Truth as an Act of Resistance & Renewal

by Annalisa Holcombe, Founder & Principal Consultant

Lately, I’ve been sitting with a deep discomfort about the state of things—our world, our country, our workplaces, even our conversations. I find myself wondering: When did we stop insisting on truth? On accountability? On showing up for ourselves and each other with intentionality? These questions are as much for me as for anyone else.

It seems we’re living in a time where power is consolidating, truth is becoming optional, and “going with the flow” feels like the default. Major tech companies sidestep fact-checking. Workplaces require conformity. Individuals wait for a different shoe to drop. And with every quiet compromise, we drift further from the values that truly sustain communities: accountability, authenticity, and intentionality.

When organizations face challenges—like declining morale or cultural shifts—people respond differently. Some stay and push for change; others leave and chart new paths. During my doctoral studies, I delved into Albert Hirschman’s Exit, Voice, and Loyalty, a powerful framework for understanding how people navigate tension between their values and environments. It’s a lens I can’t stop thinking about: How do we create spaces where people feel empowered to use their voice, rather than pressured to exit—or worse, to conform?

What would it look like if we chose a different path? If we led our businesses, communities, and lives with intentionality? If we became the kind of people who insist on truth—not as a weapon, but as an invitation for others to show up fully and honestly too?

Here’s the thing: Even when the big picture feels overwhelming, small, deliberate acts of intentionality can create ripples of change.

  • Start where you are: Create ripples in your own circles of influence. Hold space for truth in your workplace or your home.

  • Support truth-tellers: Seek out communities or organizations where truth and accountability still thrive. Independent journalists, grassroots movements, and local coalitions are out there doing the work. Seek them out. Amplify their voices. Join them if you can.

  • Focus on what you can control: When the big picture feels overwhelming, narrow your focus. Commit to actions that align with your values and reinforce the change you want to see.

  • Recognize quiet movers: Even when it feels like no one else is acting, remember there are people quietly leading and creating change. Look for them. Learn from their efforts.

  • Offer grace to those who are struggling: Not everyone is ready or able to act with intentionality. Extend compassion—but staying true to your own values.

Most importantly, stay grounded in your own truth. Even in the face of uncertainty, your intentionality can become an act of renewal. And renewal, no matter how small, has a way of inspiring others to rise too.

Lexie BanksComment