Reflections on Authenticity and Purpose in the Workplace

It's been a while since I've written to you, I've been struggling to write.

This silence hasn't come from a lack of thoughts or ideas, but from a place of deep reflection about authenticity, purpose, and what it truly means to bring our whole selves to work. My motivation and spirit to be expressed in this work is shaken. I've been reflecting on how I've managed in the past and with questions about how we nurture wholeness in spaces that weren't designed to hold it.

The Misalignment Journey

Many of us have experienced burnout in various forms. Sometimes, it comes from outgrowing a role where our skills expand beyond available opportunities. Other times, the role itself grows beyond our capabilities. And sometimes, the most challenging misalignment is with purpose itself.

This last form—purpose misalignment—was what led me to create Hyphens & Spaces. While working in consulting and leadership development, I noticed something critical missing. The research was sound, the tools were practical, but there was a fundamental absence of heart.

The workplace traditionally manages many things well: motivation, time, tasks. But wholeness? That remains largely untouched territory in most organizations.

What Does "Wholeness in the Workplace" Actually Mean?

When I talk about bringing wholeness into professional settings, I'm not suggesting we need to disclose our personal beliefs or practices. I'm talking about the integration of mind and body—that enlivening force that connects us to something greater than ourselves and to other beings.

Through Hyphens & Spaces, we've been exploring how to:

• Make space for wholeness while translating it into language organizations can embrace

• Move toward a more whole human experience at work

• Create environments where integration, rather than segmentation, becomes possible

Redefining Authenticity at Work

When I talk about integration, many equate that with authenticity. But, I've noticed some misconceptions about what authenticity at work really means:

Authenticity is NOT:

• Sharing everything about your personal life

• Speaking without filters or professional boundaries

• Being lazy or shorthanded with your words as if you're with close friends

Authenticity IS:

• Being the same core person across different contexts

• Adapting your expression appropriately to each environment out of reverence and respect

• Bringing your self without feeling the need to suppress essential parts of who you are

I can be fully me—a Muslim, a mother, an introvert, someone who prefers deep conversations over small talk—without feeling the need to either suppress or overshare these aspects of myself.

The Critical Distinction: Authenticity as Pathway, Not Destination

Here's where many organizations get confused: Authenticity is not the goal itself—it's the pathway to achieving organizational goals.

Organizations exist because they can produce outcomes more effectively than individuals working alone. They're designed to outlast us, to continue making impact beyond our individual contributions.

For the organizations I work with, these goals usually extend beyond profit. They involve creating impact for communities, serving vulnerable populations, or modeling the society we want to see.

If we make authenticity the end goal, the organization simply becomes a holding place for individual self-expression rather than a vehicle for collective impact. Instead, authenticity should be the means through which we access our full wisdom and capabilities to better serve our shared purpose.

5 Practices for Authentic Integration in Challenging Times

As I've navigated my own period of reflection and recalibration, I've developed these practices that might help you maintain authentic integration:

1. Identify your sources of strength. Where do you draw energy and wisdom from? For me, it's my communities, my spiritual practice, and my role as a parent.

2. Conduct a "wisdom inventory." Identify all the sources of your unique perspective: your cultural background, life experiences, professional training, personal interests. How do these inform your approach to challenges?

3. Create contextual bridges. Find appropriate ways to express your authentic insights that respect professional environments. Ask: "How can I translate this wisdom in a way that serves our shared goals?"

4. Notice when you're holding back. Pay attention to moments when you feel you can't bring your full wisdom to the table. What's causing that hesitation?

5. Distinguish between integration and disclosure. Ask yourself: "Do I need to share this aspect of myself, or do I simply need to not suppress the wisdom it brings me?"

In this moment of political pushback against DEI work, I've felt the impact materially. But beyond that surface reaction, I've been sitting with a deeper desire to connect with my communities, to draw from the places that give me strength, and to vision the future.

For me, silence isn't absence—it's preparation. It's deep listening, gathering resources, preparing for what comes next. As I emerge from this period of reflection, I'm recommitting to creating spaces where we can all bring our integrated selves to work that matters.

What practices help you maintain connection to your authentic wisdom in challenging times? How do you bridge your whole self with your professional contributions?

I'd love to hear from you. To schedule a discovery call with us, click here.

With gratitude for your presence in this community,

Samira Abdul-Karim Co-founder & Principal Consultant Hyphens and Spaces