Don’t Dwell Too Long

Consider how much more you often suffer from your anger and grief, than from those very things for which you are angry and grieved.  ~ Marcus Antonius ~

Think about the last time you were really upset.  How did it make you feel?  How much energy did you use? Anger, frustration, and stress are normal emotions.  It's OK to get mad.  It's how you use your anger that will make the difference.  Do you use it as an excuse to be a victim?  Try instead to use is it as a motivator.  Think about why you are angry and what you can do about it - not how you can control the other person but, what you can do about yourself.  Great leaders will take the time to experience emotions and then they use it to learn.  Try not to dwell and you'll be stronger.


I experience my anger and I then move on.

Embrace Your Weaknesses

When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you. ~ African Proverb ~

Loving yourself is this best defense.  When people are hateful they will target your weaknesses.  Protect your weaknesses by accepting them as part of you.  As a very necessary part of you.  Begin by taking away the hurt and pain of your weakness, then no one can attack them.  No one can attack you.  When you practice mindfulness then you understand that your weak parts give you the reason to explore and grow.  You also, begin to understand that others weaknesses are important and attacking them only hurts their growth.  You must forgive their weaknesses.  The journey in life is to share and cultivate your strengths together and to make your weaknesses irrelevant.  When you embrace weaknesses they become less controlling and you become more powerful.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

I embrace my weaknesses and do the same for others.

Learn to Like People

“Nobody will listen to you unless they sense that you like them.” ~ Donald Miller, Blue Like Jazz ~

Leading is a people job.  If you want people to listen to you, learn to like people.  True, you won't like everyone in this world but try to remember that everyone has value.  Those that you lead - especially.  They know if you don't like them and there is not a chance that they will ever buy in to you, much less listen to you, unless you can get to a place in which you like them.  Study them.  List out the reasons you don't like them and figure out how those things can actually be a strength to your team, division, or organization.  Those things that annoy you just might actually be the difference maker...in a postive way.  True leaders see the beauty even in the flawed.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

I will find value in all people.

Strength Through Authenticity

We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others that in the end we become disguised to ourselves. ~François Duc de La Rochefoucauld ~

How hard are you trying to be someone you are not?  Perhaps you admire someone's strengths and so you attempt to be more like them.  Maybe you aren't happy with who you are and try to hide who you are from others.  Conceivably, there is also the idea that  you don't know who you are, so you mimic those around to fit into a certain crowd.   True leaders take the time to understand who they are and they don't hide it from anyone.  Being mindful and meditating can help you gain more understanding of yourself.  As a leader, your real strengths can only manifest themselves if you stay true to your authentic self.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

I will be authentic to myself and others.

Strengthen With Simplicity

“Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.” 
― Steve Jobs

It's easy for you to ramble on, making things more complicated than they need to be for others to understand.  Many things, especially communication, are stronger and more powerful when they are concise.


1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:


I will strengthen with simplicity.

Fear Can Make You Stronger

Toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles. ~ Alex Karras ~

When was the last time you exercised your courage?  Each fearful moment in life gives you the opportunity to strengthen your courage.   In these moments you have two choices, retreat or advance.   Retreating can give you the chance to review and decide if there is another way, a less risky way.  This can be a good thing but it will not make you stronger.  Advancing, however, builds your courage.  Every time you practice courage it gets stronger. 

It might not feel like it because when you put yourself out there you might get hurt.  But those injuries do not have to mean that you can't courageous again.  They don't have to be fatal, it depends on how important it is to continue moving forward.  As a leader, you set an strong example if you venture on despite the wounds, despite the fear...despite the "what ifs" - sometimes that is just what you have to do - to become stronger.

1. Close your eyes
2. Breathe
3. Empty your mind
4. As thoughts come in, acknowledge and whisk them away
5. Focus on your breathing
6. Think about the affirmation:

I will strengthen my spirit by being courageous.