Lead With Love

Well, hello there friends!

And a very happy Monday to you!

And a very happy official last week of July too!

Yes, you did read that right!

It is the last official week of the seventh month of the year!

WHATTTTTTT?!

Anyway, time to get on to this week’s post.

The past several weeks I have touched on mental health and how important it is for us to be aware of that state of energy in ourselves and how we can intentionally set aside time for ourselves to help recharge that capacity to make sure we are staying healthy—both emotionally and physically.

And this weekend while watching the Olympics, I saw a few commercials from the P&G brand that advertised the slogan, lead with love.

And that slogan stuck with me and from the moment I saw that commercial, I knew that this was exactly what I was going to blog about.

And here we are!

Grab your morning coffee, juice, or whatever side-kick beverage you like to enjoy in the early mornings because here we go!

I promise to keep it short and sweet.

So, how do you lead with love?

Well, here are three simple ways that I lead with love.

I share these with you in hopes that you will be able to lead with love in your life this coming week and the weeks after.

Volunteer at a nonprofit or entity that is near and dear to your heart.

-This is something that is so easy to do these days, especially with all of the locations around the area that are always in need of volunteers with fresh faces to help out. Animal shelters, nursing homes, hospitals, theaters, non-profits–there are so many options, so there is no excuse on not being able to find one that will fulfill your heart. Here is a quick link for those located in Lancaster on some places you can share your energy as a volunteer!

For those not local to the area, just Google “places to volunteer” with your city and you should find some very fast, easy results. And while I technically don’t actually volunteer (at least not at the moment), I am currently running miles and raising funds for a non-profit very close to my heart–The Conner M. Holland Foundation.

Volunteer Opportunities in Lancaster County, PA | LancasterPA.com

Smile at the stranger.

-This is a simple action that can make all the difference. More often than not, we tend to be a world and society that likes to put judgment on others before actually getting to know them. So, knock that mentality out of your brain and start to lead with love by sharing some kindness with the stranger you don’t know.

We have no idea what these people are going through, so who are we to make judgements about them without actually knowing the full story. Exactly. Don’t do it. Be the change and the one who decides to break the status quo by going against the energy of judgment and hatred our society likes to feed upon.

Spend time with family and those you love and make sure you show appreciation for them.

-Once again, this is a very simple action that we can all take in our lives. Last year, during the pandemic and living in isolation through several months of the 2020 year, it became very clear to me that time spent with my family and loved ones was good for my soul. And, living in 2021 with several elements of the pandemic still sprinkled in and learning so much more about my own mental health and what I need to recharge, it has become even more evident to myself that time spent with my family and loved ones is crucial. We need to make sure we are spending time with people who encourage us, support us, motivate us to be the best we can be, make us laugh, make us cry, and know how to comfort us when we are going through tough times.

And on the flip side of this, we need to make sure that we are showing these individuals that we appreciate them and love them. Take that extra moment to say the words to them while you are with them, hug them when you have the moments together, send a text during the week to let them know you are thinking about them, Facetime with them to share some laughs, call them up on the phone to just say hey, or do whatever other little piece of love appreciation action you feel fit.

Well, I told you I was going to be short and sweet this week.

Leading with love is a simple tactic and action that every single one of us can undertake in our daily lives.

There’s no excuse.

NO EXCUSE.

Yes, I’m yelling.

Well, not yelling…more like energetic and passionate word sharing. That’s what we will call it.

We are the ones that can be the hope, the light, the love, the CHANGE this world needs.

So, get out there today, tomorrow, and every day after to lead with love.

Sprinkle sunshine always.

JP!