What does heart-centered leadership mean?  I discovered 5 insights while on a recent outing on the river with friends.

A group of my closest friends ventured on a tubing trip on the Shenandoah River as a Birthday celebration for our friend Linda.  It was a picturesque day with low humidity, big fluffy clouds and a cool breeze.  It was a perfect day to take a leisurely ride down the slow, calm river.  The company advertisement stated this was a great event for 18 to 30 year olds looking for a relaxing ride.  Our group consisted of eight women between the ages of the mid 40’s to late 50’s.  It felt great to do something so youthful!  It didn’t faze us a bit when all the individuals doing the event along with us were a good 20 to 30 years younger, because each of us believes fun, challenging activity and self-care are essential for growing agelessly older.

We were energized for our fun day celebrating our friend!  We rented our “luxury” tubes; equipped with a bottom, back rest, and essential drink holder, closely watched our safety video, and rode the crowded bus to our drop off point for entering the river.  It was a day to let go of any professional expectations, and just go with the flow of the river and life.

When first entering the water, we got separated as the river briskly took us down-stream, but with paddling aggressively and the birthday girl jumping in the shallow water to pull us all together, we reconnected and formed a “tube circle” and our party began as we floated down river together.  The fun began with a burping contest, and then synchronized “tube” dancing!  It was liberating to be in this group of accepting women.  I found it so easy to let my guard down and be completely silly and open to what life and the river had to offer.  We relaxed, laughed, told stories, and enjoyed the beautiful scenery as we purposefully guided our “tube-circle” around the obstacles on the river.

At one point, we floated by a huge group of younger individuals and encouraged them to join us in a rendition of “Happy Birthday” to our friend Linda.  We had the whole river singing with us!  Along the way we encountered Lor-I. (We called her that since we already had a Lori in our group and wanted everyone to have a unique identity.)  She had gotten separated from her friends and was isolated on the river.  We invited her to join us for a while and join in the fun.  After enjoying some great conversation and a cool beverage she decided to make the “effort” to catch up with her friends and we all said our “good-byes.”

A little further down river we slowly moved past another individual who appeared lifeless in his tube.  Our Lori, noticed she had dropped something in the water and got out of her tube to walk back to retrieve it, she decided to investigate the lifeless individual and nudged him to make sure he was ok.  He was only sleeping but realized he also had been separated from his group.  So again we invited this isolated individual named Chris to join our group.  Chris, appeared to be an unlikely pairing for our group, since he was only 28 and was covered in tattoos.  Some of us felt apprehensive not knowing what to expect.  Soon, we discovered he was a soft hearted soul venturing on a new path in life.  He confessed with tear filled eyes that he was a veteran and found himself lost in life; drinking and drugging way too much.  He decided to turn his life around and follow his heart; starting a landscaping business and a “Not for profit” company for disabled veterans who needed simple toiletries and groceries when being released from the hospital.  The whole group felt touched and inspired by this man’s story and courage to make his dream come true.

Our group came to our exit point in the river and said “so long” to Chris, our new found friend and inspiration.  We ended our trip on the river with great laughs as our birthday girl, Linda received hugs from a 26 year old hunk, name Hollywood.  The celebration continued with dinner, gifts, and lots of laughs from our trip on the river.

Reflecting back on this amazing day, I can’t help but to think how this short 2 hour trip on the river is a perfect “snap shot” of what life could be like if we allowed ourselves to live everyday being led by our heart.

A few principles to consider;

1. Move for Fun.  By choosing to engage in fun and enjoyable activities it increases our energy and our body’s ability to stay strong and more resilient to stress which may lead to a high quality, long and ageless life doing the things we love.
2. Stay Connected.  Our group had a great time because each person made the effort to stay connected floating down the river in our “tube circle.”  When we choose to stay connected to loving, supportive individuals in life it makes for a much more enjoyable journey.
3. Live Authentically without Judgment.  We attract what we live!  It is a true blessing to have friends who are “real” and offer no judgment.  This created an environment for everyone we encountered to feel safe and permission to be genuine.  Authenticity is a chicken or the egg scenario; by being authentic we attract individuals who truly accept us for who we really are, and it gives them the freedom to be just as “real.”  This creates an environment to live without fear of rejection and a greater confidence to live boldly for what matters most.
4. Be Open. The strangers we met and included in our “circle” became new friends.  When we remain open to truly know more about the people we meet along our journey we may discover opportunities that may have been missed such a finding a new friend, offering encouragement to someone who has lost their way, and may even find ourselves the one who is inspired. The individuals we meet may be in our life for a moment, a season, or a lifetime, but trust that each encounter, no matter how long, has a greater purpose.
5. Lead From Your Heart!  Our intention for the day was to celebrate our friend, to have fun; and to share love.  By starting the day with this intention, it seemed that each encounter seemed effortless and rewarding; not only did we share love but our “circle” of love expanded as we received much more love as well.

It was truly one of the most memorable, fulfilling days in my life.  It was a day of true joy and gratitude that keeps on giving every time I think about the events of that day.  It makes me wonder, what life would be like, if I pursued each day letting my heart lead on the river of life.

Do you have a similar experience?  We would love for you to share it with our community along with any thoughts you may have on how you will make leading from your heart a daily a habit.

Please join Wholistic Woman Retreats for our Fall Retreat where you learn more principles on how to “Lead From The Heart!”  Click Here for more information

Today’s author: Sandie Lynch MS, RDN, LDN, Registered Dietitian, Personal Trainer, Personal Development Coach and CEO of ATP Consultants, LLC.   Sandie provides private coaching and group fitness classes sharing 5 Principles to Attain Top Performance in living your best life at any age!

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