Flow
That’s my word for today. Each day, I choose a word to anchor and guide me. It becomes my intention, my compass. When I’m not aligned with it—when I’m out of flow—I can feel the dissonance. It’s like being out of sync with life.
Why flow? Well, I’m currently surfing in Costa Rica, where the waves are teaching me to surrender and move with them instead of fighting against them. (I wrote about this in a previous Mindful Moments back in 2023). I also want to flow with whatever I’m doing, like writing this article. I’m letting it come from a place of inspiration. When I embrace flow, resistance fades, even when things don’t go as expected.
For instance, I’ve already faced a few hiccups: getting locked out, skipping breakfast before an early morning surf session, and accidentally drinking unfiltered water (a BIG no-no, as I learned the hard way). Yet, staying in flow helps me stay grounded in peace despite these challenges.
This same principle applies to leadership. Flowing from the heart—rather than leading from ego—not only drives better results but also allows us to show up as more authentic, inspiring leaders.
Let’s take a closer look at the difference:
Ego-Driven Leadership: Stress, worry, perfectionism, fear of failure, and a need for approval. Decisions feel heavy and reactive, driven by a desire to control outcomes.
Heart-Driven Leadership: Neutrality, creativity, clarity, and alignment with purpose. Decisions feel natural, fluid, and deeply meaningful.
The Shift in Practice: Imagine you’re preparing for a high-stakes presentation.
Ego-Driven: I need this to be flawless so others see me as competent.
Heart-Driven: I want to share ideas that inspire growth and collaboration.
Now layer in intention:
Ego-Driven Intention: I’ll over-prepare and try to anticipate every possible critique.
Heart-Driven Intention: I’ll show up fully present, speaking with clarity and authenticity.
The energy is entirely different.
One feels heavy and constricting; the other feels expansive and aligned.
Pause and Reflect:
Are your "why" and intention aligned with your core values and purpose, or are they rooted in ego-driven fears?
How might you adjust your intention to bring more neutrality, clarity, and heart into your actions?
When we pair a heart-driven why with a mindful intention, leadership becomes less about striving and more about flowing.
We shift from trying to prove ourselves to simply being ourselves.
How does this resonate for you? Let’s explore it together.
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