Setting Boundaries and Saying No
Mentoring Matters Live is a monthly live show where we highlight mentors across the globe. Our mentors are here to share their wisdom and provide insight on how you can grow personally and professionally to be a great leader. In April, we featured Rachael Lorenzo.
Leadership, activism, and audacious bravery describe Rachael. They joined us to speak openly about their experience with setting boundaries and saying no.
It’s ok to share your story- Rachael kicked off the segment by sharing an important point about trusting your own intuition and emphasized the importance of sharing your own story. Their goal is to show those in their community that sharing your own story can be powerful for mentorship.
Leaders look within – As a queer parent of a son and a daughter, Rachael strives to look within to mentor their own children so they also understand how to look within on their own journeys. They want their daughter to grow up believing that it’s ok to say no and set boundaries. They want their son to grow up believing that it’s ok to have feelings and ask for help. Rachael discusses that sharing your own skills and knowledge can play a role in helping others with mental health. They hope their story will inspire others to have a positive experience with their own mental health and leadership.
It’s ok to say no, but it’s important to set boundaries – Part of saying no is understanding and accepting what may happen when you do say no. There may be falling outs, there may be hard conversations and there may be people who don’t understand why you are setting boundaries. Preparing for what may happen can help make the act of setting boundaries much easier to accept and understand.
More on Rachael – They were born in Las Cruces, New Mexico to young parents and were raised on their father’s ancestral land in Laguna, New Mexico. Rachael was not only raised on traditional values but also on politics. Throughout their academic career, Rachael volunteered for political campaigns, ranging from city council elections to presidential campaigns. Rachael was selected as a fellow for President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign, Obama For America (OFA). Currently, Rachael is not only part of Indigenous Women Rising but also serves as an appointee: Assistant Commissioner of Engagement and Tribal Liaison at the New Mexico State Land Office, under the first Latina and woman to serve as Land Commissioner, Stephanie Garcia Richard. To learn more about Rachael and their work, visit the Indigenous Women Rising website: https://www.iwrising.org/rachael-lorenzo
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