… On Self Leadership

Self leadership is about being a leader in your own life. As we know, Charity begins at home. For you to be any kind of leader it starts with self (first and foremost leading yourself). A healthy dose of self-awareness for example, is important in leadership; because that helps you to get out of your own way, to get out of your head, and to understand the impact that you are having on other people (consciousness). I believe that everyone is called to lead first
in your life.

Whether consciously or unconsciously, we are all creating our realities. Self leadership is about bringing consciousness into the creative process which makes us more likely to achieve the results that we want. Rather than just blowing with the wind and being always on the receiving end of life, you become intentional about your life and live with purpose, conviction, and direction.

Of course an element of humility and unattachment is important in all this. No matter how intentional we are, life may not always go our way. Sometimes things happen that would seem out of our control. Sometimes it just rains on your barbecue. It’s a part of life and it’s important to see the perfection. In conversations with God, Neale Donald Walsch talks about “seeing the perfection in everything”. This popular prayer comes to mind: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference”. If we can get into a headspace where we accept reality and see that life always goes our way whether it reflects our desires or not, we may find happiness more often. Byron Katie puts it succinctly “argue with reality and you lose, only 100% of the time”.

Leadership is a humble process in my opinion. It’s not about external power, but internal power. It’s not about outward strength but inner strength. It’s not about influencing others, it’s about influencing yourself, conquering yourself (your ego), so that you are authentically you, and that is what draws people in. That is what enrolls people. Our attention is often outward when it should be inward.

Self leadership is about understanding the truth about who we are – our strengths, weaknesses, goals, desires, motivations, etc; and harnessing all that to move us in the direction of our vision; so that we are cause in the matter of our lives.