Ep 21 Freedom, Conflict & The Path to Self-Awareness with Roxanne Harrison
- Author
- Claire Laughlin
- Published
- Mon 30 Jun 2025
- Episode Link
- https://www.clairelaughlin.com/21
In this conversation with Roxanne Harrison, we explore how ancient wisdom meets modern leadership through the powerful combination of the Enneagram and Qigong practices.
From Resistance to Choice
Roxanne's journey began with a neck injury that forced her to slow down and discover a pattern of constant resistance—always saying "no before yes." This resistance was actually a protective mechanism covering up her natural gifts.
The Golden Buddha Metaphor
Like the famous Thai Buddha statue covered in clay for protection during wartime, we often cover our natural gifts with protective strategies. The invitation isn't to fix ourselves but to gently chisel away the clay and rediscover the gold within.
Three-Centered Awareness
The three treasures in Qigong offer us three centers of intelligence:
- Head center: Where we think and process
- Heart center: Where we feel and connect
- Belly center: Where we sense and act
Understanding Your Stress Response
The Enneagram reveals how different types respond to stress:
- Belly types: Fight response, motivated by autonomy
- Heart types: Freeze response, motivated by connection
- Head types: Flight response, motivated by security
The Five A's Framework for Growth
Dr. David Daniels' framework offers a practical path through reactivity:
- Awareness: Recognizing what's happening
- Acceptance: Allowing without needing to fix
- Appreciation: Finding value in the experience
- Action: Choosing conscious response
- Adherence: Committing to the practice
Simple Grounding Practices
When reactive, try: feeling your feet on the ground, taking three breaths, asking "Where's my heart?" and creating a pause before responding.
The Inside-Out Principle
What happens internally reflects externally. The more peace you cultivate within yourself, the more naturally you bring that energy to your leadership.
Resources Mentioned:
Dr. David Daniels' Five A's Framework
Connect with Roxanne at roxanneharrison.com
Ready to move from reactive patterns to conscious leadership? Remember: you're not broken and don't need fixing. You're a mystery to be explored, with gifts waiting to be uncovered.
