PSST! BE THE LIGHT . . .

I entered AVR 1 around 9:00 am this morning. I listened to the 1^st of a series of lectures about Spirituality, Governance, and Leadership by Bro. San Juan, S.J. This insightful event WAs sponsored by the XU – Governance and Leadership Institute. I still managed to focus my mind amidst the overflowing number of people who was literally crammed in the AVR 1 for the lecture. Before zooming in the subject matter, I looked around the room and saw numerous key movers of society in the locality. There were coucilors, Mayors one in particular Mayor Yasay of Opol, Arch Bishop Ledesma, The Sumilao farmers, NGO leaders, and the academe – a very diverse sectoral representation.

Transcendent Leadership

Now to the meat of the matter - transcendent leadership and its relationship to governance were given a new much complex meaning in the lecture. Leadership has something to do with a relationship, most likely a struggle between factors of our environment but most importantly, a constant interaction and analysis of ourselves. “The I” was greatly emphasized by the lecture as the bedrock of all others. Ignatian tradition itself banks in self-awareness as the core source of leadership. This struggle or “complexity” (another fancy word for problem) entails 2 contrasting set of realities present in every leader as tendencies or traits namely the indulgent self and the transcendent self. Obviously the indulgent self appeals only to the lust for power and pleasure while transcendence from the word itself, goes to a higher level of consciousness – the stuff of great leaders.

The pursuit of happiness <<> POWER

I would first like to dwell in the indulgent self as discussed by Bro. San Juan because it is quite common and dangerous. One striking point he tackled was the psychological factor of most leaders in our world – past and present AND I can certainly point out examples in campus. He mentioned that some people who rose to leadership position is mainly due to their passionate drive for power and influence. This “passionate drive” actually is a blind unchecked psychological reaction derived from their insecurities, weaknesses, and the lack of recognition and affirmation that can start from their childhood. They somehow need to prove something to others that they begin to exaggerate their achievements most of the time, not proportional to the true achievement, think very highly of themselves, and inflates their head. They evolve an unhealthy dose of narcissism that could poison their view towards others. They may become dismissive and judgemental, envious and afraid. They are always on the look out for potential threats and employ all their effort to cling to power or destroy those threats. Now this kind of the “unchecked leader” is quite dangerous. They need power so much (sees power as food, air, shelter, clothes, and water) that they are afraid to relinquish it, and sometimes abuses it, and fights for it to the bloody end. This is a very common psychology and normal for that matter but it should grow from an egocentric viewpoint to a socio-centric consciousness. The key of liberating oneself from this destructive drive is first to acknowledge yourself and your whole package. Confront yourself!

“Those who thirst for power are generally not the ones fit to lead for their actions are

intended to gratify or compensate their psychological fixations.”

The Stuff of Heroes

Transcendent leadership, a leadership which sees the world in a higher consciousness, a world-centric leadership, and a leadership were self indulgence are tamed to its very core. As presented by Bro. San Juan, Transcendent leadership is the animation of the universal traits of generosity, interiority, discernment and companionship. As found in the Ignatian tradition, these traits have long been the substance, the life-style of great leaders. They go beyond the limits and constraints of their negative tendencies, managed to block the shimmering reflections of themselves, achieved a higher way of thinking that ultimately made them produce a multitude of great things. The traits they posses are not just given to them. These traits, in order to be in animation, in order to come to life, need a tremendous amount of energy. It is like fighting gravity. It is here where SPIRITUALITY COMES IN. This then becomes the center of transcendences. The spirituality of a person what ever faith he is in acts as the amplifier of our actions, the source of energy, inspiration and guidance. That is why for the great majority of leaders, taking care of their hearts and mind are an utmost priority (aside from the game of power)! The spirituality we nurture must be rooted in love, hope and faith as in our case, the person of Jesus Christ otherwise, a “spirituality” rooted from an egocentric ideology is very destructive to man kind.