Mo Anam Cara: Soul Mates and Leadership

Many cultures have beliefs related to soul-mates. The oldest dates back more than 5,000 years to the legend of the Egyptian Gods Osiris and Isis. The Greek Philosopher Plato (c. 385–380 BC.) talked about how god took one soul and split it into two forms, that of a man and a woman. Similar stories exist in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. Rabbinical literature refers to the soul-mate as a Beshert and Hinduism speaks of the universal soul.

Why my sudden interest in soul-mates, well it is not really a sudden interest. Perhaps, it is the romantic in me, perhaps too many fairy tales, or perhaps it is the fact that I believe I have found my soul-mate... but my latest interest is a result of the fact that I have recently been introduced to the work of John O' Donahue, an Irish Poet and Philosopher. 

In his book, Anam Cara, he describes a Celtic Spiritual tradition.  

 It is believed that the soul radiates all about the physical body, what some refer to as an aura. When you connect with another person and become completely open and trusting with that individual, your two souls begin to flow together. Should such a deep bond be formed, it is said you have found your Anam Cara or soul friend.

Your Anam Cara always accepts you as you truly are, holding you in beauty and light. In order to appreciate this relationship, you must first recognize your own inner light and beauty. This is not always easy to do. The Celts believed that forming an Anam Cara friendship would help you to awaken your awareness of your own nature and experience the joys of others.

According to John O'Donahue, an accomplished Irish poet, philosopher and Catholic priest, "...You are joined in an ancient and eternal union with humanity that cuts across all barriers of time, convention, philosophy and definition. When you are blessed with an anam cara, the Irish believe, you have arrived at that most sacred place: home." 

Information taken from this cite: http://www.basaltheritage.org/anamcaradesigns.com/meaningofaramcara.html

So what do soul-mates (or an Anam Cara) have to do with leadership? Over the past year and half the recurring theme in my leadership training has focused on the one thing that can truly turnaround a school culture... RELATIONSHIPS.

Anam Cara is the supreme relationship. It is a relationship based on the ultimate trust and respect,  it is focused on bringing out the best in others by understand one's self. This type of relationship is only possible when one is self aware, understands who they are, and is ready to share that with others. It is a relationship in which "You are joined in an ancient and eternal union with humanity." 

Many leaders emotionally separate themselves from their employees, they maintain that "professional distance." But perhaps to truly transcend our current limits and to redefine how we will operate our schools in the future, leaders need to connect with the people that they work with, and they may need to connect on a level that is much more personal and relevant. Perhaps this kind of "union with humanity" is what is needed to turn around today's school, so we can truly "cut across all barriers" in order to help all our kids learn and grow to their full human potential.

This post is dedicated to my "Mo Anam Cara," my soul-mate, my best friend, and the one that always inspires me to see things differently.