The Spark ("What was your original face before your parents were born?"
koan
"What was your original face before your parents were born?"
This koan is asking us to think about our true nature, our connection to the universe. It suggests that we look beyond the physical to find the deeper truth of our being. It is asking us to look within ourselves and to discover our true essence.
Some personal insights for leadership development inspired by this koan:
Authentic Leadership: what is your "original face," representing your authentic self before societal conditioning and external influences. Embrace your “original face” by leading with authenticity and integrity, true to your values. This will inspire trust with team members.
Timelessness and Purpose: By referencing a time before one's parents were born, this koan invites us to reflect on our timeless purpose and essence. Leaders who understand their deeper purpose and values can guide their teams with clarity and vision, transcending short-term challenges and staying focused on long-term goals.
Leading with Wisdom: This koan gives the opportunity to reflect on the importance of profound self-inquiry, a journey of introspection that leads to greater self-awareness and wisdom. Leaders who undertake such level of introspection gain better insights into their own biases, blind spots, and limitations, enabling them to make better informed decisions and be comfortable with their own vulnerabilities.
“Lead yourself, Learn to live. Lead others, Learn to Build.”
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This is an interesting concept to go back in time and check in with one's roots... It's not difficult for me to do it as growing up my mom would tell me and my brothers how her parents and grandparents lived and the values that they had. The life at that time was true, authentic and simple, values were more important than possessions, people would deeply care for each other, all part of the community and nobody was left behind. In today's divided world, I still have those values and live a simple life, build strong connections which enrich my life more than any material stuff. As a leader I think it's important to be authentic, build trust, empower people, have a vision for a future but never forget where you're coming from.