From Good Vibes to Moral Courage

Why Using Our Voices (and Caring for Ourselves) is the Most Radical Act of All

Hey, Lara here 👋 Welcome to Give A Sh*t 🌐 - Give A Sh*t is for the change-makers, agitators and purpose-led founders who won’t look the other way.

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This article was sparked by two things:

💭 A shift I’ve been noticing online - the rise of morality as the new currency of influence. A quiet rebellion against the grit, grin and glossy branding that once ruled the business world. More and more, people are choosing to lead with integrity over image. Substance over performance.

🗣️ And a raw, powerful conversation I had last week during our final session of this season’s VIP Accelerator. We talked about what it means to keep showing up - as founders, creatives, and humans - when the world is on fire. The fear. The fatigue. The guilt. The cost of silence. And the courage it takes to speak up anyway.

Pic of me and my eldest at the Brighton March in July

There’s something disorienting about trying to carry on with “business as usual” while the world is on fire.

If you’re someone who cares - truly cares - about justice, humanity, and creating a better future, then chances are you’ve felt the tension. The overwhelm. The heartbreak. The rage. The grief.

We’ve been taught to filter those feelings out. To stay “on brand.” To keep calm and carry on.

But right now? Staying silent isn’t neutral.

And using your voice - even imperfectly - might be the most radical act of leadership available to us.

Good vibes won’t save us. Moral courage might.

“Good vibes only” is a lie we were sold in the name of branding, productivity, and burnout recovery. It’s a coping mechanism disguised as strategy. It’s toxic positivity. And it’s doing more harm than good.

Because the truth is: real influence doesn’t come from polished performance - it comes from moral clarity. From knowing what you stand for. And being brave enough to say it - even when it’s uncomfortable.

We’re shifting from influence-as-image to influence-as-integrity.

From passive consumption to purposeful leadership.

There is an amazing interview I watched with

Misan Harriman

who explains this beautifully (all resources will be listed at the bottom of this article).

Feelings aren’t the problem - they’re the compass

One of the most powerful moments in our session yesterday was this reminder:

When you allow yourself to fully feel an emotion - without resisting or suppressing it - it takes just 60 to 90 seconds to move through your body.

That’s it.

Grief, rage, heartbreak, helplessness - these emotions are not distractions. They’re information. They’re a compass. They guide us back to what matters.

Suppressing them doesn’t protect us. It disconnects us. It manifests as stress, burnout, illness and misalignment over time. I know this first-hand.

One of the reasons I burned out last year and made the painful decision to shut down my business (before eventually doing a 180) was because my values no longer aligned with my actions. The mission I’d spent seven years building suddenly didn’t feel like me anymore. I felt distant from my work. Disconnected from my purpose. And ultimately, from myself.

It wasn’t until I got radically honest - with my feelings, my beliefs, and the kind of business I truly wanted to run - that things began to shift.

So the next time you feel that familiar ache or lump in your throat, don’t push it down. Feel it. Let it rise. Let it teach you. Let it move you.

That’s how we access our moral compass. And that’s how we turn emotion into action.

You don’t have to be fearless. Just willing.

This quote from

Deborah Frances-White

aka The Guilty Feminist’s ‘six conversations we’re too scared to have’ landed deeply for so many of us:

“We are not perfect. But we are brave. And the only thing the world needs more than perfect women is brave women who show up and speak up.”

Leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about staying in the work - even when it’s messy.

You don’t need to be an expert.
You don’t need to be polished.
You just need to care and act accordingly.

It’s never too late: Jenna Kutcher’s leadership moment

This week, Jenna Kutcher - best known for her beautifully curated business brand and podcast - finally spoke up about Gaza.

She admitted she was scared. That she’d stayed quiet for too long. That she knew she’d lose followers. But she chose to speak up anyway.

“It totally sucks but it’s a part of showing up. And I’d rather be in the mess than silent on the sidelines.”

This matters. Not because of who she is - but because of what it shows.

It’s never too late to care. Never too late to use your platform for good. And never too late to step into a different kind of leadership.

What if your voice costs you something? Mine did.

Last year, I lost a venue partner I’d worked with for years - someone whose space had saved us thousands - because I spoke up about Palestine.

She told me my language was inflammatory. That it made people uncomfortable. And she blocked me and never worked with me again.

It hurt. But I don’t regret it.

Because if speaking up for human rights costs me a relationship, so be it. I’m not here to preserve privilege. I’m here to protect my integrity.

And that’s the thing - silence might feel safe, but it comes at a much greater cost:
- Your nervous system.
- Your alignment.
- Your sense of self.

This is what the VIP Method is really about

In this moment, everything I teach in the VIP Method becomes even more relevant:

• Visibility isn’t just about being seen - it’s about showing up for what matters.

• Impact isn’t just about reach - it’s about resonance, integrity and justice.

• Profit isn’t just about revenue - it’s about resourcing the work that makes a difference and redistributing your wealth to where it matters most.

Your platform, your voice, your business - these are tools for change. Not just survival, but transformation.

If you’re here to do meaningful work, to serve your community, to speak up when it counts - this is what it looks like.

It’s not comfortable. But it’s honest. And it’s needed.

Awareness is not enough. Action is the next step.

Caring is the first step. But action is what changes things.

Here are some ways to move from reflection to action:

• Use your voice: Talk to your team, your clients, your kids, your community.

• Share trusted resources: Lift up voices from the front lines.

• Donate: Even small amounts make a difference.

• Contact your MP: Use platforms like 38 degrees to make it easy.

• Reroute your business values: Who do you partner with? What do you promote? What do you fund?

And just as importantly:

• Feel your feelings. Let them move you toward truth.

• Rest when you need to. Joy is fuel. Grief is sacred.

• Know that doing something - even if it’s small - is always better than doing nothing.

This is leadership. This is activism. This is business with a backbone.

You are allowed to:

• Feel deeply and still lead.

• Be heartbroken and still take action.

• Make money and use it for good.

This is the new model. This is what real influence looks like. And this is how we put power back in the hands of those who give a sh*t.

Let’s keep choosing truth over comfort. Courage over silence. And purpose over performance. We owe it to ourselves, our nervous systems and future generations. We must do better.

With love,
Lara x

RESOURCES

Read the book:

Deborah Frances-White

aka The Guilty Feminist’s ‘six conversations we’re too scared to have’.

Watch the interview:

Misan Harriman

‘s interview on influence as integrity and the death of “good vibes” - watch it here.

Contact your MP: Use platforms like 38 degrees to make it easy.

Thanks so much for reading! If this resonated with you, let me know - drop a comment or hit reply. I genuinely love hearing from you. 🫶

If you give a sh*t about creating real impact, here’s where to go next:

🌍 Join the conversation - Subscribe to The GAS Substack for thought-provoking articles, interviews and expert insights on activism, impact and using your voice for change.

💡 Build with purpose - Check out Found & Flourish for community, business strategies, visibility, and revenue-building that align with your values.

📩 Pass it on - Know someone who gives a sh*t? Forward this to a friend who’s passionate about impact, community, or making the world a better place.

Let’s keep the momentum going. 🚀✨