LeadForward Vol.1 No. 3

Without connection to the soul’s longings, we remain estranged from our true nature, where our true strengths reside. When we live primarily from the ego, we may be fluent in its desires yet disconnected from our deeper needs. One of those deep needs is fulfillment—not in the sense of making money or accumulating achievements, but in satisfying the soul’s purpose. The ego alone cannot provide the inner peace and coherence that come from a living connection to the soul where that purpose resides. In the stillness we receive by stepping aside from our busy schedules, we become present, and presence creates transparency to the soul. Presence is being fully in the moment, without distractions or mental compulsions that pull us away from it. As we settle into presence, truth emerges—not from effort or striving, but from within the soul itself.

Rest gives us time to “come to ourselves.” Jesus uses this phrase in the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11–32). Having squandered his inheritance and found himself in a pigsty, the prodigal experiences a moment of coming to himself. This awakening—a return to self—leads to a change of direction and has often been described as self-remembering. Coming to ourselves does not happen only when we are at the end of our rope. It has numerous applications, particularly for individuals in leadership positions. When we create and protect dedicated downtime, many things can surface. Albert Einstein said, “No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.” The ego is an all encompassing system we have used for decades to solve our dilemmas, and it serves an important purpose. But it operates at a particular level of consciousness. If we seek a higher level of consciousness to address a problem, we must interrupt the cycle of constant motion. When we break free from repetitive patterns and habitual momentum, insights emerge. We may recognize a long-standing pattern that has prevented fulfillment, identify the source of a reaction that repeatedly backfires, or gain clarity at a crossroads requiring a decision. We may

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