Recently, former + renominated US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy spoke on Neil Pasricha’s podcast. At core: “To be guided, inspired, empowered by love.”

At work? It would be a shift. Our brains remain conditioned for industrial days: Methodologies based on logic, efficiency, KPIs, OKRs, other external metrics. Detached decision-making. At least short-term this delivers. But: Delivery pushed largely by fear, scarcity.

Let’s be clear. Love is not an emotion. Not gushy, hugs, emojis. Not conditional. This is love as awareness, a way of being and seeing that pulls. An essential recognition of what we are.

For the work place, the researchers Sigal Barsade and Olivia A. O’Neill speak of companionate love: Warmth, affection, connection. The ability to express empathy, compassion, care. For a teammate, a direct report, a manager. Seeking to understand before reacting. The radical acceptance + appreciation of what is, so we can move toward something better. No paradox.

When you and I feel seen at work, safe, with space to stumble, succeed, belong, we can’t help but doing our best. We are free. To unfold. Show up. Soar.

Companionate love as presence. Open stillness. Being. Seeing. Fears, dreams, questions. Where to go from here? We’ll know. We’ll know.