Chapter 1 Toolkit: Micro-Acts of Courage

Framework: The Integration Compass

Case Study: Maria’s Week with the Presence Reset

Maria, a department chair, decided to try the Presence Reset every morning for a week. At first she felt awkward — pausing when everyone else rushed ahead made her nervous. But she committed to noticing her breath before she acted.

  • Monday – She breathed before sending a difficult email and rewrote it with more clarity. Later, she realized her shoulders had dropped for the first time all morning.

  • Wednesday – She paused before saying yes to a new committee role and realized her gut said no. She declined politely and spent the rest of the day lighter.

  • Friday – She ended a meeting with one breath and a grounding question instead of rushing through. Her team lingered afterward, saying they felt “less pressured and more clear.”

At week’s end, Maria reflected: “I didn’t get less done. I felt more like myself while I did it. And people noticed.”


Chapter 2 Toolkit: Micro-Acts of Courage

Framework: The Integration Compass


Case Study: Breaking the Binary

Before: A department head dreaded her weekly leadership meetings. Every time she spoke directly, she was labeled “abrasive.” So she softened her words until she barely recognized her own voice.

During: One week she tried Catch the Binary. When the familiar panic rose—be strong or be soft—she paused. Feet grounded, breath steady, she said, “Here’s what I see,” without apology or extra qualifiers.

After: The room didn’t collapse. In fact, a colleague nodded and built on her point. The shift wasn’t dramatic—but inside, she felt her voice land. She left the meeting steadier, realizing integration wasn’t hypothetical. It was possible.


Chapter 3 Toolkit: Micro-Acts of Courage 

Framework: Rewrite the Script, Keep Your Self


Case Snapshot: Rewriting in Real Time

Old script: “Don’t disagree—you’ll look ungrateful.”
Noticing: Heat in chest, urge to nod along.
New choice: “I see it differently, and here’s why.”
Outcome: The room names the real constraint; priorities shift; speaking up becomes safer for others.