Circle Up & Get REAL Podcast

Why do we often expect nonprofits to do more with less while holding them to intense levels of scrutiny? Recently I've been pondering the relationship between accountability, ownership, stewardship, and the conditions that bring out our best thinking and leadership. I used to believe what was missing in our organizational dynamics is accountability. But I wonder if it's something else.

We humans have a lot to process these days. The two topics we are never supposed to talk about in public are religion and politics, and both seem to be taking up a lot of space in heads and hearts without any way to process, if we are following that advice. What is a human to do with only our own thoughts if we don't have a safe space to process? I took on an experiment over the weekend, which I wouldn't recommend anyone else doing unless you're very prepared. Hint: If you want to connect, there are ways other than social media. In this episode I mention Michael Singer, the author of "The Untethered Soul" and "The Surrender Experiment," among others. I also refer to the CNN story Anderson Cooper did about the Resistance Singers. You can see that here: https://youtu.be/tp3ABvXXEsE?si=VUR9HOzZb5I93_2l Check out the Enlightened Leadership Labs Mondays at 4 central if you're looking for a safe space to practice all aspects of leadership, listening, and real communication. (www.emergentculturelabs.com/leadershiplab).

What happens to us humans when we feel like we are the only ones thinking or feeling something? If we don't have a place to process what we are seeing, it's easy to second guess our own perception. I've been thinking about this in a leadership context, and I'm reminded of two books I've studied, both by The Arbinger Institute: Leadership and Self Deception and The Anatomy of Peace. The premise is that when we are under stress, humans tend to see others not as humans but as objects. This can easily happen when we fall below the line into unconsciousness: being closed, defensive, and committed to being right. Is there another way to see things? I'd like to believe so.

In today's episode, I chat with my friend Sue Paulson, a 2-time cancer survivor and a survivor of a near-death experience, all of which have awakened her to her own magnificence, which she now mentors others to understand for themselves. Sue is the author of several books, including her memoir, Magnificent Misery, about her health journey. In our conversation, Sue shared her personal journey with cancer, which she experienced in 2011 and 2012. She realized that her body is a communication device that alerts her to issues, and she learned to pay more attention to these signals. Sue acknowledged that she had deep-seated beliefs about her worth, which she had to challenge during her cancer treatment. Since 2012, she has been cancer-free and has focused on self-care and personal growth, including psychotherapy sessions to understand the underlying causes of her illness. Sue's cancer journey opened her to the concept of each person's inherent magnificence and the dream of experiencing heaven right here on earth. To that end, she co-created The Magnificence Lab in 2023 and is currently conducting workshops and mentoring others about those two concepts. You can learn more about Sue by visiting her website, www.suepaulson.com.

Today I'm exploring a thought I first heard about from Steve Jobs: You can only connect the dots of your life looking backward. What have each of us learned about our lives from that perspective? And how might it shape the choices we make from today forward? We'd love to have you join us at the Enlightened Leadership Lab on Mondays from 4-5 central. You can get more information at www.emergentculturelabs.com/leadershiplab