I had a fantastic lunch at Nobu 57 with some of my oldest coaching clients on a quick trip to New York.
One client — a new father — voiced the idea that he realizes he’s motivated by fear and would like to live differently to enhance his presence with his family.
Everyone at the table lit up like “Yeah! Me too.”
As a coach, I almost fell out of my chair. Here I’m sitting with Partners from the world’s best buyside firms and we are talking about love and connection.
So what did he mean?
He has been so successful because he’s always worrying about what might go wrong. He sees around corners, anticipates others’ priorities, and churns in his head long after he’s left his desk.
But he realizes this comes at a cost:
He can be distracted or unavailable to his family and friends.
He can feel far away, worried, and aloof.
As the emotional pacemaker of the house, he’s thinking about how to be more present, more joyful, and emanate a vibe of warmth and security to be felt by his loved ones.
Focusing his attention on gratitude rather than fear enables him to shift into a charismatic leader at work and present father at home.
While the reptilian instinct to worry is an ever-present force, with intention he evolves his consciousness.
How are you showing up for your family?
What tweaks can you make to live more in the moment?