Connecting Routes: The Life-Changing Impact of an Illustrious Leader
SENEGAL - SAMOA - PORTUGAL
Here’s to “Connecting Routes” ~ a space to spotlight a common theme in my travels that offers snapshots from one place to another, like the tantalizing tease of a tasting menu or a shortlist of your next dream vacation!
Top Three Places Where Soulful Leadership Is Palpable
Being graced with leadership that illuminates and improves our lives is a profound blessing that not everyone (fully) experiences. Through a wisdom that is wide, wonderfully relevant and future-ready, our lives can become even more aligned, balanced, happy, peaceful and purposeful - not only progressing the individual, but also for the we that makes up our community. Surely, there are as many ways Home as there are people on the planet, but as the Sufi mystic Rumi says, “whoever travels without a guide, needs two hundred years for a two-day journey”.
Across our diverse traditions worldwide, many of us can appreciate and attempt to emulate the lives of leaders such as Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and others. In embodying the essential elements, critical characteristics and true callings that make us humans, it is through lives and lessons of this magnitude that we too are invited to exemplify, day-by-day, the upper echelons of ethical living.
In spite of the variety of perspectives, through time immemorial people have paid allegiance to higher leaders. Be it to Prophet Muhammad, Prophet Moses, Jesus Christ, Gautama Buddha, Guru Nanak and others, millions have found solace, strength, direction and Connection. Particularly during turbulent times, having enlightened leadership is game-changing. Few would disagree with the merits of holistic health, a life that is balanced, unity in our communities and sound education, particularly when used for the benefit of others. As we adopt and advance the wisdom that gives us the wherewithal to get there, our lives blossom multi-dimensionally and multi-generationally. The adjacent advantage of individual improvement is not only for elevating our own quality of life, but also, so that we may hold up mirrors to one another. Like entering a mirror covered room, suddenly, our various versions come into view in real time. By doing this for ourselves and each other, we can deepen our skills, strengths, sensibilities and notice, nurture and knowingly shift out of limitations. While personal growth can be done solo, having a tribe that is equally committed to the development for all accelerates actualization. Most fortunate are those whose leader underscores soulful success.
Illustrious leadership transmits from tribe to territory. People and places that are graced with guidance that prioritizes complete human development are often easy to sense and spot. Travelling is a practical (and often pleasant) process by which we invest the time and resources to learn of others and how they’re lives are being led. While seemingly outward facing, the internal journey in these moments enable deeper departures and arrivals, if we’re willing to use our boarding passes and take flight. While rewards programs can enable this, the route to generative growth for communities, nations and beyond is springboarded through enlightened leadership.
Senegal: Renowned for their teraanga, the Senegalese hospitality is a happy infusion of infectious affection, similar to the speedy spread of Covid on steroids – but instead, in a way that inoculates and protects us. Teraanga ensures a sense of belonging and safety that has been an integral part of the region’s culture for centuries, long before colonial rule. Without exception, everyone I met in Senegal was authentically genuine, generous, gregarious and well guided.
Samoa: Samoans underline the centrality of communal over individual living. In addition to the daily dealings of life, there are various special circumstances in which being together through an experience was expected in Samoa. While there are several chiefs and leaders, it’s clear that reverence reverberates for them all and that through their collective leadership, sacredness and community is priority.
Portugal: Known not only for its seaside and seafood, Portugal also prides itself on bridge-building. Committed to tolerance, human diversity and pluralism, the country’s emphasis on faith is also at the forefront. This tiny country has offered leadership within its own walls, strengthened civil society through MOUs and boasts presence on the global stage. Portugal showcases cultural sophistication, liberal lifestyles and a global hub of entrepreneurship and innovation. Beyond all this, Portuguese culture prioritizes people, relationships and faith.
May we always be granted the favour of illustrious and illuminating Leadership,