Developing Leaders | Warriors | Science of Energy Healing

Note: In my recent post, Power Returns to the People, I came to the realization that now is the time for everyone’s inner leader to come forth and contribute in creating the transformation that we are in. But what does it mean to be a leader? And how does being a leader manifest in your life?

In this post and the following three, I will take a look at the first question and make some suggestions for the second. Ultimately, though, the inner leader within you will need to find it’s own form of expression. And when it does…resolve to act on it.

The Definition of a Leader

The Inner Leader is that part of you who:

Wants to make a difference
Has the courage to speak your truth
Is creative
Loves excellence
Chooses to do meaningful work
Is a troublemaker, rebel or heretic
Embraces change
Understands how to work with groups
Chooses to believe in positive outcomes

The old style of Leading is dead. That includes:

Leadership is no longer about managing people
It’s not a top-down model anymore: Everyone is a leader and a follower in the new group dynamics
It’s not about establishing authority: It’s about enhancing connections and trusting the wisdom of the group

In Angeles Arrien’s book, The Four Fold Way, she writes about the four types of shamans that have traditionally been part of the indigenous cultures. They are the warrior, the teacher, the visionary and the healer. Arrien presents these as archetypes of personal growth. They also serve as archetypes of leadership. A great leader will utilize aspects from all four leadership roles. In this post we will explore the Warrior Leader.

Positive Aspects of a Warrior Leader

Show up and choose to be present: Being present provides the resources of power, presence, and communication.

Discern right action: This is about balancing the mind, heart and creative energies into coherent expression.

Extend honor and respect: Embodying these traits for yourself first will allow you to radiate this out to others.

Set appropriate limits and boundaries: Use “yes” and “no” to communicate with integrity versus trying to win popularity.

Protect Integrity: Say what you mean and do what you say to promote energetic integrity and trust from other individuals.

Promote responsibility and discipline: Leaders must become aware of the consequences of actions taken as well as not taken. Discipline is about being a disciple to oneself, honoring your day-by-day actions with consistency and measured pace.

Demonstrate right use of power: This is true for any type of leader. Always honoring other people’s free will and choice without using manipulation or domination for a desired outcome is crucial in this leadership quality.

Be willing to take a stand: Know what your deepest commitment is and bring action to creating that in your communities and on the planet.

Deliver vibrant communication with right timing: Being passionate about your commitments and sharing that with the world in right timing creates for powerful leadership.

Oftentimes you’ll find a hidden warrior leader within a rebel. The rebel who resists authority and who can only see his or her own needs at the expense of a group, can create a great deal of drama while stopping forward movement. Often rebels are created during childhood when the creative energies and innate timing of the child is overrun by overbearing authoritarian figures. The response to this form of dishonoring is to dig in one’s heels about everything. This throws off timing and creates a sense of separation instead of belonging. The rebel needs to heal the past, releasing pent up energetic charges that create triggers, and embody the her own authority that has been projected onto others.

The warrior leader understands that strengths can be weaknesses and weaknesses can be strengths. By the same reasoning all leaders are followers and all followers are leaders. Understanding the yin/yang concept of polarity versus black and white duality becomes the warrior leader’s greatest wisdom.

Warriors need action, particularly movement. If you are feeling stuck in some aspect of your life where you want to make a difference, take a walk or get up and dance and become conscious of your breathing.

In the book Zen Lessons: The Art of Leadership, author Thomas Cleary says:

In Leadership there are three don’ts:

when there is much to do, don’t be afraid;

when there is nothing to do, don’t be hasty;

don’t talk about opinions of right and wrong.

Contemplative Questions For Developing the Warrior Leader

To ask the right question has a certain magic to it. The question will inform us as the universe or our own deep places of wisdom brings us answers. Meditate on these questions and wait for the answer to come in, or go to sleep with these questions and allow dream time to find the answers. Sometimes the answers come as an energetic shift, an inner knowing or a feeling instead of words.

Where in my life am I a Warrior Leader?

Where in my life am I a rebel?

Do I say what I mean and do what I say?

What am I most deeply committed to?

Who am I following who is a Warrior Leader?

Who is following me in my role as a Warrior Leader?

Join the leadership conversation and add your comments and questions.

Countdown to the Science of Energy Healing Mentoring Program: Just 29 days till the program starts! This week participants will be introducing themselves on the mentoring forums and taking the Level One Class in Crystalline Consciousness Technique. This program is all about learning how to be in the world after the coming transformation of 2012. There’s still room, if you want to join. For more information go to this post.