When I first started working at PointNorth, I came in carrying some pretty heavy grief and trauma. Not that anybody would have known that, of course. I had learned that the way to deal with things like that, especially in the workplace, was to keep it hidden. I had become an expert at walking on eggshells and staying on-message.

Working here changed all of that for me – and taught me some valuable lessons about healing trauma.

I had been working on unpacking my feelings and integrating my trauma in therapy, but I still found it tempting to fall back on old coping habits at work. After all, you have to be professional, right? 

What I’ve learned in my years here is that you can absolutely be professional while also keeping it real, thinking big, leading with integrity, and putting people first. (Our PointNorth values.)

While these values aren’t new to me (in fact they’re innate), the experience of being able to boldly live my values in the workplace and to be encouraged and supported in doing so is a novelty. I feel fortunate to work for PointNorth because I feel seen, trusted, supported, and loved which is a big deal for someone who used to constantly placate others.

Which got me thinking: trauma is like a tattoo.

At first all you feel is pain, but after the bandage is removed and the healing routine complete you see the beauty in the scars. I share this with you because it has been a truly liberating experience to become Bryan. I feel like I’ve come into full bloom at PointNorth because I have:

• Supported community engagement efforts on the region’s largest infrastructure project #IBR

• Joined nonprofit boards to give back to my community #QYRC #CCHM

• Taken adventures #DisneyWorld #BobawiththeNieces

• Been able to give back to my parents #PLUSloansupport

• Been able to memorialize my grief and my childhood #FullSleeveTattoo

This short list of accomplishments and hashtags serves as a reminder that we don’t have anything to fear but fear itself. I stayed in a toxic situation longer than I should have because I was scared and worried I might falter or fall short. I should have had more faith in myself and my power. I’m glad I’ve remembered because it is satisfying to recognize myself in the mirror again. Although I worked hard to be in this moment, I know my journey these past couple years has been easier because of the wonderful people at PointNorth.

So now I invite you to consider ... could you bring more healing into your work?

We’re all full humans, it’s not like we can actually keep our “trauma self” at home and only bring our “performance self” to work. If you feel safe to do so, I encourage you to be vulnerable with your team and colleagues. While it is scary to be open with others, the rewards of doing so can vastly outweigh your fears.

No matter your position, role, or title, what are some ways you can make your workplace culture more inviting to the wholeness of the people you work with? It doesn’t take much, and it doesn’t mean you need to be addressing anyone’s trauma head-on (In fact, I’d go so far as to say that’s irresponsible!) but by embodying the values of your organization, you can go so much further together - and you’ll be amazed at what happens when people can show up as their full selves, trauma, tattoos, and all.

PS: I had read two blog posts by Katie Whittier, a former colleague of mine, and Domenique Martinelli, a good friend of ours over at the City of Vancouver, whose words inspired me to write this article. For more good reflections and learnings, please click their names to read their blog posts.