Lessons from a Fearlessly Aligned Leader
If you had the chance to watch Alysa Liu’s gold medal ice skating performance during the Olympics, chances are you were grinning ear to ear and could feel the energy, just like those in the stadium. The joy, freedom, and expression she displayed were palpable.
There are so many lessons for all of us to unpack here.
The first lesson that hit me square between the eyes is this: this is what joy looks like when you do what you love. As a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, I help people build on what is right about them rather than working from a deficit model. When people step into awareness of what makes them unique, they are able to choose experiences that allow them to flourish. Their strengths move from being invisible to something they actively lean into and strive toward.
Imagine what it would be like to wake up each morning and step into your day with that kind of joy and desire. Somehow, our culture has programmed many of us to believe that work and life must be painful and hard. I am genuinely thrilled to see younger generations reject being tethered to a desk when they find no joy in what they are doing.
Secondly, Alysa left ice skating at the young age of 16. If you are not familiar with her story, including her father’s experience as a refugee from China who fled to the United States, it is worth learning more. At the time, Alysa was clearly a rising star, yet her family was navigating significant trauma as her father was targeted by the Chinese government. Alysa chose to leave skating to pursue what many young people long for: a life full of choice.
After a ski trip that rejuvenated her soul, she intuitively knew she needed to return to skating. She listened to and honored her own inner knowing. While I have simplified the story here, it is not surprising that when she chose to return to skating on her own terms, the trajectory of what was possible for her expanded dramatically. And it did.
She chose to take a break. We can change our minds. We do get to choose. We do not have to live by old stories we once held tightly because they served us at one point in our lives. We can release outdated versions of ourselves and open to new possibilities. In fact, that willingness is often what makes growth possible.
I work with leaders every day, and some share that they do not even get up to use the bathroom when they need to. They skip lunch. This is sometimes where the work begins. What does it actually mean to take a break? What good can come from stepping away? Rest is necessary, or burn out takes over. Neuroscience shows us that when we rest, we return with more energy, greater clarity, and enhanced creativity. What might be getting in the way of rest for you?
As a leader, you are setting an example for those you work with. What messages do you want to send?
Many other insights could be drawn from Alysa’s story, but I will leave those to her.
The final piece that stood out to me was how she used her body in her performance. She was not tense, tight, or clenched. She floated across the ice. She played. She danced. She moved effortlessly through her program. This is what becomes possible when the body feels safe and is allowed to move freely. Her movement reflected the state of her nervous system and the safety she cultivated for herself in that space.
Congratulations to all of the athletes in the Olympics. And congratulations to Alysa Liu for bringing so much joy, hope, and possibility to all of us, especially as we look toward the future being shaped by younger generations.
If you would like to watch her performance, you will find it here: https://youtu.be/VCrFaRsezGo?si=PLhrqdaS5Z4F4vVs
Cheers to you for showing up here!
