Living and Leading with What’s Already Within: A Strength-Based Path to Liberation

"You are your best thing." — Toni Morrison

Transformation begins not by fixing what’s broken, but by remembering that we are our best thing. As the Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Natural Inclination LLC, I support leaders in reclaiming their strengths through my signature 3D Power Tools Framework: Discovery, Discernment, and Determination. This model, grounded in the wisdom of historically marginalized communities, helps individuals unearth the stories that shaped them, align with their values, and lead with courage.

Transformation begins not by fixing what’s broken, but by remembering that we are our best thing.

Central to my work is the use of Values, Strengths, and Needs (VSNs) as our “internal compasses” for clarity and collaboration. I apply this both in team-building and in parenting my 10-year-old daughter, Emma, co-host of our podcast, Living in 3D Power.

After taking the VIA Character Strengths Survey, Emma said, "Honestly, I was not surprised. I already knew I was all these things." Her response reminded me of how easily children access self-knowing. This tool not only affirmed her strengths, but it is helping me parent with greater alignment and much-needed respect for my children.

After taking the VIA Character Strengths Survey, Emma said, "Honestly, I was not surprised. I already knew I was all these things."

Emma and I use our Curiosity Cards to ask big questions. These intergenerational conversations ground us in wonder and remind me that children carry wisdom that calls us back to our truest selves, which are the parts often lost in the performance of adulting.

Most of us have experienced the "stay in a child’s place" mentality, which I believe silences imagination. This same mentality is perpetuated in the workplace, thereby silencing us. My work reimagines the workplace by centering voice, curiosity, and liberation.

...children carry wisdom that calls us back to our truest selves

So I invite you to pause and get curious with yourself, your story, and your innate strengths. What if the wisdom you seek is already within you, waiting to be remembered? Let these questions be a starting place:

Power of Discovery

• What stories have shaped how I view my strengths?

• Where might I be underestimating my gifts because of societal narratives or past experiences?

• How do my strengths reflect my lived experiences and identity?

Power of Discernment

• Which of my strengths are most aligned with my core values?

• What needs are calling for more attention in my personal and professional life?

• How can understanding my Values, Strengths, and Needs (VSNs) help me show up more authentically in my leadership and relationships?

Power of Determination

• How can I begin to use my strengths more intentionally in my daily decisions and interactions?

• What small, values-aligned action could I take this week to center my strengths in a liberatory way?

• Who in my life might benefit from witnessing me embrace my strengths fully?

This article was written by Dr. Amber Sessoms, NCSP, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Natural Inclination, LLC. Visit her website at https://www.aninclination.com and follow her at @natural_inclination