We have talked about how good leaders need the gumption to fail in our previous post. Leaders who are afraid to fail will not make good leaders, because they will simply be led by what their followers or target audience(s) want them to do rather than what would be good for their followers/ target audiences in the long-term, which they may not know or are able to express at the current moment.

Somewhat related to this idea is the thought that: “We must not become addicted to the praises of others.  If we don’t live by their praises, we’ll not die by their criticisms.”

If we are driven to always do what is good and right (though we have to accept there could be times when what we believe to be good and right does not turn out to be good and/or right), we will be driven by our beliefs and values rather than by the beliefs and values of others.

Not only is it necessary for us to be clear why we do what we do, we need to have the drive and determination to keep pushing to get done what needs to be done. 

It would be appropriate that we address the issue of energy.  Energy is what we need to keep going despite the difficulties and critics and sceptics and cynics.

There are four kinds of energy:

• Physical Energy – our physical fitness and well-being
• Mental Energy – our capacity to think about issues and come to decisions
• Emotional Energy – our capacity to stay calm and composed in face of troubles
• Spiritual Energy – our capacity to accomplish something driven by the innermost part of ourselves (what is referred to as our spirit)

While many people may be lacking in Physical Energy, which in turn affects their Mental or Emotional Energy, many of these people make up for it by having strong Spiritual Energy, a strong belief in what they are doing whether at home or at work, which in turn affects their Mental and Emotional drive and determination.

A careful awareness of the cultivation and usage of our energy, especially our Spiritual Energy, helps us to more successfully live out the adage: “If we don’t live by the praises of others, we’ll not die by their criticisms.”

Photo credit:  https://www.pinterest.com/pin/80572280810149817/