Where is my saviour?

Every now and then we are confronted with situations that are overwhelming and require that we seek assistance to overcome them. Help can come unexpectedly from whom we least expect, providing us with support to get back on our feet. However, what happens when we are unwilling to get back on track and apply leadership to our lives? Recovery can sometimes be difficult and quite a lot of us find that rising from the ashes takes a lot more effort than we are willing to invest.

What if waiting for others to resolve our issues is embedded in our culture? Sometimes we expect our leaders to attend to our problems, and they in turn depend on us, creating a loop where issues are perpetuated. For example, many of us hold the illusion that the economy can be fixed by the government alone, when in fact it requires society to be more productive and generate demand, while leaders make the right decisions to stimulate and achieve sustainable growth. I think that one of the main functions of governments is to provide the right environment for society to thrive. For me this means providing the necessary infrastructure to ensure appropriate levels of law, order, education and social services while having the essential regulations and mechanisms in place to influence the economic, financial and social structures. When governments start overextending their responsibilities and promote paternalism, they risk raising debt and poverty because their citizens are no longer empowered to be productive and seek progress.

Those of us who perpetually feel helpless have somehow lost faith in our inner strength. In this sense we are incapable of seeing ourselves as our own saviours. History has shown us how certain societies have been able to literally rise from the ashes through coordinated efforts from each of its citizens. Meanwhile, others languish in their desperation, wondering  why they cannot overcome their difficulties, even with all the potential in the world at their disposal. In the end, we must realize that welfare and progress in society depends mostly on our collective attitude and not so much on external factors and paternalistic policies.

How do we apply ethics?

What are the principles and values that guide leaders? Is it the need to truly help the collective or is it personal gain? Ethics is vital to good leadership since it provides an accepted framework which can help determine whether the right choice for the collective is being taken. Each of us has a point of view with respect to what is right or wrong, but there are clear rules that help us operate in society and which should be followed if there is to be effective leadership.

When trust is lost among the stakeholders, the fabric of team work and vision is lost. The modus operandi becomes every man for himself, as greed becomes more important than the will to attend to the needs of the collective. A leader can lose integrity when faced with the temptation of abusing power and misusing public funds. This attitude of self-indulgence can quickly spread, killing any chances for progress. In this sense, corruption is a disease that deviates a lot of resources from achieving our vision and is symptomatic of bad leadership.

To reach the objectives set out, all the effort must go into making the vision a reality and not in following personal gains. Each of us has an obligation to ensure that ethical codes are followed, and understand the reasons for doing so. It is my belief that leaders have a lot more to gain from experiencing the success of the collective through achievement of the goals set out in the vision.

How do we achieve consensus?

When it comes to spreading ideas, there are battles for the minds of the stakeholders. Each person has different and usually contradicting ideas about the objectives and how they should be achieved.  What motivates others to follow and support our vision? The answer is sell, sell, and sell. For me effective selling isn't so much in the speech. It is in understanding our stakeholders, their needs and their willingness to buy into the solution. By adapting our vision to our stakeholders and allowing them to participate in the solution, we greatly increase the chances for success. For the poor, eradicating poverty may mean greater organization and access to tools for self-help. For the rich it may mean investment in education facilities and infrastructure to increase the availability of skilled workers.

The dark side to influencing others occurs when it is carried out with negative emotions. How are the stakeholders being motivated? Through hate, fear, anger and blaming others, or through passion, empathy, enthusiasm and love of achievement and team work? For me, to achieve true consensus each of the stakeholders should buy into the idea with their own logical thought process that will guide them through the tasks ahead of them. In nature we can clearly see the difference between a swarm of locusts following blindly and leaving a trail of destruction, and a colony of ants with roles and responsibilities geared towards growth and sustainability. After all the emotion has evaporated and we are confronted with hard work, each of us must find inspiration in doing what is right for us. Leaders should demonstrate through example that each of us in the collective must assume full responsibility for our actions and be accountable for the results.

How do we measure progress?

One of the aspects where a lot of leaders fail is delivering on their vision. If we are serious about achieving the objectives set out in the vision then it is imperative that progress be measured. For example, how will we know when we have reduced poverty? Will it be while charity can distribute enough food or when the poor are capable of self sustenance? To ensure success, part of the implementation plan must include metrics and a way of identifying the reasons for deviations. There must be enough information available to identify where the resources are being used and how it compares to the plan. Also, other metrics such as the number of cases resolved per unit of currency gives an idea of the effectiveness of the policy.

Do we take full responsibility of the consequences or do we blame others? A characteristic of negative leadership is placing the blame on others for deviations in the plan. If there are any responsibilities that leaders have direct control of, it would be seeking information, making decisions and managing execution. In this sense I think leaders have an obligation to interpret the information correctly, understand the context and take action accordingly.

How does our vision contribute to leadership?

We can be so immersed in our hectic lives that we forget the reasons for dedicating so much time and energy to our daily activities. Having a vision gives us a purpose through objectives, that we can use to direct and prioritize our efforts. However, having a high-level vision is not enough. For example, most of us would like to eradicate poverty, but do we have the right plan to implement it? This is one of the steps where leaders fail to make the dream a reality.

Is the plan to take from the rich and give to the poor or is the plan to increase employment and productivity? When we define the plan it is important that we base it on realistic goals and sustainable resources. How do we motivate and mobilize the large numbers of stakeholders required to make the plan a reality? Sometimes the vision is launched in the hope that somehow people will figure out what to do. This is characteristic of leaders who think success depends entirely on them, and that it is enough to use rhetoric to enforce a vision. The truth is that great leaps in progress are achieved only when the hearts and minds of the collective are dedicated to achieving a vision.

What are our criteria for decision making?

Decision making is a competence that can differentiate a good leader, and where exercising self-control is critical for success. In particular, we can make sure that our needs and emotions do not interfere with the process of effective decision making. Do we base our decisions on whim or on true knowledge of the situations and the stakeholders involved? Our history is full of examples of wrong decisions at critical moments, such as refusing help after a catastrophe due to a difference of ideology with those offering aid. It seems that leaders do not take into account the context of the situation and the needs of the collective as much as they do their own criteria. Our response to difficult situations provides a good measure of the significance of using context. For example, there are certain decisions that should be taken immediately after a disaster and not after a personal assessment, such as sending specific resources that can assist those in dire need. This could save lives and make a difference by having help available 2 days after a disaster as opposed to a week later.

I think that effective decision making has a lot to do with being prepared. This means that there have to be mechanisms in place to collect information that can provide an understanding of the situations we are confronted with. Do we take the time to question what is really going on and finding the reasons behind the problems we are confronted with? Or are we blinded by our emotions such as fear and anger? It is best to make informed decisions that can target specific problems and focus resources on resolving them.

With ever increasing sources of data, decision making becomes more of a challenge if we are not prepared to process and interpret them correctly. Also, the data we receive does not necessarily give us a license to automate decisions. Sometimes bold assessments are made that can give the wrong impression of the situation. For example, it could be said that the poor have greater access to health and education because the number of clinics and schools have doubled. Yet when we look closer we could find they lack the resources required to carry out their functions. Leaders would do well to ensure that the decisions taken maximize the benefits of those that are affected.

What is my leadership style?

In difficult situations do we tend to be dictatorial or participative? Sometimes it is inevitable to impose a decision when the occasion requires it. However, when it becomes a habit the ability to comprehend and make informed decisions is greatly diminished. Do we like to have full and direct control over others or do we influence and motivate them? Leaders sometimes pursue the illusion of having control over other people in the belief that success depends only on them. For me, leadership has no purpose unless it gets the full support of its followers.

Do we promote leadership based on the cult or in the vision of true unity and tolerance? When leadership is centered on personality it loses credibility and support. In response, the strategies applied sometimes include restricting freedom and abusing laws in the name of an ideology. On the other hand, if leadership is based on respect and tolerance it can leverage the diversity of people and ideas that can make great things happen.

What do we do with those who do not share our vision? Do we exclude them because they follow different ideas, principles, values, laws, religions or beliefs? Sometimes leaders loose their way by focussing on demonizing those who do not follow blindly. A lot of effort is lost in the battles that ensue and in the divisions that are created. What is the purpose of this? To force everyone to submit to the same vision? For example, to eradicate poverty we will need everyone's participation and ideas, including from those we consider different and indifferent. In reality we have no control over the hearts and minds of other people and it is precisely in those places where we will find the driving force behind progress. By contrast, we would do well to exert control over ourselves, and yet this is where we least exercise it. In this sense, our leadership style should take into account the needs of the collective and be adapted to the situations we are confronted with.

Am I ready to be a leader?

What attracts people to leadership positions? Is it the power that can be wielded? Is it the prestige and recognition that comes with reaching the upper echelons? Given the image many leaders have these days, it seems that responsibility, humility and the search for excellence are not among the virtues that are given priority to. I think that so much effort goes into getting to the top that leaders sometimes forget that with power comes great responsibility and not just personal gain. Being a leader requires making the vision a reality and taking responsibility for the failures as well as the challenges that may stand in the way of attaining success. Overcoming the difficulties requires a lot of self-knowledge and self-control to ensure that our personal demons don't get in the way of resolving the issues at hand. In this sense, as leaders we must keep an eye on:

• Our leadership style.
• Our criteria for decision making.
• The implementation of the vision.
• Measuring our progress.
• The participation of stakeholders.
• Selling our ideas.
• Communication.
• Ethics.

What is the meaning of my life?

What has changed when we have come and gone? Our birth and eventual death mark the duration of our lives. For some of us there is nothing more to it. But what gives it meaning? Maybe nature can give us some hints. Imagine being in a drop of water falling from the sky and somehow you end up in the stream of life on a mountain high. Here the flow of water is quick, vibrant and full of energy. Yet the stream is small and erratic. This flow of water may seem trivial on the surface however when we look in detail at all the things that it helps to sustain such as plant and animal life, it gains greater meaning. In this sense, if we abstract the definition of our lives beyond our biological presence it is possible to see that we can find greater meaning in our existence.

If we follow the stream we find it feeds into a river which is bigger but more coherent in its flow. Somehow by simply flowing we can shape rocks and transform the landscape. In much the same way we as humans work together to create things such as homes, relationships and life in the form of children. They are part of our legacy and yet I think there is more to life than perpetuating our DNA. As any step-child can attest, being a biological parent is not enough. I think our true legacy lies in the memory of our loved ones, friends and acquaintances. In this sense by observing and learning from ourselves and our surroundings we can cultivate true knowledge and meaningful relationships as we progress on our paths of life.

There are drops of water that are captured by man-made objects. As a result this water ceases to flow. When we focus on the temporary and base our lives around it, we are exposing ourselves to suffering. Thinking constantly about our physical assets and our mortality makes us dependent on them and can stop us from progressing in our lives. Even though the physical and the temporary are important for our physical survival, we would do well to pay attention to those aspects of our life which are eternal and meaningful.

Eventually the river reaches the vast ocean. At this stage a lot of people reflect on what they have done with the time given to them. There the flow of water and its energy are different. The drop has become part of something far greater and yet that is not the end for the drop of water. Eventually it will evaporate and be part of some other life cycle. In nature it doesn't matter if you are rich and powerful or poor and destitute, our bodies eventually die and we become part of something else. It is my belief that you can pursue whatever temporary objective you wish but you will truly benefit from those things you can take on your transcendental journey.

Am I the owner of the truth?

The absolute truth encompasses those things we believe apply universally, like natural laws. If we believe a statement or idea to be true we sometimes expect others to follow and enforce it. What do I believe to be true and just? Is it that we are all equal? Does that mean that we all have equal rights and obligations? Must everyone follow the ideas and laws I believe to be true? In the same way many of us expect the light to turn on when we flick the switch, so we have come to believe that written laws control everything we do. In a sense, written laws are usually designed to define expected behavior and regulate our freedom of action.

So why are there so many people breaking written laws? Maybe it is because we are unaware of them or because each of us have different views on how those laws apply to us. For example, history has shown us time and again how certain laws that forbid killing other people have been bypassed for some "superior" motive. As any lawyer will tell us, laws are usually open to interpretation. Those who create them envision situations in which they apply and reasons for applying them. Somehow each of us must interpret these laws and take them into account in our everyday lives. In case we break the law there are others in charge of enforcement and applying penalties as required.

In many respects we must earn our freedom. When we live in society there are laws that we must understand, accept and apply that will help us operate with greater transparency. It is clear to me that those societies where respect and trust for the law and for each of its citizens are upheld, the costs of maintaining law and order are much lower. Even if we were to live alone in a forest, natural laws such as survival of the fittest and gravity would affect us. In the end we would operate best in harmony with nature and its laws.

There are schools of thought that predicate a set of laws and rules that apply to everyone. For me the mere existence of a multiplicity of schools of thought of every kind makes me think that it is natural for humans to interpret ideas and laws, and adapt the way they apply. Even laws such as those expressed in human rights or "thou shall not kill (under any circumstances)" seem to have many exceptions with respect to our local behavior. For these types of laws to apply effectively, each individual must have respect and trust for his fellow man and for the society he belongs to.

Natural laws tend to be universal and apply to us independently of our interpretation. On the other hand, written laws tend to apply to defined groups and require interpretation and acceptance. In this sense written laws must respect our individuality as much as we accept our responsibilities towards the collective. In our everyday life we must balance our rights with our obligations as citizens and participate actively in the definition of laws to ensure that they are representative and will not be open to abuses. It is natural for us to apply the laws we believe in and any idea or law that is imposed unilaterally will surely meet resistance.

What do I know?

Socrates once declared, "All I know is that I know nothing". This observation gains special meaning in our modern world where we are so reliant on information and knowledge. In many respects we have developed a faith in science and technology that has allowed us to progress and achieve things we could only dream about. The tools and knowledge we now possess have amplified our capacity to create and destroy to the point where we have developed a sense of arrogance.

Yet, a lot of the knowledge we have developed is dependent on observation and experimentation that have generated more questions than answers. This begs the question of how reliable our observations are in terms of yielding everything there is to know. If we look at the scale of the known electromagnetic spectrum it is impressive to see how small our field of vision is. A lot of the phenomena we observe are actually secondary and always open to interpretation. This explains in part why we have had a history of changes in the way we conceive the universe, and these paradigm shifts are likely to continue for a very long time.

I think it is safe to say that there is so much we do not know about, that a sense of humility would be more appropriate. Our knowledge is very dependent on how we understand and see our environment, and in many cases only applies to specific conditions. In fact, a lot of our effort goes into reproducing the conditions in which we can apply our knowledge more easily. For example, computers require electricity and we have dedicated a lot of resources to installing and maintaining the infrastructure required for them to function. In terms of communications, medicine and education we have made a lot of progress extending our influence and well-being to a lot of persons around the world.

If we assume an attitude of arrogance towards our knowledge I think we would be limiting ourselves. I say this not only in the sense of limiting the scope of knowledge, but also in closing our hearts and minds to other possibilities. In this sense the Internet is a testament to how openness can help us learn about our environment and progress.

The more we are open to consider other points of view, the more we reduce the risk of skewing our knowledge with our particular bias. It is also important to be vigilant of the context and situations in which we apply our knowledge. Sometimes we have a tendency of wanting to apply knowledge universally without thinking through the consequences. I believe that we must complement our limited knowledge with a vision of that which is eternal and meaningful. True knowledge comes from accepting that there are many things we do not know about. Assuming an attitude of continuous search for the truth can be our way of accepting this.

Who am I?

This is a question that is difficult to answer in a direct manner. What tendencies do we have? How will we react to a given situation in a given moment? It may seem that we are not so connected to our inner self but I think that if we observe carefully at what we care about in a given situation, we will start to find the answer. For example, most parents will do whatever it takes to ensure the well-being of their family in a perilous situation and the way they respond is a reflection of their inner self. By believing in something and acting upon it with our heart, our true self becomes evident.

When we care about something our thoughts are dominated by it. For some it may be the love of a spouse, the well-being of a new-born child, the football match or the legacy we leave for future generations.  In these situations our principles, values, beliefs, intentions and experiences are activated, and reflect a part of who we are. Our feelings surface when we really care about something and we express them with a variety of emotions including happiness, anger, love and anxiety. Our behavior is generally a manifestation of our thoughts in the physical world and an important component of our communication.

I believe we are defined by our thoughts, feelings and behavior. If we want to know ourselves better then it is imperative to start with our thoughts, both conscious and unconscious. For example, how would you feel if a stranger forbids you to do something? Even though this may appear to be a logical issue such as minimizing risk, it's a sure thing there will be an underlying emotional issue such as the need for freedom, that may generate discord.  To study our thoughts we must live the moment and pay close attention to how they affect our daily experience.

If we are not defined by our thoughts then it is easy to think that in essence we are the way we are and there is no need to change. For me the danger in this attitude is that we can go through our entire lives surviving the nightmares of our reality time and time again. Life has shown us what happens when we try to impose our will on nature, for example by changing the course of a river. When things go wrong because the river returns to its original course, many of us end up asking ourselves why life dealt us this card.

Cogito, ergo sum. René Descartes used this expression "I think, therefore I am" as a proposal for existence, later concluding with "I am, I exist". For me this expression describes the connection between our thoughts and our existence. It could be said that our thoughts create our reality and I believe that in many respects this is true.

I think that among the more important aspects of our human condition is to be conscious of our thoughts, decisions, emotions and actions. It is precisely these elements that define a part of who we are. Being conscious goes beyond being aware of our reality and it requires paying attention to the present moment. For me this implies participating actively in life in such a way that we are open to the situations we create, taking full responsibility for the thoughts, decisions, emotions and actions that originate from us. That is why I think that the great masterpieces of humanity are created when we challenge ourselves to be the best we can be. If we assume an attitude of constant search for our truth, and help others along the way, we shall find the treasures that this life has to offer us, such as the unconditional love of our family.

What is reality to me?

For some of us it could be the intense traffic we wade through in the morning. Queue after queue of metal, rubber and fumes. A giant sea of red and white lights framed by asphalt and concrete between your destination and you. The feeling of anguish grows as you feel you have wasted hour upon hour of your life incessantly alternating every few meters between the gas and the brake. Just when you feel you can take no more of this feeling of being trapped, you stop and think whether this is the reality you want to live.

Is our reality only what we see? There are people who try to adapt by making their journey more comfortable. Others try to avoid it altogether by working from home. Yet the feeling of being trapped continues to mark our existence. Is what you are seeing a reflection of how you feel inside? Do you feel your life is an uphill battle and that you are trapped between a rock and a hard place?

Maybe reality is a reflection of our existence. In other words, because we exist we are able to perceive our reality. Even if we could instantly transport ourselves from one place to another we would probably still think, feel and act like if we were in a reality that limits us. In this sense our human characteristics play a very important role. Our brains are capable of processing huge amounts of information generated internally and by our senses. Yet we choose to filter and judge what we perceive by adapting our individual mental constructs that define our reality.

For many of us reality has come to mean the universe of objects we agree are perceived to exist without our presence. In other words we could believe that intense traffic is an entity that exists on its own and generates anguish within us. I find this definition limiting because it does not take fully into account our perception of reality as humans, particularly in terms of concepts and ideas. For example, the concept of property exists in our collective minds and it can have as much meaning to us as any wall we consider as real.

The connection between our existence and our reality is a duality that is inherent in our human condition. I think that our abilities as humans allow us to observe, classify and create our realities. We are the ones who divide things with our mental models and creations, such as driving in lanes. The universe could be one giant information entity which exists without us, but that means nothing unless we are there to observe it. For example, it is improbable that another species would find meaning in a traffic light and stop when it is red unless it is trained to do so by us. On the other hand we wouldn't exist without the universe and it is important for us to understand that we are a part of something bigger.

It is my belief that philosophy takes on a lot of meaning when we study it from the human perspective. We as humans may cling to our individual realities but our search for the truth will prevail. There is always another way to see things. In situations that we consider difficult we can always apply an endless list of ideas and solutions. In this sense I hope that this blog will serve us as a means to share our ideas and help each other on our paths to discovering the mystery of life.