“An intimate, raw exposure of one man’s unraveling that will emanate and unite us all!”

- Heather Tanner, Teacher and Parent

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“Chris illuminates the power of leading with vulnerability and authenticity, in a way that feels profoundly poetic.”

- Sarah Clark, Principal

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“A compelling journey of honesty, trust, revelation, and resilience!”

-Jacquie Irwin, Teacher

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“This book’s reflections reassured me that leadership and well being aren’t opposing forces, they can flourish side by side.”

- Sarah Clark, Principal

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About the book

Mockup of the book Emanate as a paperback and on a tablet

Emanate tells a true story of overcoming ill-being and discovering hope, strength, and positive mental health. Through deep and honest self-reflection and by recounting moments of key support from others, the author shares a powerful journey from struggle to healing, offering readers a pathway to understanding and growth. This book goes beyond personal experience—it weaves in research, inspiring leadership stories and practical insights for anyone who wants to develop as a leader and support well-being in schools, workplaces, and communities.

Divided into four parts and eleven chapters, Emanate blends real-life stories with thoughtful ideas and useful tools. Each section opens with a deeply reflective anecdote and concludes with original artwork and a set of reflective questions, inviting readers to pause and consider their own journey. Throughout the book, voices from educators and experts add fresh perspectives, enriching the experience and encouraging deeper reflection.

Whether you work in education, lead a team, or simply seek inspiration for positive mental health and leadership, Emanate invites you to reflect, grow, and discover the power you have to create positive change. With its unique, personal style and heartfelt message, this book reminds us all that healing, well-being, and strong leadership are possible for everyone. Step into a story that encourages self-inquiry, sparks new ideas, and helps you see the potential for positive change—both within yourself and your community.

Each chapter concludes with an illustration and questions for reflection surrounding the themes and ideas of each chapter. You can find the illustrations and reflection questions below.

Chapter 5: You cannot be callous because you care

Illustrator's website

Questions for reflection after reading each chapter.

1. Does the visual chapter summary above capture the main points from this chapter? What is missing? What resonates?
2. have you ever felt as though you cannot catch your own breath? How do you manage this?
3. Have you felt as though your work is getting to be too much? What factors do you believe contribute to this?
4. How can the journey shared in this chapter help you move forward with your own challenges?
5. Take a few minutes, reflect on these questions, and jot down a few notes to help you advance your work.
1. Does this visual chapter summary above capture the main points from this chapter? What is missing?
2. Does ‘Who does this service?’ work as a guide to your own work? If so, why? If not, why not?
3. What other mantra or question can help you see beyond your ego and prioritize your decision making in your work and life?
4. Is there a vignette from your life that shows how you were successful in serving with authenticity?
5. Take a few minutes, reflect on these questions, and jot down a few notes to help you advance your work.
1. Does this visual chapter summary above capture the main points from this chapter? What is missing?
2. Does ‘We are all in process’ work for you as a guide to your own work? If so, why? If not, why not?
3. Can you identify areas in your life where you have been resistant to change, even when change was the best way forward?
4. What structures and routines could benefit from a new process?
5. Take a few minutes, reflect on these questions, and jot down a few notes to help you advance your work.
1. Does this visual chapter summary above capture the main points from this chapter? What is missing?
2. Does ‘When is it enough?’ help you guide to your own work? If so, why? If not, why not?
3. What other mantra or question would help you reflect upon when your accomplishments are enough for you?
4. When is the work done? When you are the priority?
5. Do you have the space to be curious in your workplace? In your life? If not, how can you change this?
6. Take a few minutes, reflect on these questions, and jot down a few notes to help you advance your work.
1. Does this visual chapter summary above capture the main points from this chapter? What is missing?
2. Does ‘You cannot be callous because you care’ work as a reflection tool to help keep your work focused on purpose? If so, why? If not, what would work for you?
3. Do you recall a time when fear kept you back from deciding or acting? What was this fear protecting you from?
4. What did it look and feel like when you overcame this fear, and what can you learn from this?
5. Take a few minutes, reflect on these questions, and jot down a few notes to help you advance your work.
1. Does this visual chapter summary above capture the main points from this chapter? What is missing?
2. Does the concept of the ‘Whole’ resonate for you in connecting your work to the work of the larger organization? To the community? To the distinct parts of yourself? If so, why? If not, why not? What would help you connect?
3. Can you see the parts of yourself fold in and out of the totality of who you are?
4. Can you hold all that you know about yourself and your experiences in your mind at one time? Does this limit the potential of who you are? Or does it provide an avenue through which to become?
5. Take a few minutes, reflect on these questions, and jot down a few notes to help you advance your work.
1. Does this visual chapter summary above capture the main points from this chapter? What is missing?
2. What are your core values, your superpowers?
3. How can you connect with these superpowers in your work? How do they guide your work?
4. Can you provide an example or two of your superpowers in action in your organization?
5. Take a few minutes, reflect on these questions, and jot down a few notes to help you advance your work.
1. Does this visual chapter summary above capture the main points from this chapter? What is missing?
2. Can you relate to the concept of ‘Making it up’? Why or why not?
3. Is creativity a core part of your work? How can you bring more creativity to your work and your life?
4. Can you define what your process in making decisions looks like? What actions accompany this process that are consistent in your practice?
5. What collective vision are you creating and striving towards in your work, along with your colleagues? If you cannot name this, what should it be, and why?
6. Take a few minutes, reflect on these questions, and jot down a few notes to help you advance your work.
1. Does this visual chapter summary above capture the main points from this chapter? What is missing?
2. What does presence mean to you? Or mindfulness?
3. Does ‘Flourishing leadership’ offer you any insight on how you can stay present in your work and life? If so, why? If not, why not?
4. How do you disconnect from the busyness of work or of life? What do you do that helps you find peace and calm?
5. Can you find more moments of presence by being intentional in making this part of your routine? What could this look like?
6. Take a few minutes, reflect on these questions, and jot down a few notes to help you advance your work.
1. Does this visual chapter summary above capture the main points from this chapter? What is missing?
2. Does the organizational vision resonate for you in your work? If so, why? If not, what vision does compel you in your work, and why?
3. How was your organizational vision built? Is it reviewed periodically?
4. If you are in a formal leadership role, what steps did you take to engage with your enterprise to build this vision? If you did not, is there opportunity to do so?
5. If you are not in a formal leadership role in your organization, what can you contribute to attaining this vision?
6. Do you have candor and trust as a voice in your organization? How can you build towards improving this further?
7. Take a few minutes, reflect on these questions, and jot down a few notes to help you advance your work.
1. Does this visual chapter summary above capture the main points from this chapter? What is missing?
2. Does Shane Parrish’s question about “What would have to be true…?” have potential for your future decisions?
3. Does a flourishing community resonate for you as a potential next step in your work? What would this look like in our context?
4. Do you agree that “I am because we are” is a powerful concept that allows us to see our interconnectedness to all those around us? Why or why not?
5. Do the Indigenous concepts of connectedness and interrelationship proposed as a definition for community resonate for you? Why or why not?
6. Take a few minutes, reflect on these questions, and jot down a few notes to help you advance your work.