Demons: Inner and Outer
Demons and creativity don’t mix. I am using demon to point at that which we deify as an irresistible force sabotaging our best intentions. Some of my demons are victimhood, obstacles, Sisyphus, fear of intimacy and self loathing. I look at global warming and the domineering mindset of much of humanity, my heart fails and I surrender to victimhood. I see our fear and isolation, a high stress future, and see the fear growing. I know how important 360˚ feedback is to working together and the development of community and see myself resist it. The exploration of creative leadership renews my hope for compassion, inclusivity, community. To the extent that it has made the world a kinder, gentler place for me the exploration of creative leadership has helped me conquer a few inner demons and is giving me greater access to my creativity.
Several thought systems are converging for me, creating a new question. The old “distant,” authoritarian leadership paradigm is obviously (multiple studies) less productive than a “near” collective, connective and inclusive leadership paradigm. Most of the worlds’ traditions have been preaching the new paradigm for centuries. Yet much of the planet is operating under the old paradigm, failing to address the issues at hand, and not adopting the new. What paradigm do we need to access to learn and grow through the twenty first century? To work, it will have to be irresistible as well as being good for the world.
We are social animals, we naturally want to circle, to congregate, to work together, to play together, to learn together and to celebrate together. Is this what could make this transformation, this paradigm shift, so irresistible the mass of mankind will tackle inner demons and stand up to outer demons, the dominant powers. Playing with this new question lends a greater urgency and a new clarity to my work of developing a community building curriculum; a collection of games, processes and rituals designed to connect us. I need community to keep my hope alive. All of us together need to be in community to tackle both the inner and the outer demons of greed, separation, fear and resignation.