Leadership involves a philosophical perspective that has our own purpose and meaning as fundamental structures. We use our ideas of leadership in combination with our own specific beliefs and ideals to become a leader. This personal involvement has an impact on those around us. When a change-perspective occurs on a collective scale, a huge step for community, company and nation is taken.

As these are unique characteristics among humans the definitions of leadership are difficult to study and set to paper, as clarity and bias effect the entire enterprise. Some believe that charisma is important as one of the leader qualities. This charisma, of thought, word, and appearance may induce others to follow as the group begins to form and mobilize. The individuals have combined to become one group, on its own a sub group of a company or community. While positive charismatic features are an individual perception, some common beliefs about a good leader are; they have or are able to explain a vision based on a social construction, can maintain a fluid and flexible thought process, are open to change within the process regarding goals, and that they are moral and able to enforce a series of rules, even unspoken, that keep all the members safe.

Leaders may have to understand other’s expectations of them as important elements of their roles. We are drawn to rules and hierarchies as they allow change to take place in an orderly and safe process; but we do so more readily when thoughtful and guiding individuals attend to our needs and us.

Shawn Nichols, MA, CC
shawnnichols.com

What’s happening to my world? I grew up playing on the street, knowing every adult was my friend and could be relied on in times of childhood trouble. My parents made little, we ate well enough and clothes got passed around from cousin to sibling and back. No, my childhood was not a lovely dream. My childhood was filled with abuse and fear, but also love and friendship.

I have started to return to those times in a way that makes sense for me. No more new cars because that’s what my self esteem demands. I won’t shop because it’s on sale. The financial crisis has taken care of that for many of us. A new understanding of psychology has given me the names and terms for conditions I could not have explained earlier. But I know one thing: before life got complicated it wasn’t always easy and yes, I felt dread from time to time. But I ‘fixed’ my problems by emotional grounding, crying to reduce anxiety and asking others for help and assurance. I relied on my connections and tried to work through problems instead of dropping people and situations that were uncomfortable. I want to go back in time.

I will connect more in meaningful ways. I will smile more and praise others more often. Passing in the sidewalk, I will acknowledge others – even if they think I’m crazy.

Shawn M.Nichols, MA, CC

Mindful learning that creates great life changes is being open to other new beliefs and perspectives, as well as the ability to explore new information but not getting stuck in one’s own preexisting mindsets. The clients in my groups, were able to reflect more deeply upon their own lives and the consequences of their choices. Being able to compare their lot with others, they were presented with new information. Other clients in similar situations offered new and tantalizing information. This sharing was the first stage in reflection and as they became less defended in their choices and behaviors were able to look at new concepts offered by me and other facilitators who might have appeared as very dissimilar in personality or goals.

Shawn Nichols MA, CC

shawnnichols.com

Google Images 2011

So I thought I would talk about Procrastination on Tuesday, but I got busy and then Wednesday, stuff came up, like it always does and by Thursday, I was too anxious to settle down so here it is Saturday. What happened to Friday?

Call them tools, coping skills, tricks or fooling yourself. How do we accomplish stuff we have been putting off so long? Two ways that work for me, though usually not at the same time:

Start with the pile directly left or right of your computer. Do it! Okay, so you just put your coffee mug into the dishwasher? Mission accomplished! Sort through the pens, paper clips and rubber bands that never seem to roost in the right place. Dump them! Two jobs done! And you’re picking up speed!

The dry cleaning receipts, that need to be sorted because you think they lost those great shirts you bought in Venice? Tape them to your front door – in fact anything that needs to go outside should be lined up at the door. But you don’t do those now. You WILL grab one or all when you leave the house the next time.

Ah oh! The books for the paper that’s due on Sunday are way far to the right and you’ll never make it to them on time? Move it in closer, but NOT next. We need to finish more brainless stuff before we tackle the bigger stuff……but we’ve already done so much. Your brain doesn’t really know if a task is long or short. Treat all tasks like short ones.

The other game, coping skill or trick I use is to do the smallest and easiest stuff first. Yes, I know your kitchen was never cleaner when you had homework to do and kept putting off. I’m talking about desk stuff – not cleaning the closets, scrubbing the shower or calling your Aunt who has been missing you. Desk stuff!

Usually what I thought would take days took only hours.

Dealing with the blame and guilt that comes from putting things off? We’ll talk about that later.

Image Courtesy of Google Images

Shawn Nichols

We ignore the warnings and we avoid the confrontation, knowing all the time, it will just get worse. We isolate.

 Alone in the Wilderness 

 Video, Courtesy of Youtube.com

As our financial situation or our relationships worsen, we cling to old ideas and negative people because the devil we know is better than the one we don’t. We think. We run away.

Image Courtesy of Google Images

In workshops, I ask my clients to become the big brother or sister to themselves. It takes a bit of visual imagery, a lot of practiced thinking but who better to care for ourselves than US!

If you have been reading here for a while, you know I tout great resources and books that I find. Some of those reviews appear on my other site www.ShawnNichols.com.

Someone I just met has been making major waves in others’ lives. In a very positive way. Natasha Zaslove at www.nzaslove.com is an Astrologer with a great sense of Intuition and Understanding. A former high-powered attorney (surprise!), she isn’t a fuzzy tambourine banging desert nymph moaning to herself. Her approach is direct and supportive. She lives and heals among the bold scenery of Sedona, Arizona.

I was introduced to her about two weeks ago. She did my chart, showed it to me for about ten minutes while she explained it, and then talked to me for the next three hours as though she had known me all my life. I know, we have all seen or heard about this before. But she was able to place important events, desires, and obstacles in a real perspective. In terms of my future, yes, not all is rosy. What Natasha did for me was discuss and explore my career, education and dreams in a responsible, strategic and do-able light.

She is on my list of must talk to OFTEN. 

So you think taking drugs is only hurting you!! What do you know!!

 [youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=d_0y4liAZFA[/youtube]

Violence towards friends and partners is rising – and most of it has to do with drug use and abuse. The bad effects can be as simple as physical injuries but includes fear, post-traumatic stress and depression which for a victim can lead to homicide, suicide or a continuation of the violence (Archer, 2000, Hines, Malley-Morrison, 2001).

Loneliness means to feel:

• Excluded from a group.
• Unloved by those around you.
• Alienated from your surroundings.
• There is no one with whom to share your personal concerns and experiences.
• That you are alone and have no other choice. You find it difficult to make friends and go beyond mere acquaintance.

Courtesy of Student Affairs-University of Buffalo. FEAR OF BEING ALONE AS FEAR OF NOT BEING ABLE TO CREATE YOUR OWN HAPPINESS ALONE The thought of being all alone in the world is not in itself something to panic about. While some people panic at the thought–others delight at the thought. If you believe that you can take care of your own needs well and be happy even if you are alone, then being alone is nothing to fear. If you believe that you need others to take care of you and “make” you happy, then you are too dependent on others and their absence is something to “panic” about.Courtesy of csulb.edu/~tstevens. [youtube]http://i.ytimg.com/vi/k3tkVoRBSms/default.jpg[/youtube] [youtube]http://i.ytimg.com/vi/bL1EiAyYRVw/default.jpg[/youtube]

Religion also encompasses ancestral or cultural traditions, writings, history, and mythology, as well as personal faith and mystic experience. The term “religion” refers to both the personal practices related to communal faith and to group rituals and communication stemming from shared conviction.“Organized religion” generally refers to an organization of people supporting the exercise of some religion with a prescribed set of beliefs, often taking the form of a legal entity (see religion-supporting organization). Other religions believe in personal revelation. “Religion” is sometimes used interchangeably with “faith” or “belief system,”^[3] but is more socially defined than that of personal convictions.

Courtesy of Wikipedia.com Courtesy of Google Images. We all have our views and our preachers do not necessarily speak for us. But do they represent the common belief within that religious group.?

Presidential contender Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) defended his longtime pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, on Tuesday, even as he repudiated some of the pastor’s inflammatory sermons. But Wright’s comments likely come as no surprise to those familiar with black liberation theology, a religious philosophy that emerged during the 1960s.

Black liberation theology originated on July 31, 1966, when 51 black pastors bought a full page ad in the New York Times and demanded a more aggressive approach to eradicating racism. They echoed the demands of the black power movement, but the new crusade found its source of inspiration in the Bible.

“God’s presence in the world is best depicted through God’s involvement in the struggle for justice,” says Anthony Pinn, who teaches philosophy and religion at Rice University in Houston. “God is so intimately connected to the community that suffers, that God becomes a part of that community.”Courtesy of NPR.com