Last week, in a deep 1 on 1 with a team member, he mentioned he was worried about just going through the motions. Work, home, repeat. Nothing deeper.

But when he talked about reflection - really talked about it - something shifted in his voice.

Real care. Real concern about meaning.

"What do you need?" I asked.

"To get back into meditation."

"Let's sit in silence for 5 minutes right now."

He said yes immediately.

Five minutes of silence in the middle of a work day.

Two people recognizing what was real and needed in that moment.

IT FELT SO GOOD.

and we both came back sooo productive after a crappy day.

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You can't manufacture spark. You can only recognize it.

For months, I've been trying to find that special quality in everyone. The spark that goes beyond just doing the job.

Some people have it. Others don't.

Both are fine.

But I was exhausting myself trying to create magic where there wasn't any.

Performing equal enthusiasm for everyone.

Looking for angles to make every conversation light up.

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The fear of being selective made me less present with everyone.

When you stop performing enthusiasm, you start recognizing what's actually there.

That team member didn't need me to manufacture spark in him.

He needed me to see the spark that was already there.

His genuine concern about meaning. His real desire for something deeper.

The meditation wasn't me creating something. It was me responding to what he'd already shown me.

Recognition is the opposite of abandonment.

When you meet people where they actually are instead of where you think they should be, you're not throwing them away.

You're finally seeing them.

Some conversations will light you up. Others won't.

Some people will match your intensity. Others can't.

Your job isn't to force spark where it doesn't exist.

Your job is to recognize it when it does.

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With all my love,

Khuyen

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