Month: December 2019

Leadership is shining your light

I grew up always attracted by the light in people’s eyes. I felt so dazzled by the glimmer shining through these eyes. Yet, I noticed how often this light lies dormant on people’s faces, and I wondered what is it that stops this spark. Is it fears, or feeling inadequate? Is it sadness? Is it the weight of the world some people carry on their shoulders? I know too well how hiding my light for so long has shrunk my potential arbitrarily, and cast a shadow for many around me.

As we hide our light, we hamper the world from becoming a more vibrant and beautiful place. We are often taught early in life to hide, to be cautious – often with good intention to avoid being hurt or to fail. Sometimes, we are cautioned by others out of envy or other less positive intents. Yet, it is through daring to become visible and to shine that we can bring out our full potential. The world will know the difference between a light shining, and a desire to draw attention to self.

You may have been told that shining your light is immodest. You may have believed that it is risky to draw attention, as you may be rejected or, even worse, you may have to bear the responsibility of success. Truthfully, when you hide your light, you quash your dreams, and prevent others from benefiting from your aptitudes, thus denying the world new experiences. This light is what makes you unique, what you need to lead your life, and what grants others the permission to shine their own light, allowing them to go and explore their own brilliance. Wherever your light comes alive, in the library, the kitchen, in the forest, or at work, lead the way. Stop holding back! You will do the world a favor!

You are important

I grew up as an only child in a lonely home with working parents. School and books became my refuge. I often felt insignificant with belittling beliefs to keep myself safe and make sense of confusing and challenging situations. I felt unseen, unheard but could not relate it to the lack of attention from the people around me. It was more palatable to see something wrong with me. At some level, I felt that my life did not really matter. I was invisible, but that did not prevent me from exploring the world in my imagination and later in real life.

As adults it can also be easy sometimes to buy into the illusion of our own insignificance when we look at the world and feel so powerless to change anything. We are surrounded by celebrities, powerful people, and we may conclude that fame and material power confirm how little our lives amount to. Compared to the suffering of people in places like Syria, we may decide that our challenges are small. Yet nothing could be further from the truth. Every single one of us matter and all our challenges matter. We tend to forget how our very existence affects countless people around us in countless ways.

You are important and your life matters because you are a microcosm of a larger whole. Your life is a piece of a puzzle connected to a larger universe where your internal experiences affect the whole of life around you. In reality, life organizes around you! This is a shift of perception around your impact in the world that has the potential to affect your life in profound ways. You may discover a creative power you never knew you had, and generate energy to connect with the world in a different way. This is a different basis for leadership in the world.