Issue #5 – You’re Not the Problem, You’re the Pattern Breaker

The Moment I Chose Alignment Over Acceptance

The Sunday before last, I was at my nephew’s graduation from Stanford when Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky took the stage to do the commencement address. I didn’t expect her story to stay with me the way it did.

She talked about winning her first gold medal at 15 and being told by her coaches to pace herself. But mid-race, she realized she was far ahead of the pack. Instead of pulling back, she trusted her instinct and kept going. Later that night, watching the race in the Olympic Village, she heard commentators questioning her strategy and urging her to slow down.

She was grateful she hadn’t heard any of it in the moment. Because had she listened to the doubt, she might not have done it her way. She might not have won.

That moment reminded me of my own path.

I’ve always brought a strategic, human-centered approach to my work, grounded in results and guided by vision.
And yet, I often found myself navigating mixed feedback.
Too corporate... or not corporate enough.
Too ambitious. Too creative. Too focused on the big picture.

I was invited to lead, but only within limits.
Asked to bring ideas, but only the ones they were ready for.

The more I grew, the clearer it became.
I wasn’t difficult. I was different.
And that difference wasn’t something to fix. It was something to build from.

It wasn’t easy. Choosing alignment sometimes meant walking away from comfort, certainty, or a clear next step. But staying small would have cost me more.

Over time, I stopped trying to fit and started choosing to design.
Not just a career, but a company and a life that reflects my values, my pace, and my power.

I’m not the problem. I’m the pattern breaker.

What I’ve learned along the way...

When you move through the world in ways others haven’t yet imagined, it can be easy to question yourself.
But sometimes what looks like resistance is just a lack of readiness.
And sometimes the systems we try so hard to succeed in were never built to hold the kind of leadership we bring.

That’s not your cue to shrink.
That’s your signal to keep expanding.

This week, ask yourself:

• Where have I been reshaping myself, at work, at home, or in community, to meet expectations that no longer reflect who I am?
  

• What part of my identity, voice, or power have I tucked away to keep the peace or stay in sync?
  

• What becomes possible when I stop explaining... and start embodying?
  

Your power isn’t limited to your job title or resume.
It lives in how you move through the world and what you refuse to shrink for anyone.

Let’s Keep This Glow Going

This space is about unlearning the noise and listening to your own truth.

If this spoke to you, I’d love to hear what it brought up.

• Forward this to someone rewriting old rules or owning their power in a new way.

• New here? Subscribe below to join the journey.

Because I truly believe the glow gets brighter when we stop shrinking and start standing fully in who we are.

Until next time, keep rising, stay rooted, and never shrink to fit spaces you were born to redesign.

With love and light,
LaShanda 💫