If you ask me, I could go on and on about the importance of warmth (compassion, empathy, non-judgement) and why things go south due to our collective focus on strength (decisiveness, directness, focus on getting things done). I can kid myself into believing that the financial sector is predominantly focused on strength, so working in the industry, I will just spend all the time preaching warmth.
And that means, I am out of balance. In an effort of influence something beyond me (the sector, haha), I lean too far on one side, becoming less productive and effective, pondering on about acceptance and appreciation.
Yet, it is only matching warmth with strength within yourself that you, within your boundaries, can become aligned with your purpose. Acting from that purpose gives strength. Because there is absolutely nothing wrong with decisiveness, directness and getting things done, if it comes from a place of alignment. What's more: a disbalanced focus on warmth leads to leniency and lack of action.
And then looking at the mirror, the question surfaces: to what extent does my focus on warmth come from a place of craving acceptance and belonging? To what extent do I want to radiate warmth just to meet my own emotional need? Well, if the question surfaced, there must be some truth to it. Something to observe a little while longer...
For now, I'll just stay with the bumper-sticker quote: 'It takes strength to be truly warm.' Finding the balance, every day over and over, is art.
PS: The closer I look (dare to look) the more I see the warmth in every single human. Everywhere.
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