It’s one of those words that we just don’t feel like we have a right to claim because “wouldn’t that be showing off? Playing big? Acting like I’m something I’m not?”
It took me a long, long time to believe that I was a leader. It took the coaxing and cajoling of a good mentor to convince me that I was, indeed, a leader, and I had not only a calling but a responsibility to lead. Even then (and even now) I often let myself slip into old stories that tell me that “I don’t have any influence. People won’t take me seriously. I’m not a leader. Leaders are smarter than me.”
I think one of the biggest problems we face in our culture is that so few of us accept the mantle of leadership. (And yes, I’m pointing that finger in my direction too.) We’re all looking for someone else to lead us. Because leadership takes guts. And determination. And more self-confidence than we feel we can muster. And it means getting our hands dirty.
We accept what’s happening in our communities because “well, it’s not up to ME. It’s someone else’s problem.” We let people go hungry in our neighbourhoods because “isn’t that something that should be handled by the social services in our cities? I don’t know how to change things.” We accept the bad decisions of our politicians because “it wasn’t ME who was elected to parliament – I don’t know how to convince people that the things they’re doing aren’t right.” We sit back and grumble and complain about the way businesses are raping and pillaging our earth because, well, “what difference would it make if I said anything about it? it’s just little ol’ me. I’m not a leader.”
Time’s up people.
We’re wasting our time waiting for someone else to step into the role. The earth and all of her people don’t have time for us to sit around playing small and waiting for a saviour to show up.
WE are the leaders we seek.
WE are the ones who’ve been called to lead transformative change.
WE are the ones God has equipped with the skills to make a difference for the world.
WE are the ones who have influence, even if it’s just with the other soccer moms in your neighbourhood.
Stop trying to pretend otherwise. Stop letting the gremlins win.
Stop thinking that leaders are only those with the right expertise, wisdom, self-confidence, influence, platform, credentials… fill in the blanks.
Even if the only way you know how to lead is to model a new way of living, YOU are a leader.
Amy Oscar is one of those people who exudes wisdom and depth, even when her words are limited to 140 characters on Twitter. I haven’t known her very long, but I have already learned from her, been challenged by her, and been encouraged by her many times. Recently I participated in Amy’s Wisdom Series, and I would highly recommend that you read every single one of the contributions because they are all amazing. My own contribution is here.
Amy is an author, speaker and professional intuitive consultant, encouraging clients and students to develop a personal relationship with the Divine. In this interview, she shares a personal story of when she had to make a difficult choice to give up a dream in order to support her family.
When I began teaching “Writing for Public Relations” back in November, I was determined that my students would learn not just about the proper techniques for writing press releases or communication strategies, but they would learn first and foremost what it takes to be a creative communicator who communicates with integrity and authenticity. (No spin doctors in this class!) I have hired a lot of PR professionals and I know that knowledge of techniques is secondary in value to creativity and integrity.
I was also determined that I would leave my students with more than just stronger writing capacity. I wanted to leave them with a sense of possibility, new trust in their own ability, a deeper desire to learn about the world, and a challenge to find some way to make the world a better place.
It may not have been what some expected to get from a Writing for PR class (and some days I felt like I was battling up-stream because most other teachers in the program taught differently), but I think it was a deeper and more meaningful experience this way.
Yesterday, before the final class of the session ended, I left them with this blessing:
May you find some place where you can do good work – the kind of work that calls you, energizes you, and gives you a reason to wake up in the morning.
May you always remember that whatever you do – even if it is sweeping hospital floors – is good and important work if you give your heart to it.
May you find your joy people – the kind of people who love and care for you, but also challenge you to do your best work.
May you trust yourself enough to follow the path that you delight in, whether or not others think it’s wise.
May you follow your passions and not simply settle for “good enough”.
May you find courage when the path feels too treacherous to pass.
May you find comfort when you face disappointment and discouragement.
May you find strength when the world feels like it is trying to weaken you.
May you find people to celebrate with you when you succeed.
May you always take delight in creativity and innovation and remember that “the way things have always been done” isn’t always the best way.
May you always remember to follow the rules that matter, and challenge the ones that only serve to get in the way of growth and creativity.
May you find happiness.
May you always live with authenticity and integrity.
This morning, while everyone else was still sleeping, Maddy and I decided that we needed to get out of the house and find something green and alive (after a few dismal days of cold after a tease of Spring). So we went to the conservatory, let the moisture in the air soak into our post-winter-dry skin, took some pictures, and sat and wrote in our journals for awhile. It was just what we both needed.
That is all for today. No profound words, no searching questions, no emerging wisdom. Just a few photos to remind you that things will grow again, that children are beautiful, and that there is value in grabbing your journal and sitting next to a flower for awhile.
I still have a number of juicy interviews to share with you for my Let go of the Ground series. This week I had intended to share more, but at the beginning of the week I was in a place where my own “letting go of the ground” was where I needed to place my focus, and so I spent a couple of days mostly in silence, avoiding social media and this blog.
But now I’m back and ready to share. This week I’m excited to introduce you to the “Wild Heart Queen” (her Twitter handle), Chris Zydel. What a delight it has been getting to know Chris over the last year or two! She is such an inspiration to me in both her work (teaching and writing about intuitive painting) and her generous spirit.
Chris knows a lot about the importance of surrender. When she teaches people to dive into the process of intuitive painting, she’s really teaching them to surrender to the creative goddess. In this interview, she shared her own process of surrender when she realized intuitive painting had become her primary path and it was time to step away from her career as a psychotherapist.
