Over the long holiday weekend here in the U.S., we welcomed friends into our home. Before they arrived, we gave the house a full reset: sweeping corners, clearing clutter, washing and opening windows. Clarified and refreshed, the space seemed to breathe again. It reminded me that when we move what has been sitting too long, whether dust, habits, or emotions, life begins to circulate differently.
With that clarity, I could meet the weekend as it unfolded. The friends arrived with their toddler, and filled up the house with laughter, shared meals, play, and new memories. At one point, the conversation turned to networking and its (un)usefulness. It got me thinking: when I first came to the U.S. from Croatia, I did not understand the concept of professional networking, or know any formal scripts. What I did know was how to reach toward people with curiosity, offer care, and receive curiosity and care in return. Looking back, I see that I had been networking all along: in schools and on campuses in Zagreb and Toronto, as a new mom in Chicago, and later in Portland, getting used to the foreign city.
No one taught me specific strategies but I was still creating a strong network via small acts of authentic recognition that built trust and belonging. (A great example of that would be my connection with Sarah—see her podcast link below!)
Around the table with our friends, I noticed how many cultures and perspectives we represented. Different languages, lineages, and life paths, all in one refreshed room. What struck me was how quickly we found common ground when we spoke not of status or success, but of what we each value: the worth we feel in being heard, the wealth of support in friendship, the wellness that grows when we can be ourselves. Connection across difference is possible when we engage with sincerity.
One principle I return to often is this: My life is a reflection of my energy. When my home is cared for, it reflects ease back to me. When I opened up to our friends, I saw openness mirrored in their eyes. The same is true in professional spaces: when I lead with authenticity, the quality of interaction shifts. Reflection is not always immediate or symmetrical. Sometimes the outer world lags, or it mirrors something distorted back. That does not make the principle false; it means energy is moving through layers, our own, others, and the collective.
Even then, how we engage still matters. Energy seeks coherence, and with time, it gathers around what we bring forward.
This week’s Courage Board reads: I engage with the moment fully and actively. For me, that is the essence of relationship. Not performance or posturing, but the willingness to arrive and let myself be met. When I do, life often mirrors back the same positive qualities.
The Guiding Principle I mention is based on one of Five Truths from The Energy Codes by Dr. Sue Morter. What would it mean for you to engage with this moment fully and actively? What reflection might life offer back when you do?