The other day, my three-year-old asked me, "What's your favorite animal?" As much as I wanted to say: “Unicorns!” 🦄 (because who doesn’t love a little magic?), I surprisingly blurted out:

“The Chameleon.”🦎
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Why a chameleon?
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It’s not just because they can change colors to blend into their surroundings, although that’s definitely cool 😎. It's because they are intrinsically designed to adapt to their tree-dwelling habitat. And I've done a LOT of adapting in my life.
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​"Yvonne, I Need You to Tone It Down!"

When I was young, my mother told me: "Yvonne, you’re a lot of person; I need you to lower your energy and personality to allow everyone else to shine."

As a child, I didn’t grasp the nuance of that statement. I took it as an absolute truth: I needed to make myself small for others to feel comfortable.

And, I internalized this as a "ME Problem" for 30-something years.

😔

In a world where we often find ourselves in spaces that may not feel entirely safe or welcoming, I think we all have a bit of chameleon in us.

We shift, we adapt, we blend in when we need to, all in the name of protecting our identity and feeling safe 🛡️.

But here’s the thing—how much of ourselves do we lose when we’re always changing to fit into different spaces?

💭 At what point does our adaptability become a barrier to authenticity, to being fully seen and accepted for who we truly are?

For my fellow chameleons: Is it time to step out and let go of our camouflage?

Creating Space for the Hidden Chameleon

This is typically the point in the newsletter where I’d ask you to reflect on what parts of yourself you’re holding back, or how to show up more authentically.

But that question assumes everyone has the same privilege to be authentic, honest, and safe everywhere they go.

And the truth is, they don’t.

Depending on how you identify—whether by race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or class (and then add on intersectionality)—your level of safety, even in so-called “safe spaces,” can vary significantly.

So instead, I'm going to challenge those in privileged positions to:

1. Think about one (1) space where you have influence—whether it’s your workplace, a community group, or even your home.
2. Identify one (1) change you can make to ensure that others don’t feel the need to adapt or hide parts of themselves.

Because, creating these spaces starts with us.

It’s about inviting authenticity, challenging the norms that demand conformity, and being intentional about inclusion.

🚀 Let’s start today. ​
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I’d love to hear how you’re taking action to build inclusive, brave spaces where everyone can be seen.

Drop me a reply or share your experience on LinkedIn and tag me!

In the meantime, if you’re interested in exploring how to create more inclusive workplaces, let’s schedule a quick Zoom to discuss how we can work together!

With Warmth & Bravery,

Yvonne Jackson, SocialEDG Founder
yvonne@socialedg.com

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920 US 64 HWY W #1030, Apex, NC 27523
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