Synopsis: In this blog, I explain what it means to be a Warrior for the Human Spirit and why our times call for the emergence of such leaders. I delve into the concept of Sane Leadership and offer reflective questions to contemplate your inner motivations and purposes. This piece takes about 5 minutes to read and 4 weeks to fully reflect on!
In June 2017, Meg Wheatley—writer, teacher, speaker, leadership consultant, and long-time activist in environmental and social justice—published Who Do We Choose to Be, an incisive reflection on the cycles of civilizations, the challenges of leading effectively amid societal decline, and the importance of creating Islands of Sanity—safe spaces at work for possibility and resilience.
I immediately bought the book and covered half of it in sticky notes and highlights, yet I didn’t finish it. The premise that our society was caught in a pattern of collapse felt overwhelming at the time, and clearly, depressing. Knowing my tendency toward catastrophism, I needed a bit of denial to keep moving forward.
Seven years after putting this book down, in the aftermath of the recent U.S. presidential election, grappling with a sense of déjà vu and alarmed by the unpredictable changes on the horizon, I re-opened the book to the first page, ready to re-engage with its entirety of insights, including the pattern of collapse. A small victory amidst a Waterloo atmosphere… I’ll leave you to decide whether it’s a Waterloo from the French perspective or the English one, in other words, a disaster or a triumph. This is the practice of approaching a shared reality with different lenses!
Regardless of our political preferences, there are moments in life—personal or collective— that awaken something profound within us, and call for greater engagement in the cultural arena, even if we don’t know exactly what to do.
While recent developments weren’t what I had hoped for, nevertheless, they sparked in me a determination to return to the essence of my calling as a Warrior for the Human Spirit, as Meg Wheatley evokes it.
In essence, a Warrior for the Human Spirit is a decent human being who cares about people, sentient beings, flora, and all living ecosystems; who longs to help; AND who recognizes that, to be of genuine service in the world, they need to get their shit together—excuse my French.
This means working on our shadow patterns: ego, fears, greed, grasping, aggression, delusions, self-promoting, self-protective and life-destroying behaviors, and any other habits that undermine our ability to be generous, creative, and kind—the finest qualities of the Human Spirit.
At 15, I knew I wanted to help. At 25, I realized I needed to get my shit together. By 45, I discovered there was a Sanskrit word for my condition: Bhodisattva[1]. Though I was still grappling with my sense of identity and belonging, I felt, this is me.
Meg Wheatley has worked with a wide range of leaders in organizations – from nuns to military personnel. She integrates the concept of a Warrior for the Human Spirit with the practice of Sane Leadership, as embodied by Sane Leaders.
Sane Leaders practice self-regulation, ensuring triggers and solid beliefs don’t cloud their judgment; they strive for clarity, actively working to remove filters and biases. They have an unshakable faith in people’s capacity for generosity, creativity, and kindness; they create conditions that bring out these qualities, enabling meaningful and effective work. They are willing to make personal sacrifices like shifting positionsfor the benefit of the whole; they consistently place collective interests above their personal interests. With others, they co-create “Islands of Sanity.”
When the dominant narrative swells into an emotional storm—a cacophony that stirs fear, hatred, confusion, scarcity, selfishness disgust, revenge, enemies, losers, triumphalism and mistrust— there is no doubt, the Human Spirit is at risk and in need of protection.
These times call for the rise of Sane Leadership at all levels and in all kinds of communities. Good news: There is always space for anyone ready to step up and claim their role as a significant contributor to their community. !
Will you participate in your own way? There is always something good we can do, starting with reflecting on ourselves.
You can start by exploring your inner motivations with the following questions:
- What gifts, skills, insights, tools, or trainings have I been given to face the challenges of these times?
- What are the small lights in the sky that I’ve followed so far, and today shine like my North Star?
- If I put aside my political beliefs, what do I have deep faith in?
Who do I choose to be to meet the challenges of our times?Take your time with each question; let them sit with you. This is not an exercise in crafting your LinkedIn profile but an invitation to listen to your inner truth. In this practice, you will find your way to the Warrior for the Human Spirit.
[1] In the Mahayana Buddhist tradition, a Bodhisattva or Spiritual Warrior is one who dedicates their life to training in awakening Bodhichitta and being of benefit to others. Bodhichitta is the “awakened heart and mind;” the compassionate longing to “wake up” for the benefit of ourselves and others.
Notes: If you’d like to share your thoughts or ask a question, please send me an email. Unfortunately, I had to disable comments on my blog due to the overwhelming amount of spam I was receiving.