“The Spirit shall look out through matter’s gaze, and matter shall reveal the Spirit’s face.”

 

– Sri Aurobindo as cited in Murphy, 1971

Clues to purpose and passion, or ‘Spirit’, reside in our own bodies or “through matter’s gaze” according to Indian philosopher, poet and yogi Sri Aurobindo. Being engaged with our own passion and purpose – what lights us up- is the first step in being able to detect it in others. But these statements beg the questions: What does engagement look like? How can we systematically reveal the ‘Spirit’s face’ in others? How does the balance or imbalance in a person’s face reveal how connected they are to their higher self? Can we as a species consciously leverage our ability to see subtle distinctions in human and organizational systems to create a more balanced workplace? Or a more balanced world?

Peter Drucker said that “the first and foremost job as a leader is to take charge of your own energy and then to help orchestrate the energy of those around you” (as cited by Cooper, 1996). How do you take charge and orchestrate your own energy? The energy of others?