Wholeheartedness in Work and Life - Embracing Wholeheartedness Amid Complexity

I’ve never seen so many people on the edge of exhaustion and burnout as I have recently—myself included. 

As our lives and workplaces demand more of us, the pace of change and complexity often feels relentless. We try to keep up by pushing harder, often white-knuckling with a tight grip, just to make it through.

Yet, amidst this challenge, something profound is shifting. For me, it’s the growing recognition that we are not just workers or doers; defined by output—we are human beings, with minds, hearts, and strong wills that seek alignment with meaning and purpose.

David Whyte's words resonate deeply:

“The antidote to exhaustion is not always rest, the antidote to exhaustion is wholeheartedness.”

In a world consumed by output, productivity, and profit, we risk losing the quality and essence of life itself. 

This doesn’t mean abandoning responsibility or ceasing to create. Quite the opposite: to address the pressing challenges of our time and build a sustainable future, we need to bring our whole selves—our wholeheartedness—to the table.

Wholeheartedness is about:

• Presence: Truly showing up in relationship with others.

• Commitment: Finding determination and energy through meaning and contribution towards the common good.

• Interconnection: Recognising how deeply we are tied to one another and our environment.

• Authenticity: Acknowledging flaws and embracing imperfection to enable growth.

In the workplace, wholeheartedness invites us to see and connect with the humanity of our colleagues, peers, and leaders and connect through supportive challenge. 

It enables us to stay present, even in high-stakes, difficult situations, enabling decisions rooted in long-term and collective  value rather than short-term gains.

Wholeheartedness also makes room for each individual to show up authentically. Only when we acknowledge and make space for our flaws, fears, and challenges can we move forward and rise to our potential, creating value.

There is often confusion about what it means to be authentic or in other words, “bringing your whole self to work.” While we advocate for workplaces that supports wellbeing, they aren’t—and shouldn’t become—places of therapy or inappropriate behaviours.

Bringing your whole self to work doesn’t mean abdicating responsibility for your personal challenges or passing them onto the organisation or team. Instead, it’s about acknowledging your struggles while taking ownership of your efforts to grow and lean into them.

Yes, workplaces should offer compassion and space for humanity. But that also includes honouring the solutions we hold within ourselves and showing up with accountability.

Wholeheartedness at work is the courage to:

• Be vulnerable and own that vulnerability.

• Foster dialogue that invites courageous vulnerability and chosen accountability in your team.

• Model compassionate accountability as a leader.

Staying with the theme of wholeheartedness, I’ll admit—it has been a tough year personally. Health challenges and the struggle to accept them have tested me in ways I didn’t expect. My resistance to sharing my struggles and asking for help were at odds with a strong sense of responsibility and ownership, making the journey harder and more difficult to ‘walk my talk’ with equanimity and wholeheartedness.

Continuing to do the never ending deeper work of personal and professional transformation, it’s through a commitment to lean into the discomfort that hidden potential is revealed.

For me, wholeheartedness means committing to something beyond myself: serving my clients, creating positive change, and contributing to a better future of the whole. Walking this path requires showing up fully, even when it feels like stepping off a cliff edge.

In Leonard Cohen’s words;  

‘There is a crack. That’s where the light gets in.’

Sometimes, the light can be found in reflection. 

Carving out time to reflect on achievements can be challenging, with the prevalent pace and intensity pushing focus to the next challenge.  

Reflecting on 2024, I have been privileged to contribute in ways that is meaningful to me and aligns with my purpose:

I have;

• Delivered 68 sessions of team coaching and workshop facilitation for organisations exploring progressive, participative ways of working - totalling over 150 contact hours

• Supported leaders that are committed to personal growth and inspiring others with 120 leadership coaching sessions

• Offered over 100 hours pro-bono work of coaching, training and consulting with NGO’s that create meaningful impact in their communities.

• Attended to my own learning and development with over 100 contact hours, sharpening my skills in Consulting, Org. Design, Org. transformation, ICF Ethics and reflective learning  in supervision. 

• Delivered 6 sessions of ConnectIn, a passion project with my dear friend and colleague Myrna Jelman, that is paving the way for new and exiting projects for 2025.

As we approach the end of the year, I invite you to reflect back over your milestones and achievements; and look forward to consider; 

1. How might you embrace wholeheartedness in your work and life?

2. What does courageous vulnerability and compassionate accountability look like in your team and your organisation?

3. How can we, together, co-create spaces that honour both humanity and progress?

Thank you for being part of this journey. 

Here’s to a 2025 grounded in purpose, presence, and wholeheartedness.

With my deepest gratitude.

Kerstin