Last Monday I walked into a women in business event expecting ease and familiarity — the kind of belonging that makes sense on paper. Instead, I felt tense, distracted, and oddly out of place. Nothing was wrong with the room or the people in it, yet my body knew something didn’t align. This post is about sitting with that discomfort, not fixing it — and what it taught me about belonging, transition, and giving myself permission to keep looking.

Leaders are often told to “be strong” and “stay neutral,” even as they’re asked to make decisions that quietly ache against their own values. Moral injury happens in that gap—between what feels right and what leadership demands—and silence doesn’t protect anyone from its impact.

Difficult conversations are unavoidable, but they don’t have to be destructive. They can become turning points for growth when approached with awareness, honesty, and self-regulation. Many of us weren’t raised with calm communication; defensiveness or shutdown may have felt normal. Learning to notice our emotional triggers and stay present can reshape how we relate to ourselves and others. In leadership and professional settings, emotional intelligence helps us recognize wha