initiation of menopause that now holds me as a leader. By turning towards myself, day after cycle day over years, I now know my true nature. I know how my nervous system works, I know where my skills lie, and I know and respect my limitations.
As you read this, I'm curious if you’re dreaming into ways that you could apply more restraint and intentionality as you follow your calling; at work, in your family or community life, and in how you express yourself in the world. What kind of boundaries do you sense you need to bring in? What visions do you need to remind yourself of?
Our invitation to you…
If you are tracking a calling, longing for a dream you'd like to realise, or for a way you would like to live in our world and you need support to step into this profound act of leadership, we warmly welcome you to explore how our Menstruality Leadership Programme could be a potent, generative, inspiring adventure for you.
We will explore restraint, intentionality, and the ten other menstruality leadership skills as your foundations for Feminine leadership.
And, together, we’ll explore how we can embody the powers of the cycle through the inner seasons, how to work with the five chambers of menstruation, how to manage your inner critic, how to re-write the story of your first period to reclaim your power and so much more.
You can explore the Menstruality Leadership Programme here.
