What is Conscious Leadership, what precludes it, and what you can do about fostering it to create a better world:
Enjoy this podcast that I really enjoyed co-hosting with Drew S, featuring my dear friend and colleague Eric some weeks ago in the Mission Fed studios. (34 minutes)
Eric Kaufmann, a nationally recognized thought leader at Harvard University’s Institute of Coaching, discusses the blueprint for conscious leadership; ego myopia; and the role of leaders in the world. Eric talks about his book, Leadership Breakdown: How Conscious Leaders Generate Breakthroughs That Enrich Business and the World, that was featured at his book signing at the iconic Warwick’s Bookstore in La Jolla a few weeks ago.
Cheer up, buttercup. Here’s how to be happy (according to people who study it.) Happiness can feel elusive. To find out how to be happy – and how to be joyful – we consulted a few top researchers.
Male Puffer Fish Constructs Insane Underwater Sand Mandala to Attract Mate The male, white-spotted puffer fish creates complex and beautiful sand mandalas in an earnest attempt to attract a mate
This week: Celebrating Juneteenth, the Summer Solstice & Pride Month
Juneteenth-
Juneteenth, the newest federal holiday, is gaining awareness: This past Monday marked the Juneteenth holiday — a date commemorating the fall of slavery in the United States. While it’s a new federal holiday, it’s been celebrated since the 1860s.
Aloha Friends, Wishing you a wonderful summer solstice!
This is a time of changing seasons. On Wednesday, June 21, 2023 at 7:58 am PDT summer begins in the Northern Hemisphere.
The summer solstice is the longest day and the shortest night in our year. The sun sets farthest north on the horizon.
At this time of the year, the days are warm, all the plants are energized by the sun, and the land is filled with rich new growth. Summer is truly a celebration of the primal creative force of nature, fertile and blooming with abundance. Humans for many millenniums have marked this sacred time in the yearly cycle of life. Celebrating the solstice can be a beautiful reminder that our lives are part of a larger order, always changing always renewing.
The beginning of summer represents a time for purification and renewed energy. This is a time of cutting through resistance and obstacles, using the sun energy to illuminate and light your way upon your path. Fire is especially important, symbolizing the light, heat, and power of the sun. Into a fire, you can throw a piece of paper with written goals to achieve, and anything you choose to release. Now is a good time to plant seeds for a more intuitive, simpler, and natural lifestyle. Stay in tune with nature and wellness.
Each Summer Solstice, This Native American Rock Art Reveals A Secret Feature The Sinagua people say the rock art was created with shadows and sunlight in mind.
In Germany, they came first for the Communists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist. And then they came for the trade unionists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist. And then they came for the Jews, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. And then… they came for me. ..And by that time there was no one left to speak up. –Rev Martin Niemoller, January 1946
I Love You For No Reason:
A Powerful Song, Video and Message To Crack Your Heart Open!
Thanks this week go to Aysha S-B, Billy S, Courtney P, and all those willing to speak up, show up, and be allies not bystanders in the fight for justice and mercy.
This week: Congrats to all the Grads and Dad’s for Father’s Day!
Connecting Passion to Purpose with Neville Billimoria on UCTV Career Talks
Why You Should Set Your Sights on Fulfillment Rather Than Happiness
10 Great College Commencement Speeches
Tom Hanks gives Harvard commencement speech, tells grads to defend truth: ‘The responsibility is yours.’
A service dog gets his own college diploma, winning huge cheers!
Connecting Passion to Purpose with Neville Billimoria – Career Talks:
“When we can align what we love, with what we are good at, with what the world needs, and what others find valuable, we can unleash our true potential and purpose on this planet,” says UC San Diego alum Neville Billimoria. He shares his journey from college to career and shares his tips for leading a fulfilling life at work and at home.
Why You Should Set Your Sights on Fulfillment Rather Than Happiness: It’s graduation season, which means that along with asking grads the dreaded question (“So, what’s next?”), it’s also the time of year when people dole out unsolicited and outdated—or at least largely unrealistic—career advice.
Tom Hanks gives Harvard commencement speech, tells grads to defend truth: ‘The responsibility is yours.’ Actor Tom Hanks gave a commencement address at Harvard University Thursday, where he asked the new graduates to join in a ‘fight’ over truth in the United States.
A service dog gets his own college diploma, winning huge cheers! When Grace Mariani graduated from Seton Hall University this week, the school president had a special gift for Justin, her service dog.
A coach and player have a heart to heart, get real and vulnerable with each other about their fears of failure, and become unbreakable and unshakable after the meeting and win a Super Bowl.
A teacher and student discuss the student’s behavior in class and the student shares that they are going through a tough time at home. The teacher listens with empathy and shares love and support. The student starts to thrive in class and in life.
A mental coach talks with a musician and shares advice, but more importantly provides unwavering support and belief in them. The musician takes their performance to a whole new level.
A team has a meeting after a series of tough losses and after some initial yelling and screaming, they get vulnerable and share what’s holding them back. They turn it around and go on an incredible win streak.
A family sits together at a table every Sunday and discusses the challenges each person is facing, and they come up with solutions together. Everyone walks away from the table feeling more confident and the family creates a lasting bond.
A married couple takes a walk on the beach and talks about some of their issues and after fighting for a little bit they listen and vow to be better for each other.
In all these cases the connection that happens is more important than the advice, solution, and words spoken. What’s happening at a deeper level is connection, unity, and oneness. Each person is moving from the feeling of being separate and alone to feeling connected and one with each other. From this oneness, a feeling of love flows, and healing and power is experienced that transforms the individual, the relationship, and the team.
HeartMath has conducted advanced research and found that when people are experiencing these types of connections there is a synchronization of the two hearts that begin to act as if they are one. We were created for connection. The latest research in relational psychology shows that we heal in connection.
The research demonstrates the truth that we were never meant to be alone and separate. We are wired at the spiritual, soul, biological, and cellular level to become one, and when we do we experience greater power, connection, commitment, and healing.
Study Finds Doing Yoga 3 Times a Week Lowers Stress and Boosts Short-Term Memory Three, 50-minute flows per week might be the ultimate antidote to your work stress.
Micro-Dosing Isn’t Just for Psychedelics — Turns Out It’s for Stretching, Too Our editors independently select the products we recommend. We may earn a commission on items bought through our links.
This is the perfect amount of time to meditate, says mindfulness expert You don’t need to meditate for a long time to get the most benefits. In fact, doing it for too long can be counterintuitive. Here’s what an expert suggests.
New UCSF Test Helps Find the Right Medication for You Using Your DNA Doctors at UCSF may be able to prescribe medications with a lot more accuracy by testing a patient’s genes using a process called pharmacogenetics, which allows doctors to see exactly why a person is experiencing a side effect.
National Gun Violence Awareness Day and Wear Orange Weekend:
Why Orange?
On January 21, 2013, Hadiya Pendleton marched in President Obama’s second inaugural parade. One week later, Hadiya was shot and killed on a playground in Chicago. Soon after this tragedy, Hadiya’s friends commemorated her life by wearing orange, the color hunters wear in the woods to protect themselves and others. Wear Orange is now observed every June. Thousands of people wear orange to honor Hadiya and the more than 43,000 Americans are killed with guns and approximately 76,000 more are shot and wounded every year.
More than half of US teachers think being armed would make students less safe, report finds: More than half of the country’s teachers believe arming themselves would make students less safe, while one in five say they would be interested in carrying a gun to school, according to a new report from the RAND Corporation.
‘Live free and die’? The sad state of U.S. life expectancy A decade after a landmark report on Americans’ shorter lives, the problem has only gotten worse. Unlike other wealthy nations, U.S. life expectancy has not bounced back from the pandemic.
6 major takeaways from the ATF’s first report in 20 years on U.S. gun crime The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives released a major report that details how stolen guns and emerging technology like “ghost guns” play a factor in gun violence in the U.S.
This striking image won our ‘Pictures of the Year’ photo contest: See all 10 of the top photographs and find out how perseverance—and a ton of patience—got Karthik Subramaniam the grand-prize-winning shot.
5 ways to boost your health in 5 minutes or less: These 5 healthy habits will have a measurable, positive impact on your health and wellness and take just five minutes or less.
“Out of all-inclusive, unconditional compassion comes the healing of all mankind.”— Dr. David Hawkins
A simple act of kindness changed the trajectory of a young man’s life: Some 50 years ago, Bill Price found himself alone at an event. Then someone turned and said, “Would you like to join us?” That moment changed the trajectory of his life.
People Shared “One In A Billion” Moments They Actually Caught A Picture Of, And They Are W-I-L-D If you’ve never seen the inside of a penguin’s mouth, a hotel phone with “pizza” on speed dial, or an apple with two stems, well, you’re in for a treat.
Stressed and unhappy about work? Micro-breaks can help you regain focus and energy. In response to endless e-mail, back-to-back Zoom calls and 24/7 hustle culture, we need to redefine how we work.
Should I worry about how long I spend sitting down? A morning run? Sitting on a gym ball? Standing up regularly? We examine the most effective ways to combat the health issues caused by a sedentary lifestyle
US man leaves job interview, rescues baby in runaway stroller, then lands job! Ron Nessman was leaving a job interview at a California Applebee’s when he spotted a baby stroller hurtling towards a busy road
Stop Being So Mean to Yourself: 5 Amare Leadership Tips for Less Suffering and More Happiness with Moshe E:
How Being Too Nice and So Mean Go Together
Several months ago, I wrote this article about how to stop being too nice at work. Read over 30,000 times on Inc. alone, the topic resonated with a lot of leaders.
Interestingly, what I often see in executives I coach that are “too nice” is that they are actually being very mean… to themselves. Being mean to yourself manifests on the inside as being hyper-critical, blocking joy, and feeling that you’re never enough.
On the outside it shows up as being too soft and never taking a firm stand; or the opposite, being arrogant and heartless. Either way, being mean to yourself causes suffering and makes you a less effective leader. It denies your full power. If you are mean to yourself, it may be so deep-seated and familiar that you don’t even see the meanness – you think it’s just how you are.
For you, the first steps are awareness and acceptance. If you do recognize that you are sometimes mean to yourself, your first step is to choose whether to continue or to stop it. If you are not mean to yourself, beautiful. Be a role model for other leaders. Are you mean to yourself? If yes, because…? If no, because…? What people or situations most trigger it?
5 Amare Steps to Stop Being So Mean to Yourself:
Do an honest self-assessment.Estimate how many of your daily thoughts are self-critical. Now consider what proportion of those are simply mean and absent of any present-day validity, and which have a useful message for you.
Get clear on suffering and happiness.Ask yourself if you think suffering is a noble show of strength, and if joy diminishes that. Next explore where those beliefs come from. Then ask yourself what might happen if you said no to suffering and yes to happiness.
Explore the payoffs.To let go of meanness to yourself, list three things that sustain it in you. It could be playing it safe, aligning with someone else’s beliefs, avoiding conflict, fear of failure, etc. Just note your payoffs and consider healthier benefits.
Work with your “meanness partner.” Tune in to when you are being mean to yourself – notice the thoughts and sensations, and what you say and do. When it happens, comment on it – like “Hey, here we go, choosing to suffer!” Then smile and even have fun with it. Give your meanness partner a name (even if this playfulness sounds bizarre, try it. It will loosen things up inside you!).
Cut yourself some slack.You may be breaking a habit of a lifetime. Give it time. Congratulate yourself on tiny steps forward. And don’t be mean to yourself for having been mean to yourself! While you’re at it, try some of these 20 ways to treat yourself better.
Being overly nice to others and mean to oneself is unfortunately a common combination that our culture oddly rewards. The two behaviors feed on each other; both are counterproductive. Imagine how amazing your life and work could be by replacing self-criticism and suffering with self-love and happiness. That’s how to get from being mean to yourself to being kind to yourself. While this is not easy work for anyone, it is the path of Amare love-powered leaders. Give it a go!
“The moment I stop running from the demons in my head, and instead, I choose to love them. When saying yes to life, both shadow and light, my suffering is done, and I come alive.” —Fia, from the song Shedding Skins
Amazing people stories about teachers, fitness and some positive deviants that help us be proud of humanity.
It is Teacher Appreciation Week!
“I never teach my pupils; I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.”— Albert Einstein: The father of modern physics
An English teacher’s response to a stuttering student changed her life: In high school, Susan had a stutter, and was embarrassed to speak in front of her class. Then her English teacher told her something that changed the course of her life.
D.C. public school faculty turn music room into soul music sanctuary: Adamare, composed of six E.L. Haynes Public Charter School teachers, will play at DC9 on April 8.
The secret to why exercise is so good for mental health? ‘Hope molecules’: What we long suspected is now scientific fact: there’s a magic chemical connection between mood, strength and longevity, says scientist and writer Devi Sridhar
At 100 years old, I’m the world’s oldest practicing doctor—5 things I never do to live a long, happy life: Dr. Howard Tucker has been practicing medicine and neurology for over 75 years. The 100-year-old doctor shares his best advice for staying happy, healthy and mentally sharp.
I’m A Doctor Who Almost Died Because My Own Doctors Refused To Do This 1 Basic Thing Unfortunately, my experience is all too common. If you find yourself in a situation like I did, here’s what you should do.
Courtney Dauwalter: The fun-fueled ultra-marathon star defying science: Most people’s idea of fun wouldn’t involve running for hours on end through brutal, undulating terrain — but ultra-marathon sensation Courtney Dauwalter is no ordinary person.
Delara Tehranchi talks about her experience becoming a foster sister, and how we all should strive to find a cause we are passionate for. Delara Tehranchi is currently a senior at the Archer School for Girls, where she runs a youth-to-youth tutoring program for L.A.’s foster youth. After becoming a foster sister during the pandemic, Delara felt moved to start Coco’s Angels, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that cultivates opportunities for Californian foster families. As Seventeen Magazine’s 2022 Voice of Change Honoree, Delara appeared on Dr. Phil as well as in Medium and Ms. Magazine to advocate for marginalized youth. Leveraging this opportunity to amplify community-centered efforts, Delara invites everyone to find their own unique moment to better the world around them.
Video shows Michigan boy take the wheel when bus driver passes out Video shows the moment seventh grader Dylan Reeves was able to safely stop his school bus when the driver suffered a medical emergency. WDIV’s Jamie Edmonds reports.
Baltimore man had forgiven an anonymous shooter who nearly killed him. Then fate stepped in again Damion Cooper thought he’d finally forgiven his unknown shooter. Then he found himself sitting across from the young man while volunteering in a Baltimore prison.
This week: May Day is a European festival of ancient origins marking the beginning of summer, usually celebrated on May 1st , halfway between the spring equinox and summer solstice.
May is also Mental Health Awareness Month
So, are you languishing or flourishing?
The need for mental health support is not new, but access to resources has become increasingly important for many in our community as we have collectively navigated stressors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and many other consequential world events.
To that end, here is access to relevant resources and some stories of flourishing humans in all walks of life.
Keep flourishing!
Where could you turn up the volume on your Self-Care?
Above All Connect!
As humans, we are designed for connection and relationship. We thrive together. We grow together. We learn together.
And while time alone to reflect, meditate, or take a solo adventure is nice and much needed, we also feel the negative impact of isolation and disconnection.
Throw in the rapid rate of innovation and technological developments, and we find ourselves in a rather interesting time. On paper, we are more connected than ever before, yet so many of us feel completely disconnected, lonely, and depressed.
To our detriment, we have adopted the relationship-building model of a mile wide and an inch deep, prioritizing followers as a sort of credibility builder or badge as an influencer. But with all the energy we put into our phones, we can’t forget what connection looked like and felt like before we had these computers in our hands.
I am not saying that having lots of followers or “friends” in the social media world is a bad thing, or saying that having access to a world of information at our fingertips is a bad thing.
However, we still need to slow down, untether ourselves from our gadgets once in a while, and connect in a different, dare we say, more human way. Call it the inch wide and a mile deep approach to connection building.
This month, why not invest your time in connection that doesn’t depend on technology. Get ready to open your hearts and feel part of something very special. Being connected matters!
Americans Need to Feel More Wonder in Their Lives:
Wonder Can Help Our Mental Health and Sense of Wellbeing…
“Wonder is the beginning of wisdom.” Greek Proverb
We asked, you answered: What’s your secret to staying optimistic in gloomy times? From watching the sun rise — yeah, it’s a cliche but it works! — to dancing to techno music, to doing good for others to just plain smiling, readers share what gives them optimism in times of trouble.
Pay isn’t a substitute for treating people well. if leaders are kind, incentives are rewards to appreciate. But if leaders are jerks, incentives become threats to avoid. Selfish bosses turn carrots into controlling sticks. In the long run, the best way to win is to care.
-Adam Grant
Speaking of Great Leadership if you are local:
Join my good friend Eric K at his book launch at Warwick’s in La Jolla on May 31st at 7:30pm
“Eric crashed the Gateless Gate of Zen wisdom and applied it to leadership, so you don’t have to.”
I’m stoked to share my new book, Leadership Breakdown, and to invite you to my book launch at Warwick’s, on May 31st at 7:30pm. I promise that our hour together will be one of connection, delight, and illumination, and I can’t wait to introduce you to my leadership ideas and tools. Jamie Wheal, New York Times best selling author said that “Eric crashed the Gateless Gate of Zen wisdom and applied it to leadership, so you don’t have to.”
O: (619) 668-8500 l M: (619) 944-2090 l W: sagatica.com
Other Inspirational Stories about Service Before Self-
A pilot takes a big risk to save a skydiver’s life: In 1970, Alan Ayers was preparing himself for a skydiving competition in Gainesville, Florida. It wasn’t the first time he’d jumped out of a plane, but it was almost his last.
Shrimp Boat Captain from Texas Wins International Goldman Environmental Prize:
Wilson noticed problems in the water and started a nearly four-decade fight to get a local chemical company, Formosa, to stop dumping harmful plastics in the water. She won a $50 million court case against the company. Now, she is the winner of the Goldman Environmental Prize, which honors grassroots environmental activists around the world.
USA for Africa also held a benefit event, Hands Across America, in which approximately seven million people held hands in a human chain for fifteen minutes along a path across the continental United States. Participants paid ten dollars to stand in line and the money raised was used to fight hunger and homelessness in Africa. The combined revenues raised from the sales of “We Are the World” and Hands Across America was almost $100 million in 1985.
Celebrating Sensei Fumio Demura:
The traditional martial arts world lost a legend this week.
Sensei Demura, the legit stunt double as Sensei Miyagi in the Karate Kid movies, and a martial artist par excellence passed away this week.
Competing at his tournaments was a treat.
Training under him was a gift.
Teaching with him was an inspiration.
Remembering him and keeping the practice alive is an honor!
You can get a flavor for his technical virtuosity here:
And here is something Demura Sensei wrote about the role of a karate Sensei:
“The person you refer to as ‘Sensei’ is in that position for a valid reason. It seems today I hear a lot of former students or ex-black belts disrespecting their Sensei for a myriad of reasons. To better help you understand why a Sensei deserves, or let me put it a better way, demands your respect let me lay it out for you.
The Sensei is the one who has dedicated their life to the art they teach you. You will never have as many years of dedication in because you came after them.
The Sensei is the one who spent many days and nights opening their dojo, cleaning it, making it better…for YOU.
The Sensei is the one who has made sacrifices you will never understand just so you have a place to train, to learn and gain in your art.
The Sensei is the one who, often at great costs, has given up their free time, their family time…time they could be out doing many other things just so you can learn and train.
The Sensei is the one who has invested thousands of dollars in their own training just to learn how to teach you properly.
The Sensei is the one who has often broken bones, but still showed up to teach class. Torqued muscles, tendons and had strains but still showed up to teach class. Had a migraine, was sick, had a bad day…but still showed up to teach class. All these things are excuses why you miss class.
The Sensei often goes without so that the dojo and students will be taken care of. This means they give up having nice things at times, vacations, going out to dinner, hanging out with friends and family…all so you can learn Karate.
The Sensei has spent more time in a dojo than most of you that train with them have been alive.
The Sensei is the one who is always there for your training.
The Sensei quite often sees a need and fills a need for their students. They see that poor kid who has little of anything and needs sparring gear and they just go ahead and get it for them. They see the student who is struggling to come up with funds to buy their own weapons for Kobudo and just buys extras so they can participate. They see their adult students losing their jobs and says, “Don’t worry about paying til you’re caught up”. This is the role the Sensei plays, and it demands respect.
I can sit here and think of a thousand more reasons why you should never, ever disrespect your Sensei too…but, in all honesty, I shouldn’t have to. I shouldn’t have had to even write this blog…but, then again, people live in a shallow world these days. Perhaps we should step out of it, be bigger and better, and then the world will change.
Respect your Sensei, take care of your Sensei, honor your Sensei…because, one day, your Sensei will no longer be around.”
– Fumio Demura
I was the sole survivor of a plane crash. This is what I learned in eight days alone in the jungle: Annette Herfkens was on holiday with her fiancé when their plane went down, killing everyone but her.
Three decades later, she reflects on how the trauma changed her.
Mums Are Tying Ribbons To Their Bags For A Really Wonderful Reason: “This is an antidote to loneliness, comparison, division, fear of being rebuffed when supporting others,” says therapist Anna Mathur, who came up with the idea.
Thanks this week go to Arman S-B for the Harry Belafonte link, to Sensei Demura for a lifetime of service, and to musicians, martial artists, and mothers everywhere.
“Language is surely too small a vessel to contain these emotions of mind and body that have somehow awakened a response in the spirit.” — Radclyffe Hall
Happy Soul Food Friday! 