We must shake a bad habit of the 20th Century that has followed some into the 21st; handing out the title of leader too freely. 21st Century followers are also collaborators as leaders move from judgment to understanding. 21st Century followers are disappointed when we make leadership too easy and base it on title, position, political authority, etc. This superficial assignment perpetuates the old confidence.
The old confidence is tricky. The old confidence is an avatar of the ego. A leader victimized by the superficial assignment is someone who is not conscious of her own values. There is the need for approval from others. Respect is conditional on meeting selfish standards. Life happens to this person. There is a fear of failure.
The ego is being fed; there is a desperate need to control. It is all about “me” – a focus on others is contingent on what I want. Fear keeps the mind focused on the future. Confidence is seen only as a power within too easily tying action to misguided, misunderstood feelings. And maybe most tragically, she judges others as harshly as she judges herself.
An old confidence cannot feel the pull of desire or hear the voice of a larger purpose. The voice of a larger purpose speaks to us through our core where our deepest of values live. If, due to the grip of an ego-driven old confidence, we are not conscious of these purpose giving values, we are deaf to the call of a new confidence.
