Transformation and Triumph through Self Discovery
As a High Performance Coach to professional athletes and corporate executives, I often find myself reframing success in the minds of these Type A personalities. Without drawing our awareness to our definition of success, one could easily find themselves chasing a perception of success that is projected onto them by society. Why is this realization important? Well, we have witnessed highly successful individuals, the likes of Robin Williams, Anthony Bourdain, Kate Spade, and so many more, tragically resort to taking their own lives. They were a symbolic representation of what success looks like if framed by external variables, but their choices are testament to the fact that perhaps, something deeper, more meaningful was amiss. They were achieved, but does achievement equal fulfilment?
We currently live in a precarious era. Unstable political environments, climate change, discrimination, inequality, religious conflicts and so much more. These are indeed pressing issues that require our care and attention. But, over and above these looms a larger problem. Our era is defined by overarching attitudes of selfishness, unequivocal greed, lack of empathy, and gross apathy. The solutions to these larger problems lies in the cultivation of one’s true self. When Viktor Frank said, that through transcendence you will be able to become self-actualized, he gave us the secret to fulfillment.
So, how and why is all is this important from a perspective of business? Well, I think this is best described through the words of Nietzsche: If you know your ‘why’, you can endure any ‘how’.
The process of self-discovery is described in Vedic philosophy as ‘advaita’. Western philosophy calls this process ‘actualization’. In a nutshell, it is through the process of self-discovery that you can find meaningful alignment between who you are and what you do. The Japanese call this Ikigai.
There are countless examples of how individuals and organizations that are aligned to larger purpose outperform almost every competitor. Data to support this ideology has existed from time immemorial. The challenge in this equation is to decode the value system that defines you and then align that core value to your larger purpose. For most, they attempt to put the cart before the horse, that is, they try to find a purpose before they understand themselves. The result, your efforts do not yield the desired outcome, the work ethic isn’t sustainable and the when motivation drops, the project inevitably loses momentum.
When I began to pen down my thoughts on transformation and triumph, there were really only two things that had to said:
1. Transformation begins with a deep understanding of one’s self, which is often triggered by a realization born from pain and nurtured in solitude.
2. Triumph is the alignment of your transformational journey with a purpose larger than yourself, and one which culminates in the deep desire to take action.
I once attended the memorial ceremony of a friend who prematurely lost her life in a car accident. She was a Harvard graduate, United Nations Ambassador, World Economic Forum Advisor, and President in her organization. During the two hour memorial service, not a single person mentioned any of this. The only thing they spoke of was how she made they feel and her unselfish hunger to ensure that every person she interacted with felt special.
Her definition of success was measured by the number of smiles she put on the faces of every person she met.
What is your definition of success?
