Hi ,
There’s something I’ve been seeing a lot lately.
It keeps showing up in client sessions, in conversations with friends, even in my own reflections. And honestly—
I’m tired of it.
It’s everywhere, all the time.
The relentless, culturally accepted story we carry that seems to be the norm:
To succeed, you have to be a Superhero.
The Champion.
The Survivor.
The one who “had what it took” to be the conqueror, standing alone at the top of the hill.
The message is everywhere:
Win.
Crush the competition.
Outperform.
Be the one who makes it—no matter the cost.
But at what cost?
Your health.
Your aliveness.
Your connection to meaning.
Your sense of worth—reduced to a scoreboard, a bank balance, a title, or applause.
A recent report by Moodle found that 2/3 of workers are experiencing burnout—and even more than that in Tech (according to Spill).
It’s heartbreaking.
And what gets me the most is—it’s so unnecessary.
I see it over and over—especially in high-achieving, heart-centered professionals who are doing amazing work, but who quietly carry the weight of “never enough.”
And when they fall short of the impossible, what do they feel?
Not just disappointment.
Shame.
I should have done more. I could have done things differently. If only…
Living in this space of constantly wishing for a moment you are not having.
I’ve been there myself.
I’ve felt the pressure to make a huge impact, to do it all, to be exceptional—especially in this work that I care so deeply about.
And one day, I had an insight gifted to me that changed my life.
I was the client in a session with Phil “Lucky” delPrince (one of the co-creators of the Hakomi method).
In the middle of the session, I was deep in the somatic experience of feeling that striving.
All that urgency to do more, be more, make more happen.
And the disappointment that I’m not doing enough.
He paused and said something that really landed for me:
“Brett… go for the bronze.”
(Stillness)
(Surprise)
(OMG)
For a moment I was completely still—it was so unexpected.
Then I laughed.
Because I felt it like flock of doves flying into the sky as I released a burden that was not mine.
Yes.
OMG. Of course.
I realized in that moment that while my drive was true and good, my standard of achievement was not even mine.
It was the culture’s.
It’s enough to be in the race.
To show up.
To do good work.
To keep my heart open and my presence intact.
Bronze is not only good enough—it’s exceptional.
My stress just melted, and what was left was…
Simply me.
The guy that wants to be helpful.
And hopefully graceful about it.
That moment helped me reframe everything.
I didn’t need to chase the win.
I didn’t need to be the hero.
I didn’t need the gold.
I just needed to be present, wholehearted, real, and as skillful as I can manage.
That one sentence helped me reconnect with what I call embodied authority—the grounded, clear sense of knowing you’re enough, just as you are, because you’re showing up in alignment with what matters most to you. Being a force for good in the world, in way that is uniquely you.
And when you interact with the world from that place, you’re undeniable.
People may see you—or not.
They may agree with you—or not.
But it doesn’t change who you are.
(That’s what I mean by undeniable)
And that’s what I want to offer you today.
If you are called, go ahead and run the race.
But don’t let the race run you.
Go for the bronze.
The people you serve will benefit more from your grounded presence than your burned-out brilliance.
Your goodness is the gold.
And that is more than enough.
Stay present,
Brett
PS.
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