“Put your own oxygen mask in place first…

Leadership starts from within. But when so much change is happening all around us, the noise can sometimes drown out our own inner voice.

Inner Leadership begins with three sets of tools. These enable us to centre, ground, and deepen our connection with ourselves at will. We learn to connect with our ‘inner voice’ more quickly and reliably and to amplify its sound.

— Centring means letting go of any inner churning we might be experiencing, calming ourselves, and regaining focus

— Grounding means reconnecting strongly with who we are at our best

— Deepening means maintaining an ongoing practice that strengthens our relationship with ourselves, recharges our batteries, and brings us a deeper understanding of who we are and what is most important to us

By carrying out these three steps we make ourselves more able to face whatever situation we are in, make clear sense of it, and then find the best way forward.

Or, think about it this way: when you’re on a plane and the oxygen masks drop down, every single pre-flight safety check tells you exactly the same thing:

“Put on your own oxygen mask, secure it, and breathe normally before helping others with theirs.”

We won’t need these tools all of the time, but it is good to know that they are there for when we need them.

Photo By Miikka H via StockPholio.net