THRIVE IMPACT

08/26/2025

When You Need More Than One Person to Hold Your Deep

The words stung.

My instinct was to focus on how much his words hurt, instead of whether what he was saying might be true.

“I can’t be the only person you talk to about this stuff,” he said. “I wish I could, but I am simply insufficient for what you need right now. And frankly, Julie, I can’t hold the space that you want from me—it’s too much.”

He wasn’t cold or dismissive. He was calm, steady… and painfully honest.

I wanted him to be that person. The one I could always open up to. The one with whom I could dive off the deep end of my feels.

After the heaviness faded, anger crept in. Was he saying I’m needy? I defensively mentioned how I’d talked to two friends earlier that week.

He didnt let my defensive tactics derail him. He pressed forward, annoyingly calm and stable. “I’m not talking about friends, Julie. You need a coach—someone who can guide you and help you filter through the deep. I will fall short of being that person for you, and it isn’t fair to either of us for me to be the hinge in the middle.”

And he was right.

I hadn’t realized the toll it was taking on him to be my only place to process. Especially when the waves of my emotions ripple into his wellbeing, too.

Life is complex and relentless—it doesn’t slow down when things feel off. If I want to keep growing toward wholeness, I need more than one outlet. I need people who can guide me, hold me accountable, and help me keep moving toward the person I want to be.

As a coach, I’m not immune to needing my own coach, too. What would my future self want? She wouldn’t want me to stay stuck. She’d be grateful I leaned into finding the support I need to grow.

If you’ve ever found yourself leaning on one person to hold all of your emotional weight, maybe it’s time to widen your circle of support, too.

https://thriveimpact.org/insights

07/27/2025

Triggered? Good. That’s Your Cue to Do the Inner Work

Becoming a more integrated leader isn’t something that happens to you simply by learning the concepts. It takes practice.

We often share this in our workshops — you won’t become a conscious leader without practice. Just like you won’t see muscle definition without hitting the gym. It only counts if you put in the reps.

I have been applying this into my life lately in more concrete ways. Confronting my insecurities head-on by putting in the reps to counteract my fears.

Recently, I had some challenging conversations around Roles, and a lot of the challenge for me personally in those conversations was my own insecurities being triggered.

I could have chosen to only focus on how someone “could have said XYZ differently, and it wouldn’t have been so challenging for me” — and while there is truth to that — I would be missing the bigger, and more important, point.

The primary focus should *not* be on what someone said or did… being aware of my own triggers is the key to unlocking my growth and potential.

I needed to take time to ask myself what I was feeling underneath my triggers. What was my internal narrative saying? Not the external narrative that I can easily point toward another with “should haves” or “could haves.”

After taking some time to be honest with myself, I noticed that I was subconsciously in agreement with what I assumed the other person was implying about me in those challenging Role conversations.

And I needed to dig into why… and what is true…

I needed to argue with *myself* more than anyone else.

I needed to own that I didn’t think I had what it took to do the job. To call out that I felt unsure if the way that I am naturally inclined or wired was going to set me up to fail. And I had to admit that I felt shaky under the pressure, fearful that if I did fail, I might not find my footing again.

I allowed myself to believe that my ability to succeed was set — predetermined — unmovable — defined by a societal narrative of what is.

So, I turned to an unusual source for support and clarity...

[Keep Reading: https://thriveimpact.org/put-in-the-reps-becoming-the-leader-youre-meant-to-be/]

04/01/2025

Last month we had an incredible time at the Business For The Common Good conference put on by the Denver Institute for Faith & Work, where Tucker Wannamaker was honored to speak and facilitate. It was a dynamic, thought-provoking gathering of Christian leaders filled with thoughtful discussions and fresh perspectives on leadership that prioritizes the flourishing of all.

KEY INSIGHTS:
👉 Leadership is a collective art. We lead best when we learn and lead together.

👉 Embracing our humanity as leaders. Moving away from the pressure to be “superhuman” and leaning into being beautifully human fosters genuine connection and better outcomes.

👉 Collaboration and empathy are at the heart of creating lasting, positive impact for our communities and organizations.

It was an honor to be part of an event that brought together diverse voices to reimagine leadership for the greater good. ❤️

03/19/2025

💥 The March Impact Newsletter hit everyone's inbox early this morning. ツ If you aren't on the list, and want to be - let us know in the comments.

💛 Featured: "Taking Extreme Ownership: Turning Triggers into Transformation" - In this piece, Julie shares about the unexpected nature of emotional triggers and how they serve as invitations to healing and self-discovery. She explores the journey of recognizing and reframing deep-seated wounds, embracing self-awareness, and stepping into personal power with resilience, forgiveness, and confidence.

👉

Why is it so easy to feel that when I have not been triggered by a wound for a while, it has somehow resolved itself—only to feel blindsided when that wound rears up again? Healing doesn't work that way, as much as I wish it did. The phrase “time heals…

02/17/2025

The February Impact Newsletter hit everyone's inbox early this morning. ツ If you aren't on the list, and want to be - let us know in the comments.

FEATURED: "Between Stimulus and Response: Harnessing the Power of the Pause" - A piece about the power of Pause | Notice | Choose, written by Julie Wannamaker.

*BONUS* Tucker Wannamaker will be speaking at the Nonprofit Marketing Summit: Evolve - and you're invited to be our guest (even better, it is FREE). RSVP link in the comments.

“Why don't we pause? Fear of judgment?” This was a question that was brought forward in our most recent workshop on leadership. Sixty-eight nonprofit leaders from around the Midwest gathered to learn ways to grow into integrated leaders and engage with their teams in more co-creative ways to com...

01/22/2025

The Courage to Be Authentic: A Journey Toward Wholeness in Leadership

--

Being a whole human means embracing the courage to show up as our authentic, complex, and unique selves in every aspect of life. It’s a journey of vulnerability, self-awareness, and conscious leadership—one that impacts not only our well-being but also the environments we create for others.

What if, by stepping beyond the facade and embracing authenticity, we unlock connection, growth, and joy in ourselves and those around us?

--

Read the full post here: https://bit.ly/3Ws6LO0

--

11/15/2024

This week we had the privilege of facilitating a half-day experience for this close-knit team. It was such a joy to see the warmth and playfulness among these ladies. Listening to them talk about their "kids" (aka the teen moms they serve) was deeply heartwarming for me.

One of the things that I won't ever take for granted in our work at THRIVE IMPACT is the honor of experiencing a small slice of the impactful work that our clients do day-in and day-out.

It's a good life, y'all. 💞

11/05/2024

Reviews like this are what MAKE the work that we do at THRIVE IMPACT so rewarding. 😊

Tucker is in Anchorage right now with Cohen facilitating a leadership workshop for an organization. This was one of the many positive survey responses...

*Tears* - The way this work impacts others to feel more empowered in their lives professionally and personally is like charge to my battery! 🤗

So proud of the work that we do, and for Tucker Wannamaker and Aaron Cohen for their masterful way of leading people through transformational experiences. 🙌

05/30/2024

In our newest episode of THRIVERS, Sarah dives deep into how positive psychology revolutionizes workplace dynamics. She and Tucker explore how this approach not only enhances team cohesion but also ensures that organizations excel and adapt seamlessly to change.

🌟 Sarah unpacks her extensive research, exploring:

✅ The transformative power of transformational leadership beyond conventional methods.

✅ How perceived organizational justice shapes team morale and receptiveness to change.

✅ The essential roles of resilience, optimism, and efficacy in mastering workplace complexities.

✅ Effective strategies for building and reinforcing trust, fortifying the pillars of leadership.

This episode is a treasure trove for leaders eager to mold a vibrant, supportive work environment where teams do more than succeed—they thrive.

🎧 Here are the links: 🎧

📌 Online - https://thriveimpact.org/podcast/ep47
📌 Apple Podcasts - https://apple.co/3baxx9x
📌 Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3vkkOba

05/23/2024

How might embracing our full selves in professional settings transform our approach to leadership and the impact we can achieve in our communities?

05/20/2024

What transformative insights could we unlock if we more effectively harnessed the collective wisdom already present within our teams?

05/16/2024

Leadership is more than a role; it's a responsibility—especially when it involves steering community foundations towards impactful change. In today's fast-paced world, making decisions that balance personal well-being with profound community impact requires not just boldness but strategic innovation.

In our latest episode of THRIVERS, Tucker and Sarah explore the unique challenges faced by community foundation CEOs. They discuss how embracing risk, rethinking asset management, and unlocking team wisdom can transform not only communities but also the very approach to leadership.

Tune in to see how community foundation leaders are setting new standards for leadership that promises not only greater alignment and authenticity but also transformative change.

🎧 Here are the links: 🎧

📌 Online - https://thriveimpact.org/podcast/ep47
📌 Apple Podcasts - https://apple.co/3baxx9x
📌 Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3vkkOba