“Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it’s always your choice.” Wayne Dyer
This is one of the simplest statements and it is the hardest. The impact of this recession will be felt for a long time. The hard and easy part of being a leader during this time ….is to continue to be a leader in the face uncertainty and to maintain your motivation to move in a direction which may be unclear yet “feels right”.
Feelings are taboo to speak of in leadership, business and organizations…..yet they are ‘the secret sauce’ of great leaders and are the source of our drive, the energy which moves us from common execution to uncommon excellence. It is the source which powers impactful leadership.
The important skill to learn is to differentiate between feeling and emotion. One is a source of great wisdom and truth and the later is to act out.
Here are some options to gaining clarity on your feelings:
Walk into nature — if you are an active person, do your exercise in nature and notice what it is telling you …..if you are not an active person, find some way to get quiet to see and hear what nature is speaking to you…
Ask yourself what is the story you have been holding onto that no longers honor you?
What is your next step in evolving as a leader?
What makes you uncomfortable in moving in that direction?
What is the long term impact of going through the short term uncomfortableness of growth?
Where have you been in alignment with your nature, character and values?
Where are you out of alignment?
What are you being pushed towards?
How can you move into it in a way which allows growth for you and others?
What is the first step you can make in a direction that will continue to stretch you and grow you as a leader?
Take the time to gain a practice of listening to your feelings and understand the greatness they are asking you to step into for yourself and others.
To be a leader in today’s world is to commit to the constant choice and practice of self motivation which stems from our belief systems we have built from our youth and require regular “enhancements, upgrades and installments” to honor the adults and leaders we are today. Misery is when we hold on to old ways which keep us stagnant and grumpy. Motivating ourselves towards a better feeling, way of being and leading keeps us growing and vibrant.
Remember we are human and all of us will go to misery now and again…the key is to not set up camp and stay…choose to grow and you will be moving in the right direction.
“Some men have thousands of reasons why they cannot do what they want to, when all they need is one reason why they can.” — Martha Graham
