Leading With Mother Aya

A recent retreat threw me into an unexpected role.

I went into my recent 1heart retreat thinking I’d focus on my own journey, but life had other plans. Instead of doing my own thing, I found myself stepping into a leadership role- one where I was asked to support others on their paths. Truthfully, I was a little hesitant at first, but it ended up opening my eyes and teaching me more than I expected to learn.

Now, let me tell you, it wasn’t your typical leadership gig. 1heart emphasizes that you’re not there to coach or guide others. You’re simply there to be a pillar of support- someone who listens actively and expresses love for others as they navigate their journeys.

I'll admit, it made me a bit uncomfortable, especially knowing myself and my personality. I mean, I go to these retreats to do MY work. I’m not always sure where I’m headed during my journey, so I questioned my ability to help others.

But that’s where I started asking myself the big questions. I mean, my intention for this retreat was to uncover my true mastery after all. What am I a master of? What is my true mastery?

And here’s the twist- what I learned is that I don’t need to be a master of anything.

What I need to do is master my own life.

That revelation hit me like a ton of bricks. Mastery, for me, isn’t about perfecting a craft or being the best in a specific skill. What I am led to do is share my knowledge and experiences with others. Mastery for me is being of service to others.

Take the financial construct out of the equation for a moment and think about what you really love doing. For me, it’s helping people. Helping build companies. If you pursue your passion, it can translate in so many ways.

So, what makes you feel centered? What’s at your core?

For me, I’ve realized that it’s just about being myself and being of service to others. In just seven days after the retreat, with a refreshed perspective, I've been able to accelerate my impact. I’ve just been doing what I enjoy. Just last Sunday, I helped four people refine their business plans while laying out their visions for the future.

Funny thing is, I went into this retreat to learn what I could be a master of. But what I learned was to stop worrying about mastering a craft. I just need to be me.

But what does it mean to be G? Well, we’ll save that for another time.

-G aka "me"