Today is Pink Shirt Day. It is an incredible movement towards bullying awareness and sharing kindness.

Bullying is often seen in a bully-victim dynamic, whereby the victim is someone who needs to be rescued from the grips of anger, aggression and torment of the bully. In most educational settings, the victim receives support and the bully is punished. However, it is not just the victim who needs to be supported, it is also the bully. 

The dynamic of bully and victim is not as simple as it may seem and is much more complex than just the behaviours being portrayed in the act of bullying. It becomes imperative that we dig deeper and look at the bully as a person, first. We must look at the entire chunk of ice submerged under water to better understand the root of the behaviour and ultimately the person. For example, what has contributed to this person’s development? What type of life experiences have they had? What type of relationships do they have? What is their socio-economic status? Has the bully been bullied?  

The intent of this notion is not to dismiss or excuse the negative behaviour, but rather, to provide insight on how to best support the person who is bullying in away that does not just put a bandaid on the problem behaviour. The educational system has taken tremendous action to support people who are being bullied and there are incredible leaders, organizations and initiatives in place to empower those who are being bullied to speak out and stand up against bullying.The next step, and arguably the most important, is to support and empower the person who is bullying to feel strong enough, supported enough, and loved enough to make better choices and take better action. This is not done through traditional consequences and punishment, but rather requires a rehabilitative approach with consequences that teach clear boundaries while also helping the person grow their self-esteem in a way that is positive and healthy. When looking at the bully-victim dynamic, we must understand why there is bullying and determine a plan to support and empower both people beyond the bullying. 

If you or someone you know is being bullied or if you or someone you know is the bully, there is support out there for all of us to grow and change. It starts with awareness, compassion, grace, forgiveness, and then be willing to try a different way of being. Check out www.qicreative.com for resources on how to help create positive change. Additionally, check out www.pinkshirtday.ca for very useful resources to support this movement. It is changing the world, one victim and bully at a time.

I was humbled to be the keynote for the Society of Alberta Occupational Therapists 2020 Annual General Meeting. It was an absolute honour and I am truly humbled to be able to share my signature keynote, Awethentricity: The Awesome Art of Owning Your Authenticity & Influencing Others.

It is one thing to be able to speak, perform, and present in front of 1000 educators, professionals, and caregivers at a sold out convention or conference. In those situations, I am completely in my element because I think I have a protective barrier in a way or rather a certain distance between myself and my audience. Although, I strive to authentically connect and share my vulnerability with each audience, no matter who is in the audience or no matter where we are in the world, when I presented in front of my own professional peers in my own province, I was very anxious and nervous!

Was it because I had my own professors in the audience? Was it because I had the Registrar of my own professional college in the audience (I have had challenges with my own unprofessional misconduct earlier in my career and this may have triggered me? Stay tuned for a future blog describing my painful mistakes and how I have grown from this). Was it because my laptop was not properly connected to the projector and the audio was not connected to the sound system? Or was it simply because I had to really check in to see if I actually believe in my own message in front of my peers? 

 I think it was all of the above. However, I was reminded of a very important lesson in influence and sharing my message: authenticity comes with risk and courage. I decided to be open with my audience, which was being broadcasted across Alberta for each member to either watch live or watch a recorded version. I shared that I was very nervous and that it was a healthy reminder to connect with my authentic self each time I not only speak for a group, but also anytime that I connect or interact with anyone. This is what it is all about; I owned my authenticity tonight and by doing so, I invited other professionals across the province to do the same. 

My father did just that. Today as I reflect on my father’s legacy (he passed away on January 16, 2002), I cannot help but be grateful for who he was. Despite living with a brain tumour for 17 years, he and my mother gave my brother and I the best opportunities, life lessons, and gifts we could ever ask for. He taught us that we are more than our roles, our professions, and our titles; we are spiritual human beings worthy of love and worthy of sharing love with the world.

Prior to his illness, my father, Dr. Jose Zamora Rivero, was a doctor, a martial artist, a musician, a dancer, an outdoorsman, a husband, and a father. Most importantly, he was a living testimony of how one can live with challenges and redefine meaning and purpose for one’s life.

Due to his brain injury, my dad most definitely had challenges that impacted his cognition, his emotional reactivity, his motor planning, and needed constant care for the rest of his life. However, he still lived his best life by engaging vicariously through his family in what gave him meaning, music, martial arts, dance, singing, and celebrating life through family get togethers. Something that strikes me most of his life is that despite losing executive functioning and professional skills, my father was still able to use whatever he had and through this journey, he discovered he had more than he knew. For the benefit of my brother and I, my mother believed in faith, hope, love, and resilience. We were the recipients of this amazing faith, hope, love, and resilience and it is now my vocation to share this with others.

Live your best life possible.

Jon Jon’s Higher Self: Will the real Jon Jon please stand up?

Jon Jon: Who me?

Jon Jon’s Higher Self: Yeah you! The one wearing a hat with bright coloured feathers.

Jon Jon: Ok, I’ll stand up but what do you want me to say?

Jon Jon’s Higher Self: Nothing, just wanted to make sure you are still there.

Jon Jon: Of course I’m still here! What kind of question is that?

Jon Jon’s Higher Self: It is a real question that only you can answer… (Mic Drop)

Ouch! Reality check time: attending the annual Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS) Convention and checking in with all of the amazing Canadian, American, and International professional speakers and colleagues. * Cue ‘imposter syndrome’ contemplative gut check musical score*

CAPS Convention is one of the most rewarding, valuable, and inspiring professional development events that I look forward to every single year. It is a 3-day event where professional speakers get a chance to learn, grow, belong, and share their awesome expertise to other speakers whether veteran or novice, people can walk away with invaluable knowledge on how to take their speaking business to the next level. As my amazing colleague and professional speaker, Stephanie Staples puts it, “CAPS Convention is like eating at a delicious buffet (think more along the lines of the Wynn Las Vegas rather than Buffet Royale) you can eat a variety of amazing food, but it is up to you to feed yourself.” The event is packed with world class talent, inspiration, and valuable information to “transform your business into the speaking business that you want to achieve” says incoming President of CAPS, Greg Schinkel, an expert and veteran speaker and author.

How do I feel after these last 3 days? Absolutely charged and inspired and yet at the same time, I feel like I have to ask myself again, “Will the real Jon Jon please stand up?” Being real is being truthful, and to be honest, I have not focused on my speaking business in the way that is most authentic and effective. As a speaker who speaks on “authenticity” it is a reality check to truly be me and provide value to others. So now that the “real Jon Jon” has stood up, what does the “real Jon Jon” have to say? “Use what you’ve got and you’ve got more than you know.”

As the CEO & Founder of Qi Creative, I have to pinch myself to see if I am dreaming because honestly, my dream has come true. To be able to lead a team of inspiring coaches, influencers, and visionaries who are changing the world, one community, one school, one family, and one child at a time. Seriously, did I just step into a time machine 10 years ago?

It feels like a week has gone by and I am so blessed to be surrounded by driven game changers who inspire me to grow into a better person. It is really scary because in order for me to be the leader that this amazing team deserves, I have to dig way deeper than I have been. I have to be more accountable to myself and my team, I have to be mindful and truthful with my word, I have to listen more and be more present, I have to check with how I am showing up or not showing up for my team, I have to check-in with my own reaction to challenges and triggers and learn better self-regulation, and I have to simply grow (keeping my ego in check) to allow others to step into their greatness and be the leaders that they are meant to be. I have to learn when and how to let go and let awesome happen.

This is what I signed up for 10 years ago and despite it being a scary realization, it is an awesome realization that I fully celebrate with our team. It is uncomfortable, which means I am growing. Being called to “awesome” means being called to awe and feelings of fear and wonder. Furthermore, fear and wonder is respecting our amazing, surprising, beautiful, and powerful selves.

So here it goes, my waking dream continues. I am committing to grow because I am accepting responsibility and accountability for Qi Creative and I am stepping into my role as “Chief Energy Officer” (CEO). Spiderman’s uncle Ben once said, “With great power comes great responsibility”, and I will add based on my current journey, when we accept great responsibility, we become powerful together.