The Need to Lead
In response to the recent shootings and in this low trust culture we live in, I feel compelled to lend my voice to the public discourse.
“The phrase ‘Someone ought to do something’ was not, by itself, a helpful one. People who used it never added the rider ‘and that someone is me’.” ― Terry Pratchett
I believe our world is in desperate need of Leadership. No not in the fashion you might be thinking, the Leadership I am speaking of is SELF — Leadership. Leadership is doing the right thing. I’d go one step further and say Leadership is doing the WISE thing.
I woke up this morning asking myself, who will get us out of this mess? Who will stop the senseless killing? Who will regulate guns? Who will protect us from all that ails us? Where is our modern day Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.? Someone who will be a DRUM MAJOR for Justice? Then, I paused and looked in the mirror and that person looked back and me. It’s something I’ve believed for a long time, it’s something that I’ve encourage within my circle of influence since I read 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
It’s not one person, it’s all people. It’s me. It’s You. It’s Independent Responsibility and it must dominate our world if we are ever to end the insanity.
In times like this we want to POINT at somebody, anybody. It’s the guy for having a broken tail light. It’s the Policeman because he’s racist. It’s the guy selling CD’s in the parking lot. It’s the kid walking with a hoodie. It’s, it’s, it’s. As the old saying goes, while you have one finger pointed out, you have 3 others pointed back at you.
We want Congress to take action, we want the NRA to do something, we want the President, the Police, etc. I’ve got a great idea, how about we/me do something? It’s hard but it’s necessary.
We live in a deprave state and every day many of us, most of us manage this depravity. Any of us, if given the right stimulus, the right button pushed, would do just about anything and everything. But we don’t. Why? Because at the end of the day we CARE.
“Be AWARE and PREPARED to CARE for those around you.”
I was advised by Dr. Carlson, in his book — “Don’t sweat the small stuff…because it’s all small stuff” to Develop Compassion/Empathy. “…It involves the willingness to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, to take the focus off yourself and to imagine what it’s like to be in someone predicament, and SIMULTANEOUSLY, to feel LOVE for that person.” Leadership is about caring — no it doesn’t mean weakness or not providing justice, it simply means you have the Emotional Intelligence to handle situations in the wisest way possible. Mercy and Grace sometimes are the answers to situations in life.
Each of us, everyday, must find a way to put ourselves in check. To find a way to develop trust between each other. To find a way to cooperate with one another in such a way that we make the world a better place. R-E-S-P-E-C-T is what we need from one another and I do realize that Trust and Respect are earned; not given.
“Every human has four endowments — self awareness, conscience, independent will and creative imagination. These give us the ultimate human freedom… The power to choose, to respond, to change.” — Stephen Covey
Here are some ways in which you can lead yourself better so others don’t have to:
Self Awareness
Recognize and take responsibility for your actions and reactions to others. Get rid of the blame game. Be Emotionally Intelligent. Realize your choices and the part you play in any given situation. Take ownership and aim to do better.
Conscience
Listen to the voice inside that have a concern for the well being of others; it is necessary for the health of our society. Connect with and develop a value system that put others first. Some would call this faith, spirituality, or religion. I call it common sense. Don’t get stuck on STUPID.
Independent Will
You and you alone have the ability to respond to the stimulus put before you everyday. For every decision you must make — I encourage you to ask one question: “Is this the wisest thing to do.” Not right or wrong because those are subjective — wise on the other hand is principle centered. [wise — having or showing experience, knowledge, and good judgment.]
Creative Imagination
This is your ability to see what others can not see. In every situation, I encourage you to begin with the end in mind. Ask yourself, if I take this certain course of action, what will the result be? Then work your way back from that. Know going into every situation what course of action you will take. In the military we were trained to have Plan A, B and C.
There is a natural consequence to all our action, some will have positive effects and some will have negative effects. At the end of the day always tell yourself — no matter what comes my way “I CAN HANDLE IT.”
To rephrase Terry’s quote at the beginning: “Somebody ought to do something, ‘I AM SOMEBODY!’”
