Being a Purpose-Driven Leader

A succulent greeting!

Wherever you are, take a moment, please pause. Enjoy this moment as you receive this message. Take three deep breaths, feel your body in the here and now…

Here is a question for you: If you could be a living being other than human, who would you like to be for a day? Allow yourself to embody that for a few moments. See what that’s like.

Recently I had the opportunity to be a tree, an oak to be exact, as my last name “Aristizabal” means “oak forest” in Euskera (language spoken in the Basque Country in Spain). The context of this was a Ceremony called “Council of all beings”, created by Joanna Macy, and in this case facilitated by my friend Hector Aristizabal, during anEcosystem Leadership training in Colombia. Otto Scharmer came to teach Theory U to changemakers in the regenerative movement, creating common language around listening, presencing, dialogue, co-imaging and co-creating. 

This ceremony was a beautiful invitation to the 150 leaders present to expand their worldview beyond the rational into the mythopoetic, where imagination and ritual come together. All the living beings channeled through us humans, like the oak tree (myself), fungus, jaguar, butterfly, hummingbird, serpent, and coca tree among others, had important messages for us. They spoke about how they contribute to the web of life, what they are witnessing, and gave advice for humanity on being in right-relation with the rest of nature. 

This was a beautiful and sobering moment that left many of us feeling tender, connected and in deep compassion for our wider family of living beings.

Being Purpose Driven 

My experience of channeling an oak tree made me reflect on what it is to be purpose driven, and revealed  interesting parallels. A year ago when I launched my first summit called “Purpose Sages”, I interviewed 30 experts on the topic of purpose, which you can see below. I defined purpose as an inner gem which has four sides or expressions: 

1. Motivation/ Drive to move forward
2. A sense of direction guided by an inner calling
3. Connection to self and others
4. Sense of meaning  

We can see many of these manifested in the natural world and have much to learn from our larger family. Plants, animals, fungi and others, have a natural motivation and drive to grow or move forward to express their nature. We also see them in strong connection to each other as mentioned in item 3. Beings from nature don’t have to think about their identity, they simply are. They have a clear place in the ecosystem, they occupy their niche without the need to constantly accomplish. It’s who they are, and how they connect within their context.

What makes us human is that unique inner calling and the sense of meaning. Many people think these two come from the soul. This majestic and mysterious property of humanity, our soul, is something we can miss in our spiritual pursuit, unless we pay special attention to it. Bill Plotkin speaks about soul as our unique niche in the ecosystem of life. Many authors connect the phenomenon of purpose with soul, this deeper level of identity opens us to a reconfiguration of our lives, which favors honoring our unique gifts and callings.

As we deepen our capacity to live with purpose, we step into that land of soul, as it is the guidance system that sheds light on what is beautiful, meaningful, and what is ours to do in this unique and precious life.

• Purpose Sages Summit (free weekend)

Invitation: Purpose Sages Summit: Free Viewing Weekend

Dates: Until December 15th, 2024

Access Details: Instructions for accessing the free viewing: 

• Click on the link below, register with your name, email and password. 
• Once in the course (Purpose Sages Summit) use this code: FREEPURPOSESAGES
• Once the code has been applied, click on buy, and you will get access to materials

Art of Participatory Leadership in California  

I had the honor of co-facilitating a leadership training in California using the "Art of Hosting" framework with my friend and colleague Dana Pearlman, founder of ChangeLeaders Network. It was a powerful space for learning and transformation, where 30 wonderful participants gathered, including an indigenous team from Hawaii, the birthplace of Ho'oponopono, who graced us with a ceremonial chant at the start of the day 🌅. That moment was magical and set the tone for connection and purpose throughout the event.

The training went well, and achieved its goals. However, I must mention the biggest learning. The most challenging moment occurred on the second day when tension arose between two participants. In my eagerness to help, I proposed a restorative circle in a fishbowl setup, which unfortunately created more discomfort. Both Dana and I had to apologize for not handling the situation more skillfully as facilitators. 

To restore harmony, we facilitated a healing circle, accompanied by a Tibetan singing bowl as a mindfulness tool to calm and focus the group's energy. Many people shared their words of wisdom in a space of non-judgment and respect. I brought the powerful words of Ho'oponopono that invite us to reconcile: "I'm sorry. Forgive me. I love you. Thank you." 

This experience further reinforced my conviction that leaders need to be trained in navigating conflict. It is essential to develop the capacity to face tensions and shadows with compassion for self and others, especially at this time of high polarization. Conflict, whether internal or external, should not be avoided but approached with presence and care. We discussed that holding space for conflict and dealing with discomfort is an essential part of any change process. 

Many participants commented on how valuable and real it was to have navigated this tension together. I felt relieved to be a role model being a leader who is not perfect, but acknowledges her mistakes with self-awareness. This training reminded me of the essentials of navigating discomfort with conscious tools and how conflict, when managed with mindfulness and compassion, can be an opportunity to grow and strengthen bonds within any community.

Purpose Accelerator  

Join us for the Purpose Accelerator, a transformative two-hour masterclass designed to deepen your understanding of purpose and how to actively integrate it into your life. This masterclass builds on the rich insights from the Purpose Sages Summit, employing practical tools and discussions to help you align your unique gifts with your professional and personal aspirations. It's a dedicated space for exploring how to activate your inner calling and transform your approach to life and work, ensuring you can navigate with clarity and conviction.

The Purpose Accelerator is a short and practical immersion into self-discovery and self-definition. Through interactive exercises, and guided reflections and meditations, you'll engage with key concepts of Purpose work and from the "Life Re-Vision" methodology. This approach helps participants identify their deepest motivations and how they can uniquely contribute to the world. Whether you're seeking to redefine your path or enhance your current direction, the Purpose Accelerator offers essential insights and strategies to foster a purpose-driven life, preparing you to not just imagine but live out your fullest potential.

Here are some key details for the Purpose Accelerator Masterclass invitation:

Invitation: Purpose Accelerator Masterclass
Intention: Learn practical steps to discovering or reaffirming your purpose, understand the cost of living without purpose, and the benefits (ROI) of investing in your purpose.

Event Date and Time: December 18 at 4 -6pm ET

Key Benefits:

• Enhance physical and mental health
• Strengthen relationships
• Increase income potential
• Boost motivation and life satisfaction
• Develop soft skills
• Live a more authentic life