The Book of Me
Liz Needham 
The book of me
🤔 Dissatisfaction is often a signal, not that you’re failing, but that there’s a deeper layer of yourself calling to be seen.
Self awareness and emotional intelligence are talked about everywhere right now, especially in connection to effective leadership.
They matter. But they are not the whole picture.
Something deeper shapes how you lead, the decisions you make, and how you show up.
For me, that has meant exploring my ancestry, where I’ve lived, and the communities that have influenced me.
I’ve dug beneath the family stories to get closer to truths and really understand where I came from. I've uncovered the gifts I carry forward, like my grandfather’s entrepreneurial spirit. I wish I could speak to him now about running a business.
There have also been challenges, my grandmother’s struggles with addiction that were hidden from family stories. But researching her own history shines a new light on that.
Knowing yourself as a leader is not a quick reflection exercise, but it can be weaved into your daily habits and conversations.
It is like opening a thick book filled with:
👨👨👧👧 Your immediate and wider family
🗺️ Your ancestors
🌍 The land and cultures that shaped you
📈 The transitions and turning points in your life
Each leaves a mark. Some patterns we choose to change. Others strengthen us and stand behind us like allies.
Why does this matter? Because the more deeply you know yourself, the more wisely you can lead others. You make clearer decisions, build greater trust, and avoid unconsciously passing on patterns that limit your leadership.
As Bert Hellinger wrote, “It is important to see the client not as an isolated individual but as part of a family system, which includes his or her ancestors.”
💡 The next time there is a misunderstanding or conflict that you need to change, try looking at those involved with this in mind. What might you understand if you looked at the whole?
👉 So I wonder: What might you discover if you opened your own “book of me”?
If you're curious or you'd like to discuss how you might start drop me a message.