Mindfulness & The Mindful Leader

I wrote on my blog yesterday about Mindfulness and Who Do I Believe.  The picture I use is the statement: Follow your heart but bring your brain along.

This research reminds us also that use your brain and take into account your feelings and emotions.

The truth is that we are storytellers. And if the story I tell resonates with you, you buy in because you see yourself as a active participant in creating something you see as of benefit to you and a place where your contribution plays a part in that story.

It is interesting, the article quotes: The best leaders, it seems, are good at motivating people with things like encouragement, praise and rewards—thereby creating a strong emotional bond and sense of purpose among employees.

A motive is a goal or object of one's actions. In reality I can't motivate you to become a concert pianist or an NFL or NBA pro or a US Senator let along be the most competent person in your field of endeavor. Maybe it would be better to say that leaders' stories attract people to want to be part of bringing that story to fruition and to enrich the quality of their lives.  

Behavioral economics talks about the emotional portion of the decisions and choices we make. Often unknowingly.

We are finding some wonderful things out about the brain and how it functions. At the same time we are  herd/pack animals that euphemistically call ourselves social animals.  

So with all we are learning what difference is it making for the betterment of the world.

While we hear all these wonderful ideas, theories, reasons, and explanations of  what we are learning from the brain and what it means,  I am left with  the thoughts Carl Sagan's shared:

“Science is a way of thinking, skeptically interrogating the universe with a fine understanding of human fallibility.”

“If we are not able to ask skeptical questions and to interrogate  those who tell us that something is truth; to be skeptical of those in authority then we’re up for grabs for the next charlatan, political, or religious that comes ambling along …”   

Sagan mentioned  Jefferson who said that we the people have to educate ourselves and  need to practice our education and our skepticism.

Or reflecting on the words of Buddha to the people of Kalama:

Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.

After thorough observation, investigation, analysis and reflection, when you find that anything agrees with reason and your experience, and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, and of the world at large; accept only that as true, and shape your life in accordance with it; and live up to it.

In this era of sound bites, talking heads, and experts, are we thinking about what needs thinking about?