Is There a Problem With Earth’s Gravitational Pull?

“There’s that word again… heavy.”
— Doc Brown

It’s been on my mind lately. Things feel heavy right now. Not just for individuals, but for a lot of us.

Some of that weight shows up in the people we work with. Caring for aging parents. Navigating loss. Juggling family needs. Trying to stay focused when the background noise of life just won’t let up.

And then there’s the stuff that’s harder to name. The geopolitical tension. The policy decisions that ripple through people’s lives. The low hum of uncertainty that never quite goes away.

Lately, that weight also includes the speed of change. AI. Automation. Entire workflows being redefined seemingly overnight. If you’ve ever felt like you’re sprinting just to stay in place—you’re not alone. It’s hard to feel grounded when the ground keeps shifting.

As a leader, I’ll be honest—I don’t always get it right. I’ve missed signs. I’ve moved too fast. I’ve asked for one more thing when I probably should’ve just asked how someone’s doing.

But I’m learning. Still. And what I keep coming back to is this: most people won’t tell you when things feel too heavy. They’ll keep showing up. Until they can’t.

That’s why psychological safety isn’t just a buzzword. It’s a practice. It means creating a space where people don’t have to pretend everything’s fine. Where they can exhale a little. And where they know the team will hold steady, even if they need a moment to fall back.

So I’m trying to pay closer attention. To give a little more room. To trust people to carry what they can, and to help lighten the load when they can’t.

Because whatever’s going on with Earth’s gravitational pull, it’s not just physics. Some days, it really does feel heavier out there.

#Leadership #Empathy #Resilience #TeamCare #BackToTheFuture #AI #WorkplaceChange