Day 7 : Sincerity

“In sincerity is the certitude of victory.” – The Mother

Sincerity

In order to ‘Be the Change’ we wish to see in the world, we need to STEP IN, STEP UP and STEP OUT with our full Shakti.

After learning about the ‘Journey through the Five Elements of Shakti Leadership’, from today we take up the practice of TWELVE universal human values or qualities that prepare us to come into our full power. Each is a true power trait in itself.

THE MOTHER’s SYMBOL:

These are sourced from The Mother Sri Aurobindo’s symbol, as together, they are one of the most comprehensive set of qualities that develop our SQ (Spiritual Quotient), and EQ (Emotional Quotient).

All the latest findings on Leadership require these two kinds of intelligence to be honed by leaders today. To complete and balance their levels of IQ and Physical Fitness.

To arrive into the FULL-SPECTRUM of Leadership EQ and SQ, the first practice to be taken up, is Sincerity.

The ability to be what one is and not pretend otherwise. It is the beginning of all progress. To be sincere is to be pure in one’s intent, thoughts and deeds.

“Soon after we are born, and once we acquire language, the most powerful way we are able to absorb wisdom is through stories. Stories bypass the rational-logical (logos) mind and go straight to the symbolic (mythos) realm, creating a much more inspirational, engaging, and resonant experience than simply receiving information. Please note that we use the terms “myth” or “mythic” as Campbell uses them: not as something that is not real but as symbols of deeper drives at play in our psyche. We use mythology and stories instead of just science and structure because, as Campbell discovered, “Mythology is psychology misread as biography, history, and cosmology.”*

Mythology is simply a very creative way to express human psychology.

Coming into Shakti Leadership requires undergoing a heroic journey with mythic and archetypal elements. When you reframe your leadership journey as a personal myth, it works below and beyond facts and rational cognition, engaging and activating universal forces within the personal and collective unconscious. This is the most inspirational and empowering way to transform your daily living into your fully embodied and self-actualized life.”

Over the next daily challenges, when we refer to well-known and loved stories from (mostly) Indian mythology, we invite you to keep the above in mind! And also to share stories from your own traditions to add to our repertoire and understand the universality of these myths and the values they contain.

Today we share the story of Shabari from the great Indian epic, Ramayana as it teaches us the value and depth of sincerity.

Reflection:

  • Where in the story do you find the quality of Sincerity?
  • How is the main character, Shabari, relevant in today’s day and age?
  • Do I consider Sincerity as my strength?
  • In what situation do I find myself being sincere? In what relationship do I find myself being sincere?
  • On a scale of 1-10 how do I rate myself as sincere and why?
  • If I were to be honest with myself knowing that I am completely accepted for who I am – what is it that stops me from being sincere?
  • If I were to relax something that blocks me from being sincere, what is it? And what can I relax and let go – offer up to my higher-self for release?
  • What specific behavior will I adopt, that demonstrates sincerity to me and others?

Sincerity is a shakti, a power trait.

Invitation to Commitment

I commit to stand-up for what I am, I commit to not pretend.

Take up the practice of Sincerity today. And share your experience!

Nilima Bhat
Co-author – Shakti Leadership

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* Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces (London: Fontana, 1993), 219.