What Leopard Sharks Taught Me About Power Without Effort
Fun Fact: Leopard sharks are docile and not aggressive. Even better: they hang out in the waters of my local beach! I love swimming around them – from a safe distance of course (they’re still wild and protected marine life). They move in a very graceful and powerful way. It’s common to see these sharks in groups, swimming together in a gentle and calm manner. They cruise, and don’t appear to be exerting much energy.
When I observe them I can’t help but draw parallels to my own behaviors on land – or better yet, find inspiration on how to be (calmer, gentler, graceful and powerful). Recently, my husband and I snorkeled alongside a leopard shark for what felt like hours. I noticed how playful it was exploring rocks on the ocean floor, how it maneuvered around other leopard sharks, fish, and stingrays, and how natural it moved through the ocean.
There’s a way of moving through the world that doesn’t require extra effort, performance, or tension. A way of life that’s powerful and at ease. Leopard sharks don’t posture, prove, or rush – they move naturally as they are.
A Reflection: Where in your life or leadership might you be exerting more energy than required? And what possibilities open up if you move with more ease, grace, and trust in the waters you’re already in?
