Integration Made Visible

(Slide from Dr. Daniel Siegel’s Optimal Leadership Masterclass in Sydney – June 2016)

“You were made for the place where your real passion meets compassion, because there lies your real purpose.” – Ann Voskamp

Compassion is definitely something that comes up a lot within our programs. It’s always then really interesting how a sharing of many personal stories, thoughts and ideas will be sparked within the participants when it does. Usually after that a conversation starts about the different responses compassion produces compared to when we experience empathy by itself. This second part of the conversation is mainly within our L.E.A.D. with Courage™: Stage 3 Leaders Program. This is not really surprising though I guess; courageously choosing to lead (using our daily thoughts, words and actions to make a difference) and compassion (for self, others and the world around us) walk hand in hand.

“If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.” – Buddha

If we are going to deepen connection to and then make a difference for ourselves and others we are going to be moved to act. It’s why the quote, ‘Leadership is action, not position’ underpins our L.E.A.D. with Courage™ Program and philosophy. As expressed in the slide above from Dr. Daniel Siegel’s Optimal Leadership Masterclass in Sydney earlier this year, it’s through the expression of kindness and compassion that we see ‘integration made visible’. These vital daily practices really have to start with ourselves before they can most effectively ripple out to those around us though. As American researcher/storyteller Brené Brown says, ‘We can’t practice compassion with other people if we can’t treat ourselves kindly’.

“The difference we make, is from the action we take.” – Tim Fargo

How important do you view kindness and compassion being within our individual and shared learning and leadership journeys? Is it easier expressing kindness and compassion to others or yourself when we inevitably experience challenge, failure and vulnerability? How would you finish this simple leadership phrase – Integration Made Visible is …? We love Dr. Kristen Neff’s work around self compassion; especially the practices of mindfulness (paying attention in the present moment), then using self kindness over self judgement, while remembering our common humanity over isolation. What practices do you use to help you express kindness and compassion for self, others and the world around you every day?

“Do What You Can, With What You Have, Where You Are.” – Theodore Roosevelt