When I think of the phrase “whole human,” I feel vulnerable. To me, being a whole human is bringing my full, complex, unique, and quirky self into every facet of my life.
But, if I am being completely honest, I feel most whole within myself when I’m closed behind my bedroom door. There is something about it. I feel a physiological response of relief to being alone behind that door.
It’s as if I have been putting on some facade, carrying some unrealized weight, or engaging in my life in some way that my body physically reacts to a level of release that I didn’t realize was missing prior to closing that door.
When I think about what factors contribute to this being true for me, I know that, on top of societal pressures, the painful times in my past when I have been criticized, judged, or ostracized have created subconscious behaviors of protection that I carry into my daily situations. The rapid-fire stream of consciousness that I am mostly unaware of in the moment guides who I am and how I act in any given situation.
Authenticity is another word that encapsulates being a whole human for me. And it is a deeply personal and passionate value of mine. My upbringing birthed a vigilance in me around authenticity that is both a gift and a curse.
Showing up as my authentic, whole-human self in all of the diverse areas of my life is key to finding depth, contentment, and fullness.
I am acutely aware that when I do not show up because I am afraid of being judged, being embarrassed, getting it wrong, looking stupid, seeming unhinged—too emotional—unstable, having to explain myself, or feeling exposed—I am robbing others of the gift that showing up authentically in my world provides.
What if, in my moment of expressing a level of emotion that isn’t “kosher” for the situation I’m in, I actually unlock something that helps another person in that room to feel less alone in their lives?
What if being raw and honest that the insecurity I am feeling in my marriage is shaping how confident I feel today in being a CEO?
What if being silly and letting go of the fear of looking stupid or being embarrassed sparks a love of uninhibited joy in my daughter who is watching me?
What if I honor how the difficult morning getting my kids out the door for school is affecting my ability to jump fully into work right now?
What if, in bringing my whole self to my environment, I am actually honoring others and helping them to live healthier, more engaged, and enriched lives?
The data shows that humans who engage in their lives more authentically and feel psychologically safe to show up as their full selves have enhanced well-being and a reduction of burnout. A study published in Frontiers in Communication found that higher levels of authenticity at work are associated with increased work engagement and decreased burnout.
Research published in the Journal of Happiness Studies developed and validated the Individual Authenticity Measure at Work (IAM Work), demonstrating that higher authenticity correlates with greater job satisfaction, in-role performance, and work engagement.
Lastly, a study in BMC Psychology examined the impact of perceived managerial psychopathy (aka toxic leadership) on employee well-being. It found that when employees perceive their managers as exhibiting traits such as a lack of empathy, manipulative behavior, superficial charm, a disregard for others’ feelings, and a tendency to prioritize personal gain over the well-being of their team, their own sense of authenticity decreased, leading to reduced engagement and increased burnout.
My own lived experience around fighting to show up authentically and bring my whole-human self into my daily situations, plus research like what I shared above, is what deeply motivates me in the work that we do at THRIVE IMPACT.
The leadership journey is a careful balance of honoring who I am as Julie—not Julie the mom, or Julie the wife, or Julie the CEO, or Julie the friend—just Julie. Feeling like I can be the same “Julie” no matter what environment I am in is essential to optimal health, job satisfaction, and overall well-being.
The path to this kind of existence is complex and multifaceted. Authenticity isn’t just a deeply personal journey of stepping beyond the safety of the facade to risk being exactly as I am today; it is also being aware that the way I engage with others has a direct impact on their ability to show up as their whole selves.
I want to rest my head on my pillow at night knowing that I stepped into the arena to lead by example on how to be my whole-human self and created an environment that allowed others to do the same.
But, this doesn’t happen by accident. It happens by practice, learning pivotal tools and frameworks to support my ability to be a self-aware and conscious leader. It comes from knowing the data and working on changing my mindset, and my behavior, while fighting against the societal constraints that try to derail my efforts to live an authentic life.
I am a learner on the journey. What an honor to be able to work with an organization that walks alongside leaders like me—and you—to grow into more authentic and whole humans.