Your past is a source of inspiration and values, but does not define your present actions - Reason 54

Past is merged in the present of all of us; for instance, look at the body and a person can even remember the type of food he used to eat that helped to shape it.

Past defines people, or to put it more accurately, many people allow their past to define their present state of existence. 

But, for a leader, past does not limit who she or he is, because leaders can change those traces that are not relevant to the moment.  After all, manage change and being an agent of change is part of being a leader.

Because of that, past becomes a point of reference from where a leader can take inspirations for improvement.  The past serves to show the leader lessons to be learnt, values to be kept and motivates him or her to make it better next time.

When past ceases to be a place for nostalgia, it turns into a source of teachings for life.

(Excerpt from the book 82 Reasons to be a Leader)

 

Everyone feels you are part of their lives - Reason 53

We live in a human society, which could be defined as a huge network of people who share values, resources, teachings and much more.  If it could be seen physically, it would look like an archipelago of connected living islands.

This definition does not cover however the feelings of belonging and that is exactly where leaders work more efficiently, while managing and dealing with people.

Dadi Prakashmani[1] was a leader who rose up to the head of an organisation of thousands of people at the time, after its Founder passed away.  She could have faced hard opposition if she was not able to make others feel part of her life and reciprocally, she made others feel she was part of their lives.

Her awareness as a spiritual leader was one of a pure spiritual attitude and the intention of serving others.  She went beyond the sense of connected-living-islands and entered people’s hearts, with her smile and practical support.  She would receive co-operation by stimulating others to be happier and more peaceful.

It does not matter who the other person is, a leader always finds a door or a window through which to enter their heart.

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[1] Dadi Prakashmani (c.1920 – 2007) was an Indian woman of Sindhi origin who administered the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University from 1969 until the time of her death 38 years later.  The number of students increased from about 3,000 to almost a million during that period.

(Excerpt from the book 82 Reasons to be a Leader)

Your thoughts change the atmosphere - Reason 52

Normal people complain.  A lot.  There are complaints about anything and everything: it is part of everyday life.  In fact, most people expect to get together with others to complain and generally to talk about bad things.  It seems people enjoy the problems and turmoil happening with other people and in the world, more than the solutions and positive aspects happening around.

On the contrary, leaders make their best effort to think well, speak with refinement and act better, because by doing this a leader feels good and enable others to feel good as well.  This may change the atmosphere around him or her, just like a fan can do wonders during hot weather, a ‘cool’ thought from a leader – let’s say, on peace – may calm others and change the general mood in a room.

It is not the leader does not feel what other people who complain fell, but she or he prefers to connect to the best of the self, which paves the way for positive thoughts.  There is always something good that can help minimise the effect of bad things and instead stimulate solutions, transforming the energy present in the environment.

(Excerpt from the book 82 Reasons to be a Leader)