Hi there Reader

One thing I NEVER expected in my life was to love speaking in public.

I went from wanting to hide to not getting enough!

Mad 😁

As part of my film festival work, I had to moderate Q&A’s, the discussions between filmmakers and audiences after a film’s screening.

I had to ask questions if the audience felt shy, translate back and forth, and also act as peacemaker in case conversations got heated.

It’s not open-heart surgery, but it could get really stressful.

Over the years, I got used to it, but never quite liked it.

Nowadays, you can’t get the mic out of my hands!

The thrill is real. (The dopamine too).

This is how I do it:

1 I have a “Calm myself down” toolkit. Tangible, practical things to re-center and move on.

2 It sounds cheesy, but: I love the work. It motivates and fuels me, even when things get tough (and they do). Plus, I can talk about it for days.

3 Discomfort is temporary. And it makes change possible. Being present to the discomfort AND the potential of change - for myself and others - leads to miracles.

4 I take time to reflect: what transpired, how I reacted, what my body felt, what I can do differently next time.

5 Any shaming, or judging voices in my head: no pasarán. They do not enter.

Which of these would you like to learn more about?

Love,

Elena

What would become possible if we were able to actually communicate, as individuals, communities, or cultures?

✧ To experience the uncomfortable feelings that rise inside of us during conflict, but not let them drive the bus?

✧ To put our point across without losing our center?

✧ To move beyond tension and into synced cooperation

towards our common goals and values?

I’d like to think that the world would be different.

I created the workshop "From drama to direction:

Effective team communication for caring leaders"

with these questions in mind.

We start in 2 days!

Join ​here.