3 Ways to Develop Your Personal Philosophy
Life lessons through sports.
5.29.23 | by Coach Mike Deegan
The Journey to Authentic Leadership
The most important thing we can do is to identify our true self. Deep down inside, we know exactly who we are. Unfortunately, over the years we lose our way. We end up being the type of person/leader we think we are supposed to be, not the person we truly are. This leads to an identity crisis. We lose sight of our authentic self.
It’s taken many years, but I am now able to lead authentically. In order to lead from our heart, we must first take a deep dive into ourselves.
It starts with developing a personal philosophy. A mistake I see many leaders make is trying to develop a culture without fully understanding their own beliefs.
3 Ways to Develop Your Personal Philosophy
From Michael Gervais
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1. Write: There is something powerful about putting pen to paper. Writing forces you to think deeper and to clarify your thoughts.
2. Mindfulness Practice: Mindfulness is being present; it’s being where your feet are. There are numerous ways to practice mindfulness. I practice mainly by morning walks and with the Head Space app.
3. Get in the presence of wise people: Once you begin down the path of self-mastery an amazing thing begins to occur; you attract wise people into your life. These relationships have a profound impact. You start seeing and understanding things in a different light. This human connection is powerful.
The bad news?
This process is not a quick fix. Living authentically is a lifelong endeavor. It takes time and effort.
The good news?
This process has the ability to transform your life.
More benefits of knowing yourself…
You’ll understand your weaknesses
The best part is that you’ll learn to embrace them. I have several areas where I am deficient (money is one). It’s okay. Life is about forming teams and tribes (more on this later). My goal is to seek out teammates who can make up for my deficit areas.
Play to your strengths
On the other hand, it’s also important to play to your strengths. Lean into the things you do well! Instead of stifling energy and focusing on the weaknesses, I propose working in your sweet spot. Unless we go through the arduous process of self-discovery we won’t know where to focus our time and energy.
Once we lead from an authentic place our impact on others increases. We accept our flaws and lean into our strengths. Self-consciousness and the feelings of inferiority cease to exist.
Much like trying to describe the player, it’s hard to articulate and quantify. You free yourself up to make mistakes and take chances. You learn that failure is part of the process. You learn to let it rip!
Time to take action
I believe that if you want to be your best and live a fulfilling life, a personal philosophy is a must. Don’t wait, pick up a pen and start writing, begin a mindfulness practice, and seek out wise people. You owe it to yourself. Please join me on the journey.
Complement this article with:
How Your Personal Philosophy Leads To Perseverance In Uncertain Times
by Pete Carroll
