Attribute #4: Embodying Completeness

Explanation: Being complete creates a sense of fulfillment, wholeness, and balance in various aspects of life. Enlightening Leaders live their lives completely. They are committed to unburdening themselves from their past, healing old wounds, and making amends.

“When you realize nothing is lacking, the whole world belongs to you.” -Lao Tzu:

Being complete is a dynamic and ongoing process, where continual self-reflection, growth, and relational effectiveness are key. Holding onto disappointments, regrets and resentments with people and circumstances leads to patterns repeating themselves, negatively impacting our leadership, effectiveness, and satisfaction.

Difference from Traditional Orthodoxy: The idea of being complete is not commonly known and understood. In a world often characterized by fragmentation and discord, leaders are burdened with old wounds and incompletions from the past, both personally and professionally.

At work, we move from one project to another whether or not we are complete with what we did or didn’t accomplish, leaving us with a feeling of incompleteness, even if we successfully finished the project.

Key Question: Who or what in your life leaves you feeling incomplete, and how does this impact your daily experience as a leader?

Practical Application: Make a list of who and what you are incomplete with and identify specific actions you could take to be complete, which could include what needs to be finished.

Becoming complete includes not having direct access to an individual or circumstances.

If you are incomplete with someone who has passed, a former position you had, or a person you are no longer in contact with you can still take actions to empower you to be complete. For example, you could write a letter to someone deceased to say what you need to say from your heart, including possibly asking for forgiveness.