Michael Tennant

“The people who are trying to make this world worse are not taking the day off. How can I?” Bob Marley, shared by .yakub at

Grateful to have joined the inaugural MAECC gathering in Baltimore and to be in community with educators, leaders, and change-makers committed to empathy, equity, and truth.

One of my biggest takeaways: there is so much direct and indirect energy invested against empathy and equity that people can begin to question their own reality. That energy comes from open opposition, institutional resistance, performative allyship, and the weight many of us carry internally after too long without affirmation.

MAECC reminded me that empathy is not just about kindness. Through the Five Phases, I see empathy as the practice of noticing what is true, honoring what is felt, making sense of what is beneath the surface, choosing aligned action, and staying in relationship long enough to build something better.

A few lessons I’m carrying forward:
• identity shapes practice
• survival is not the same as thriving
• the body holds what the mind tries to outrun
• community is essential, not extra
• joy is part of the work
• equity work requires both courage and strategy

Empathy is not weakness.
Empathy is not avoidance.
Empathy is not performance.
Empathy is the practice of telling the truth about what people are carrying — and choosing to respond in a way that protects dignity, possibility, and life.

Belonging

Wish you an early Happy Thanksgiving. 🫂 if you’re feeling mixed emotions this year, and fear of conflict it a part of that, I’ve got some tips for you.

Earlier this week I was invited by to talk about a recent event partnership with the and .

I was able to share a few tips for building connection this holiday and how and my book The Power of Empathy can help. But for the caption readers, here is the TLDW.

1) check in and identify potential conflicts and hiccups
2) set intention for how you want to feel and show up
3) have a strategy for engaging without conflict
4) have fun thinking of ways to make people feel understood
5) reap the benefits (lower stress, higher connection) of showing empathy

Are you feeling fear of conflict this holiday season?

Connection is medicine. I’m reminded each time I choose to open up or support others in opening up, we find magic on the other side of the silence. Reminding myself of that as I make space for the next hard conversation. Go slow. ❤️‍🔥

Thank you for fostering a safe space for our community to explore healing conversations.

The star of September in my story was miss Naya. She turned 3 and it would seem so much ease and confidence is following in all of our lives.

Can you imagine, time standing still and wisking by at the same time? Or packing everything you can in and still feeling like there is so much to see?

Life these days is filled with present intention and aspirational ambition. I hope we get to share moments together that also feel this way.

Have you tried the new Spicy McMuffin?

Most see only as a burger-and-fries powerhouse, but beneath the golden arches lies one of the world’s largest real estate and franchising empires. This month for / I used my Five Phases of Empathy model to break down how McDonald’s stays steady, innovates, and builds community in both B2B and B2C environments. Take note 📝

When we created we saw it as a leisure brand. 💆🏾

Soon after, our purpose got much louder. ❤️‍🔥

These days, the work we put in to learn how to truly rest, keep us resilient. 🙏🏿

Here is to resting your way into your unique role in the resistance. 💪🏾