Awakening Soul

"Once the soul has been able to feel itself, its own life, independently of its garb, it begins to have confidence in life."  Inayat Khan

New Consciousness Leaders

"While we will probably never grasp the entirety of God's thoughts or the wisdom of the universe, or whatever you call the vast organizing principle of existence, we can listen more deeply for inklings, we can pay closer attention to the cause and effect of our actions.  We can raise our own standards of behavior toward something kinder and grander. 

What might leadership look like if generated from a wise consciousness?   Here's my stab at some answers.  A New Consciousness Leader knows the difference between strength and force.  Strength comes from a deep, inner confidence; from loving and respecting and expressing one's own authentic self.   That kind of strength opens the gate to real love of others and life itself.  Force comes from a deep inner wound that spawns the urge to dominate and even the score.  A New Consciousness Leader uses her strength.  She is bold, direct and decisive.  She views terror and violence as the tactics of cowards and fools.  A New Consciousness leader also knows the difference between outrage and rage.  I think of outrage as Holy Anger.  Strong emotional responsiveness to the pain of others; to injustice, to ignorance.  Outrage is fierce but it never dehumanizes.  It fills a leaders sails with the winds of action, but it also fills her heart with discernment and compassion.  Rage, on the other hand, is like a forest fire.  It is impatient and it is vindictive and it is short sighted.  A New Consciousness Leader uses the energy of outrage to persuade and guide and include and create."

Religion

"I have little confidence in any enterprise or business or investment that
promises dividends only after the death of the stockholders. "  Robert G.
Ingersoll

Opening

"The only reason we don't open our hearts and minds to other people is that they trigger confusion in us that we don't feel brave enough or sane enough to deal with.   To the degree that we look clearly and compassionately at ourselves, we feel confident and fearless about looking into someone else's eyes."  Pema Chondron

Object or Subject

"A woman who identifies with being the object of desire is not the source of her own inspiration; she does not feel as though her life belongs to her.   Her vitality and imagination, her efforts and plans, are directed toward the desires of others.   To be the object of desire means to have no core self, no clear autonomy and self-determination that are under your command.  Being the subject of your own desires does not preclude having an attractive appearance, or a pleasant manner.   But appearance, manner, niceness, self-sacrifice are never central motivators for the woman who is the subject.   She speaks confidently and clearly even in the face of challenge, conflict and her own anxiety.   Because she wants to be known for who she is, instead of how she appears, she is straight-forward and direct."   Polly Young-Eisendrath