Awakening the Heart

Elsewhere on this site we’ve been talking about personal development. We’ve also been talking about leadership. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve probably noticed that there are many close parallels between the two.

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After all, both of these fields are about people: understanding what makes them tick and figuring out how to get the best out of them.

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In our discussions we’ve been operating within the realm of psychology. That’s fine as far as it goes. The issues we’ve been addressing centre around living life in the real world, asking questions such as what, when, where, who and how.

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We asked, “who are you?” That was a foundational question in both personal development and leadership, because you can’t make any sense of your life until you have your answer. If you don’t understand yourself, you can’t understand anyone else and if you don’t understand them, you can’t lead them.

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We asked, “what do you want?” That was another foundational question, seeking to discover your greatest vision for your life and for your work as a leader. If you don’t know what you want, you can’t get it. If you don’t know where you’re going, who would want to follow you?

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We asked, “how can you get it?” That was about planning: having a plan for your life and work, including SMART goals and actions and a timeline for achieving them. “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail,” we said.

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When you’ve made some progress with your personal and professional development and are some way down the road to understanding yourself, the world, and your place in it, you might find yourself wondering what it’s all for. Here we are, striving to live our best life and to help others to do the same, but why?

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Answering that question takes us out of the realm of psychology. That doesn’t mean we’ve lost touch with reality. It means we’re trying to figure out what “reality” itself is. We’re now asking the Ultimate Questions of Life, the Universe and Everything, as Douglas Adams put it. When we ask those questions, we’ve stepped into the realms of philosophy and spirituality.

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Exploration of these matters is fascinating and frequently leads to more, and even deeper, questions. Delving into these profound questions encourages us to think critically, to never accept anything at face value and to learn how to navigate the complexities of life itself. It encourages us to develop emotional resilience, engage in self-reflection and figure out how to live ethically.

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The study of philosophy brings clarity to your thoughts, while spirituality connects you with your inner self and with the universe itself. These studies help us to find peace, meaning and purpose in a chaotic world.