What happens inside you when you see the word ‘leadership’? Many people see leadership as a distant realm populated by (mostly white, male) people in boardrooms, on political stages, or heading up international organisations.
When we use the word leader at Red School, we’re talking about a different kind of leadership, one that blossoms within each and every one of us. Arising out of who we are, exactly where we are.
This can take many forms. It can be subtle, intimate and quiet or obvious, bold and loud. You might see something in your community, or the world at large, and feel moved to change it. It may simply look like listening for something stirring inside you, something speaking to you, something calling you…and then acting upon it when the opportunity arises.
The world is going through a massive initiation right now, on so many levels, and many different types of responses are needed. We can’t just hand over responsibility for solving the world’s challenges to the people ‘in power’.
When we recognise that everyone comes coded for leadership, we can all feel emboldened to step up to lead, in our own unique way.
We each have a particular genius or gift to offer the world, through who we are, our nature. We call it our Calling and our menstrual cycles help to awaken this new kind of service-based leadership.
Here are three ways your cycle (and your menopause process) are guiding you to activate this responsive, intimate, in-the-moment form of leadership within you:
One: Cycle awareness keeps you connected to yourself
When you’re consistently checking in with yourself — physically, emotionally, energetically, spiritually — you’re more able to stay in touch with your deep self. This enables you to hear the whispers of your Calling, and to develop the courage and confidence to step up and show yourself, on behalf of that which you feel called to serve.
Two: Your cycles help you to feel
Your menstrual cycle awareness (or conscious menopause) keeps you sensing and feeling. It awakens your animal nature and invites you to be in the ground of your body, alive to the fullness of the life force moving through you. This prevents you from becoming hard and armoured and allows you to stay awake to the world and be sensitive to all of life, which in turn inspires care, love and action for all Life. This is the ground of life-affirming leadership.
Three: The second half of the cycle keeps you humble
There are surprising ‘ego-deflation devices’ that live in the second half of the cycle, or as we call it, the via negativa. Though it can be profoundly challenging to face, this ego deflation wakes you up to your humanity. It keeps you humble, grounded, and connected to your vulnerability — the birthplace of authentic, healthy leadership.
In these times, we all have to recognise there is no hero that is going to save us. Each of us is wanted. You are needed, exactly as you are and we’re celebrating the unique forms of leadership that are blossoming from within you.
If you’re feeling called to work with your cycle to step into your next level of leadership, we invite you to join us for our next Menstruality Leadership Programme.
