Personal growth is an important component in the continual process of developing knowledge and wisdom to expand one’s capabilities.

It is also important to be aware of the calling when inner leadership overshadows personal growth.

What is inner leadership?

Inner leadership harnesses personal growth through inner wisdom to regulate emotions and be authentic to one’s values. It is a dedicated focus of awareness for our intentions in the process.

The connected importance of both

Personal growth is usually focused on becoming better in some way, improving, or developing something that contributes to our overall well-being.

Inner leadership takes these valuable learnings and transforms them into actionable guidance. The learnings are used as tools to help regulate emotions and behaviours. There is a prioritized consideration for “being” the chosen intentions with a commitment to integrity.

The personal growth loop

The experience of continual improvement, combined with the feeling of growth, can become an obstacle to accessing our true potential. A personal growth loop begins to form because it becomes the only main strategic choice we are familiar with.

However, when we feel the need to constantly “fix” ourselves, the focus shifts away from the purpose of what we want to improve. Fixing is the narrative the ego suggests is important because of the feelings of not being good enough. There may be an absence of self-trust to lead ourselves through the challenges. What this means is that we are not able to manage our ego’s needs effectively.

The personal growth loop continues because we are continually trying to prove our worth and validate to ourselves and others that we are good enough and worthy.

The calling for inner leadership

In times of challenges, the focus might shift from personal growth and the “needing” to be better, to answering the call of inner leadership. Self-regulation may be more important for calmness in the moment while trusting the decisions being made in that emotional state.

When the desire to lead with authenticity becomes an important choice in the process, honesty and compassion help someone let go of the attachment to outcomes. In those moments, emotional intelligence is allowed to guide the experience.

Living our core values gives direction through resilience rather than reacting to external distractions.

External distractions, such as panic, anger, or people-pleasing, are instances when reactions control our decisions.

Sometimes we feel that our achievements no longer hold the same purpose that supported our inner security. We begin to question who we really are without the accomplishments and achievements. It no longer feels safe to operate in that way.

Another thought is, if we are constantly striving to be a “better version” of ourselves, where does gratitude get lost in appreciating the person we are now?

Most often, it is fueled by comparison, perfectionism, and the need for validation.

Inner leadership ensures that performed actions are inspired by value-driven, aligned intentions.

Inner leadership in your life

Inner leadership starts by asking, “Who is leading my inner world right now?”

The answer to that question initiates awareness. In that awareness is the opportunity to choose clear intentions for how you would like to lead yourself.

It is a practice that focuses on emotional regulation. A trust in our inner wisdom to guide us during stress without the reactionary dialogue that is conditioned for our inner safety.

Allowing our values compass to lead with aligned authority to our actions.

Inner leadership is a shared partnership with personal growth. To lead ourselves effectively, it is essential to understand ourselves and develop our inner resources through personal growth resources.

Being an effective inner leader means taking responsibility by being a valuable, giving contributor to the shared human experience.

Inner leadership is an invitation to act upon the full potential that already resides within.