Recently I've listened to a couple books on seemingly different topics but I spotted a connection I'd like to share with you. Extreme Ownershipby Jocko Willink and Leif Babin and Men and Women: The Journey of Spiritual Transformation by Richard Rohr. The first was about leadership learned on the battlefield by a Navy SEALS commander. The latter by a Catholic Priest who has worked with 1000's of individuals and their radical life changes.
What could these 2 guys have in common?
Effective introspection.
Jocko states powerfully and plainly that the leader must set the example of owning everything that happens to the team and not finding fault with anyone else before fully assessing their responsibilities.
Richard wisely points out that spirituality is all about what you do with your pain: if you don't transform it, you will transmit it.
When I juxtapose these two, I see that Jocko is a very spiritual person. He openly admitted he made mistakes and they were painful. But he must've had a healthy way of processing that pain to be able to set an example of humble leadership to motivate and inspire his team to follow him towards extreme ownership.
And I see that Richard is an effective leader on the battle field of spiritual warfare. Through his insights and experiences of overcoming pride, ego, and fear, he is a freedom fighter who helps men and women let go of toxic beliefs to create a safe place to process pain—this being a radical problem for men as they become abusers of their power when they don't have this capacity. For women, it empowers them to effectively take on roles of leadership that this world needs for greater justice and compassion.
Extreme ownership is spiritual transformation. A victorious life journey is the result of taking on the responsibilities of the inner life.
What does this mean for us today?
Substantial investments in introspection. Call it self awareness, mindfulness, awakening, devotions, meditation, etc. Doesn't matter what you call it as long as you do it. It starts with being open to a cosmology of love, grace, and redemption. For those who have taken the time and effort to truly understand the Bible, this is the message of God's love in Christ: that the universe's origin, development and destination are in the hands of love, a love that transforms our minds and hearts into safe places to process pain.
It is essential to be able to bring our souls into the light of courage and compassion. Because that's where we can let go of anything and everything that causes fear and replace it with love—God's brand of love.
Regardless of what organization you're a part, a business, a nonprofit, an agency or institution, or a family, healthy leadership is a must for joy and success.
And effective leaders have an attitude of extreme ownership and humility from the courage and compassion they get from having a safe place to process fear and pain.
Those who neglect this truth, either abuse their power or end up on the receiving end of that abuse.