Leadership Topic Archives - The Healthy Living Plan

21 Sep 2026

Expanding the Lens on Leadership

by Cathy Caswell | 0

Leadership has never been simple. Today, however, leaders are navigating an extraordinary combination of complexity, uncertainty, competing interests and constant change. Decisions that once might have been considered carefully over time can be overtaken by the next development before there has been an opportunity to fully understand what’s happening. When everything feels urgent and important, the natural response or automatic reaction is to focus on what needs to be handled right away. We assess the situation through our lens, solve … Read More

10 Sep 2026

Risk Aversion? Recognizing and Shifting Patterned Reactions.

by Cathy Caswell | 0

We are living through a period of considerable change and uncertainty. Trade relationships are shifting. Tariffs and their consequences are difficult to predict. Markets are volatile. Decisions that once seemed relatively straightforward can now carry very different implications. People are reacting to all of this in ways that can carry a great deal of emotion, even when they rationalize their actions. In times like these, there is often insufficient information for comfortable decision-making. Do we borrow more money when markets … Read More

Dealing with Pressure article by Cathy Caswell

9 Sep 2026

Dealing with Pressure in a Changing World

by Cathy Caswell | 0

The world around us is changing, and for many of us, the pace feels intense. Global politics can feel unstable; AI and technology continue to reshape how we work; weather changes and climate concerns are accelerating; and highly graphic information about what is happening in the world feels like it is always on. Even when we are not directly affected by a particular event, we are impacted. What happens in the world can show up as pressure in our everyday … Read More

11 Aug 2026

Am I right or stuck in being right?

by Cathy Caswell | 0

Being right isn’t usually a problem. In fact, being right can be useful. Our experience, knowledge and expertise help us make decisions, solve problems and navigate the world. We need to be able to form opinions, make judgments and stand behind what we believe. But there is a difference between being right and being stuck in being right. When we are simply right, we can still be curious. This can mean having a strong opinion while remaining open to new … Read More

21 Jul 2026

Peace: When Being Guides Doing

by Cathy Caswell | 0

Peace is something most of us long for. We hope for peace in our families, our workplaces, our communities, and within ourselves. We often talk about creating peace, keeping the peace, or finding peace. But perhaps the deeper question is not whether peace is something we do or something we experience, but the place from which our actions arise. Perhaps the question is: From what place are we acting? When our actions come from stress, fear, or old conditioning, we … Read More

30 Jun 2026

Too Strong? From Pressure to Potential

by Cathy Caswell | 0

We’re doing well at work and in life. We show up, take responsibility, and get things done. Often we do more than what is formally expected of us. This is what reliability, capability, and responsibility can look like in everyday life. And in many ways, it works well. In fact, it works so well that more tends to come our way. More responsibility, more complexity, more people relying on us. And because we can carry it, we do. At times, … Read More

AI and Stress using Logosynthesis by Cathy Caswell

19 May 2026

AI and Stress: From Reactive Patterns to Meaningful Action

by Cathy Caswell | 0

Recognizing and shifting the underlying stress patterns that influence how we think, react, and respond in an AI-driven world. We live in a time of rapid change, uncertainty, and constant information. As humans, it is natural for these conditions to trigger stress reactions, often without even recognizing the patterns involved. These reactions can show up as anxiety, overwhelm, defensiveness, anger, self-doubt, or overthinking. Stress reactions can also appear in behaviours we often value in leaders and high performers: strength, control, … Read More

11 May 2026

When Human Reactions Increase Complexity

by Cathy Caswell | 0

Seeing Beyond the Situation Sometimes the issue is not the complexity of the situation, but the state from which we are responding to it. At a recent Implementation Science workshop, there was an interesting discussion about the difference between simple, complicated, and complex challenges. Simple challenges require straightforward solutions. Complicated challenges involve expertise, coordination, and planning. Complex challenges involve uncertainty, adaptation, relationships, and changing conditions where outcomes cannot always be predicted or controlled. Often, these situations involve significant human factors. … Read More

27 Apr 2026

Am I Overreacting?

by Cathy Caswell | 0

Have you ever reacted strongly to something and then wondered afterward: “Was I right … or did I overreact?” Maybe it was a comment that rubbed you the wrong way.An email that left you tense for hours.A small mistake that felt far bigger than it should have. In the moment, the reaction feels automatic. Later, when things settle, the question often comes: Why did that affect me so much? Many people assume overreacting means they are too sensitive, too emotional, … Read More

Choosing Peace: Why We Can’t Find an Off-Ramp When Stress Reactions Take Over

13 Apr 2026

Struggling to Choose Peace? Why We Can’t Find an Off-Ramp When Stress Takes Over

by Cathy Caswell | 0

Have you ever noticed how hard it is to stay calm when serious situations become heated? You may be aiming for peace, and yet situations escalate out of control.There is no compromise.Other people become defensive and appear irrational. In fact, it’s common to believe that we need adrenaline and strong words to get our point across.We need to fight for peace.If we believe the issue is really important, we may even be prepared to go to war for peace. This … Read More