Healthy* leaders are able to live intensely. They're passionate about what they do. That's because they are able to experience the full range of their feelings - without any color blindness to any particular emotion.
At the same time, healthy leaders strongly believe in their ability to control (or at least affect) the events that impact their lives. They are able to take personal responsibilities; they are not always scapegoating or blaming other people for what goes wrong.
Healthy leaders don't easily lose control or resort to impulsive acts. They can work through their own anxieties and ambivalence. Healthy leaders are very talented in self-observation and self-analysis. Healthy leaders have the ability to deal with and work through the disappointments of life.
Very importantly, they have the capacity to establish and maintain relationships (including satisfactory sexual relationships). Their lives are in balance, and they can play. They are creative and inventive and have the capacity to be non-conformist. I would also hope that we can also accept a little madness in our lives because I happen to believe that those who accept the madness in themselves may be the healthiest leaders of all.
To quote George Bernard Shaw, "We want a few mad people now. See where the sane ones have landed us."
Creativity is at the heart of Prof. de Vries' speech, and this is what I invite all of us to do: create our own lives, filled with love, passion, and fulfilling work that develops not only our talents and skills, but our character.
Whether your glass has Prosecco, beer, or super sweet Texas iced tea, I invite you to conclude this exciting and challenging year by looking at the glass half full.
Start now on creating a prosperous 2011.
I also wish to take the opportunity to thank everyone for your readership and wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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*The content of this Newsletter is not intended to be medical advice.
