Finding the Light in the Chaos: Choosing Radical & Intentional Acts in a World That Feels Like It’s Falling Apart...
Mary Holmstrom • August 15, 2025
Everything may feel broken, but you have the pieces to build love through seeing, listening, and accepting....
I feel sometimes like I just want out of this place, go off grid, move to a remote island and listen to the ocean all day long, because lately, it feels like the world is fraying at the edges. The headlines scream about environmental disasters, political unrest, corruption among those we’ve trusted, and the unraveling of our educational systems. Water, the very essence of life, is under threat in many places. Relationships seem strained, communities fractured, and there’s an ever-present undercurrent of exhaustion and distrust.
If we’re honest, it’s tempting to throw up our hands and mutter that everything is going to hell in a handbasket. And maybe, in some ways, it is. But this isn’t the full story. There’s still a pulse of hope running through the human spirit—a quiet but powerful current that can steady us if we choose to tap into it.
That hope doesn’t arrive by accident. It’s built when ordinary people decide to lead—not with grand speeches or sweeping reforms, but with the simple, deliberate act of loving others, and this is how we do it: See, Listen, Accept, Love....that's it.
To create course correction with someone right where they are—in the messy middle, in all the contradictions, and complexities—is to take a stand against despair. To start a conversation with kindness rather than judgment, to approach differences with gentleness rather than aggression, is a revolutionary choice in times like these. And to truly listen—not just to reply, but to understand—is to remind someone that they matter.
At the end of the day, people don’t want perfection, control, or constant agreement. Deep down, most of us want four simple things:
To be seen for who we truly are.
To be heard without interruption or dismissal.
To be accepted without condition.
And to be loved without agenda.
When we meet these needs for another person—even in a small way—we become leaders. Not leaders because of titles or power, but because of the courage to step into someone else’s world with tenderness. That’s leadership in its purest form.
No, we can’t single-handedly fix every broken system. But we can create ripples of recalibration, one human interaction at a time. If the world feels like it’s caving in, perhaps the most radical thing we can do is to choose love anyway—fiercely, relentlessly, and without keeping score.
Hope is not passive. It’s an action. And it starts with us, right now.......in the messy middle of this crazy life.
The Art of Coaching: A Holistic Pathway for Emerging Executive Women Leaders In today’s fast-paced corporate world, executive women leaders often face a unique set of challenges as they carve out their place in competitive fields. Navigating these challenges successfully requires more than just technical skills or strategic savvy—it calls for deep, transformative growth that honors the full complexity of who they are. This is where the art of coaching, especially from a holistic perspective, becomes not just valuable but essential. Beyond the Myopic View: Embracing the Whole Person Traditional leadership coaching tends to focus narrowly on career objectives—improving performance, achieving targets, or honing specific skills. While these are important, a myopic approach misses the profound impact that environmental, social, mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being has on leadership effectiveness. Holistic coaching recognizes that executive women are not just leaders in a boardroom; they are whole beings with interconnected facets that shape their decisions, resilience, and vision. Addressing only one dimension limits potential and often leads to burnout, dissatisfaction, or feeling unmoored despite external success. So let’s address the SIX area’s…. The Power of Environmental Awareness The environments women leaders operate in—corporate cultures, social circles, even home settings—deeply influence their ability to lead authentically. Holistic coaching is key to evaluating and, if needed, recalibrate these environments to support growth, creativity, and well-being. Social Connections as a Source of Strength Human beings are wired for connection. Executive women leaders thrive when they cultivate meaningful, supportive relationships that provide encouragement and honest feedback. Coaching through a holistic lens fosters these vital bonds, empowering women to build networks that nourish both professional and personal growth. Mental and Emotional Mastery Leadership demands high cognitive agility and emotional intelligence. A holistic coaching approach supports women in managing stress, building emotional resilience, and cultivating mental clarity—a skills set that enables them to navigate complex decisions with confidence and grace. Physical and Spiritual Alignment The body and spirit are often overlooked in leadership development, yet they are critical to sustained success. This style of coaching encourages women to honor their physical health and spiritual well-being, recognizing these as foundations for energy, purpose, and integrity in leadership. Finding your true north through a holistic way of coaching is more than a career choice; it’s the most transformative aspect of making choice and intrinsic to its power to help emerging executive women leaders discover their “true north.” This means aligning career paths with deeper values and life purpose, creating a leadership journey that is not just about climbing the ladder but about meaningful fulfillment. When coaching embraces the full spectrum of who a woman leader is—mind, body, spirit, and environment—it unlocks potential in ways that transcend traditional career success. The result is a life and leadership style that is vibrant, balanced, and deeply authentic. Bottom line…. Executive women leaders at any stage of their journey can benefit immensely from the art of coaching that looks beyond the surface. A holistic coaching approach provides a comprehensive roadmap for personal and professional transformation, setting women on a trajectory toward a life where leadership is not just a role but a reflection of their whole, empowered selves. On this journey with you…..
