Forging a Path

This year, I have the opportunity to participate in a leadership development program called, Bringing Spirit to Leadership (BSL), by FGISpirit International. An intensive eight-day advanced leadership program, BSL has been offered to leaders since 1999.  The BSL experience enables participants to examine their role as leaders in their organizations, families, society and the world.  We are asked: “What makes you want to be a leader?” and “How is your leadership adding meaning and value, not only to your life, but to the lives of others with who whom you work and serve?“ Recently, our group of several dozen professionals from across the U.S. and the globe, met for our first session at the Lied Lodge, in Nebraska City, NE.

For me, this is a time for reflection on my own leadership role in my work and life and a time to explore where I want to focus and how I will contribute during this next chapter of my career. I want to share what I’m learning with you to show how even someone who trains leaders can engage in active growth throughout their career.

So here is what I’m reflecting on so far:  How do we create a world that works for all? As we consider our humanity, is economic success enough? We are living in a time and in an environment where speed, expanding borders, and wealth creation are the drivers of success.  So, what do we expect from our leaders? We live in a time where we need developing leaders for a changing society. And how can we live and work in ways that will make a difference and enable the spirit to thrive? How can we each align and integrate our reason for existence with all aspects of life?

In creating a world that works for all, author Sharif Abdullah writes, “Inclusivity is recognizing that my life, my fate, my future is inextricably linked to yours.  Building community with those who are not like 'us' is the challenge of the next millennium, a challenge which is essential to our survival.  With inclusivity, there is no 'Other'; identifying with and connecting to 'The Other' makes violence unthinkable and true community possible.”

In BSL, we begin a Pathfinding Conversation--seeking to understand the current state of the world and our place in it, and beginning to identify the areas of our personal lives we consider most important. We can each have Pathfinding Conversations with those around us.  Begin by asking “What is most important to you in your life? What do you most want to nurture in yourself?  What do you most want to nurture in the children in your life?" According to the Institute of Noetic Sciences, this is the first step in identifying specific paths forward—in bringing forth a life, relationships and a world that reflects our most essential values and our highest vision of human possibility.

So while I am asking myself these questions, I’ll ask you the same. What is most important in YOUR life? What do you most want to nurture in yourself? What do you most want to nurture in the children in your life?  Throughout the month, I’ll be opening up a discussion about these topics on my Facebook page, and I look forward to hearing from you!