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How Negativity Bias Hijacks Your Strengths (and How to Reclaim Them)
Your brain’s first instinct is to mistrust your strengths . CliftonStrengths matters precisely because it gives that suspicious brain something concrete to work with, so you can move from “What’s wrong with me?” to “What’s available in me?” in a way that’s grounded in research, not wishful thinking . From “what’s wrong?” to “what’s strong?” CliftonStrengths grew out of a deceptively simple but radical move in psychology: instead of only cataloguing problems, Don Clifton sp
kawkapc
Nov 247 min read


From Self-Pressure to Self-Leadership
A Creative Leadership Meditation on Tenderness, Gentleness, and Relearning Self-Compassion We teach what we most need to learn. And...
kawkapc
Aug 255 min read


Tough Conversations: Leading From Your Adult Self
Today, the conversation in front of me felt particularly difficult because of the CliftonStrengths dynamics at play. It was, in essence,...
kawkapc
Aug 153 min read


Creative Leadership Is an Inside Job
“I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way—things I had no words for.” — Georgia O’Keeffe When I say “leadership,” I couldn’t be further from political headlines, hierarchical ladders, or the alpha-performance model that often comes to mind. The kind of leadership I believe in, and coach clients into, is not about titles. It's not about charisma an it is not about control. It’s about creating the world we need , a world rooted in purpo
kawkapc
Aug 16 min read


Why "Weaknesses" Are a Myth and Why Investing in Your Strengths is a Smarter Choice
We live in a culture that’s obsessed with what’s broken. Somehow, criticizing and pointing out flaws is considered a sign of...
kawkapc
Jun 165 min read


The Defiant Path: Leading a Life That’s Truly Yours
We don’t like defiance. Not in teenagers, not in colleagues, not in ourselves. It disrupts. Refuses. Challenges the norm. And yet, defiance might be one of the most essential leadership qualities we never talk about. Especially when it comes to leading our own lives. Defiance isn’t just rebellion for its own sake. It’s the refusal to shrink into expectations that don’t fit. It’s a boundary line that says: not this . In psychological terms, defiance often emerges as a protec
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Jun 34 min read


From Perfectionism to Presence: Reclaiming Your Enough-ness
Is there a difference between healthy striving and perfectionism? Absolutely. One is rooted in growth. The other, in fear . As Anne...
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May 256 min read


Unavailable on Purpose: From Always-On to Intentionally Off
Have you ever noticed how being constantly available to others ends up hurting you? We say yes out of habit, reply instantly, stay...
kawkapc
Apr 216 min read


Moving From Fear to Intuition: Reclaiming Your Inner Wisdom
"At the center of your being, you have the answer; you know who you are, and you know what you want." - Lao Tzu Deep within us lies a well of wisdom, an intuition that knows what is right, even when fear clouds our vision. Yet, too often, fear takes control, drowning out our inner knowing with alarm bells and doubt . When we learn to tame our fear center, the amygdala, we regain access to our intuition, making decisions from a place of clarity, courage, and trust rather than
kawkapc
Mar 169 min read


Emotional Intelligence: The Game-Changer for Career and Life
How do we reconnect with ourselves and each other? What is the universal language that unites human experience? The ability to name our...
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Feb 177 min read


How Do I Get Over Imposter Syndrome?
Imposter syndrome is the persistent feeling of self-doubt and inadequacy despite evident success. It convinces us that we are frauds,...
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Feb 36 min read


You Are Not Your Thoughts
Pay close attention, what I’m about to share could free you from years of unnecessary stress, doubt, and emotional fatigue. In simple...
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Jan 266 min read


How to Overcome Self-Doubt
When did you realize that no one else was to blame? That the voice of doubt, criticism, and sabotage wasn’t coming from the outside, but...
kawkapc
Jan 259 min read


Authenticity: Breaking Free from External Validation
In a world saturated with likes, shares, and applause, the pull of external validation can feel inescapable. Yet when we’re caught in this cycle, the moments between the hits of approval or admiration often feel strangely empty, and that’s the best-case scenario. They can feel much worse. Liberation from this cycle is an act of reclaiming our power . “What’s the greater risk? Letting go of what people think … or letting go of how I feel, what I believe, and who I am?” Brene B
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Jan 57 min read


The Difficult Art of Listening to Silence
Does this sound familiar? On the way from the car to the office, there’s a bench she’s never noticed. One morning Emma sits down “just for a second.” No phone. The city keeps moving; she doesn’t. In that small pocket of nothing, a simple clarity surfaces: cancel two meetings, make one hard call, apologize for yesterday’s edge. Ten minutes of silence gives her day back. Is this just another article about mindfulness? Silence and mindfulness are related, but not the same. Silen
kawkapc
Dec 30, 20247 min read


What Does Self-Esteem Mean?
If I were to begin and end my blogging journey with just one article, it would be this one. Believing in ourselves is the most important...
kawkapc
Dec 17, 20245 min read


How to Survive the Holiday Season
The holiday season can feel like a test of endurance, especially if stress, loneliness, or financial strain outweigh feelings of joy. For...
kawkapc
Dec 8, 20243 min read


Emigration: The Challenge and Gift of Letting Go
Can we lose ourselves? Can we find ourselves again? Yes, and yes. In Luis Felipe Lomelí’s haunting micro story El Emigrante , a single...
kawkapc
Dec 7, 20244 min read
© Copyright Monika Kawka
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