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The power of knowing one’s mission

The power of knowing one’s mission

Knowing one’s personal mission is incredibly empowering. Having a clear understanding of one’s purpose in life can provide direction, motivation, and satisfaction. It allows for us to prioritize the actions that will bring us closer to our desired outcome, while steering clear of those that do not align with our core values.

This self-awareness can also help us recognize our unique gifts and talents, which can be used to make a positive impact on the world and our organizations. By identifying what it is we are meant to do, we can utilize our skills to reach goals and make a difference in each other’s lives.

Mark 1:29-39. He cured…

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-011: JANUARY 11, 2023]

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The truth itself is powerful

The truth itself is powerful

The truth itself is a powerful thing. We often think of it as something that should be sought after and protected. But in a world where fake news and social media are increasingly being used to advance propaganda, it can be hard to separate the truth from fiction.

We’re surrounded by information that is not always reliable, half-truths, or completely false. It’s easy for us to be misled by the deluge of information we receive every day since it is inconvenient or downright difficult to always verify the accuracy of information we receive.

Despite this challenging landscape, truth in itself is still powerful. As long as we embrace humanity’s innate predisposition to be curious, we can cut through the noise and reveal what is real and genuine. If the gospel for today holds some form of solace, even the unclean spirits submit to the power of the Truth.

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Mark 1:21-28. “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.”

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-010: JANUARY 10, 2023]

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To lead is to let be

To lead is to let be

Leaders are often seen as the “face” of an organization. Systems theory would suggest that leaders take on strategic and external sensing functions – serving as the “minds” of the organization.

The funny thing with “minds” is that without other body parts, nothing can get done. The totality of an entity is indeed greater than the sum of its parts, and this can happen when the minds and leaders let others play the roles they need to play.

Perhaps the most inspiring cases of leadership are less about the superstars who carried their teammates and more about the coaches who maximized the team, the conductor who orchestrated the band, and the teacher who let students be the best version of themselves.

Matthew 3:13-17. “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?”

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-009: JANUARY 9, 2023]

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Facilitating epiphanies

Facilitating epiphanies

One fascinating assertion of Lonergan about the insight experience is that it is more about one’s internal conditions and less about external stimuli. This is akin to detective stories where the clues are right there in front of us but we do not acquire an insight about the dilemma.

Epiphanies do seem like elusive graces, but it does not mean we stop from inquiring or seeking answers.

The calm and the mundane after a seemingly fruitless inquiry may be the time when we are letting our inside conditions incubate ideas and facilitate insights.

Matthew 2:1-12. The epiphany

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-008: JANUARY 8, 2023]

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Authentic obedience is less about compliance and more about respect

Authentic obedience is less about compliance and more about respect

Obedience is not necessarily about relinquishing one’s power in other to fully submit to another. If we are to frame obedience as an outcome of authentic reflection, obedience is more about showing respect and faith towards another that is parallel to how Jesus obeyed His mother during the wedding at Cana.

This passage can serve as a reminder for all of us to show respect and obedience in our own relationships, whether it be with our parents, our elders, or those in positions of authority. This does not mean blindly following without question, but rather, it involves seeking to understand and honor the perspectives and experiences of others. We concur and defer to someone who we respect and believe possesses good intentions and virtues.

It is a dance – balancing between respecting the wisdom of those who have gone before us and being open to new ways of doing things that can bring about positive change.

John 2:1-11. The wedding at Cana

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-007: JANUARY 7, 2023]

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To let others flourish is to flourish with them

To let others flourish is to flourish with them

By letting others flourish, we also create the conditions for our own flourishing as well.

For every lesson that our mentees learn, we become more knowledgeable.

For every opportunities we share with our loved ones, we become wiser.

Recognizing the potential in others is a step closer to realizing our own potential.

Mark 1:7-11. “One mightier than I is coming after me.”

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-006: JANUARY 6, 2023]

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When a stone creates a ripple

When a stone creates a ripple

A stone does not need much force to create ripples; it merely needs to have courage, take a leap of faith, and be part of a body of water.

Isn’t this the kind of leadership we need? It’s not necessarily about charisma or pizzazz, but a leader’s willingness to be vulnerable and to be one with their team.

John 1:43-51. “Follow me.”

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-005: JANUARY 5, 2023]

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What do you seek?

What do you seek?

Oftentimes, when I talk with my students, especially those just starting their careers, their response to this question is a combination of compensation, growth opportunities, and a novel experience.

But what is striking is that the well-being pattern of these same people is that their satisfaction is most correlated with their sense of spiritual development.

At the very least, a sense of transcendent meaning and purpose.

The tricky thing with meaning is that it is highly subjective yet cannot be forced nor conjured out of thin air; one must undergo their journey to decipher how one can create and co-create meaning in a world that sometimes feels absurd.

I’ve asked this question to myself many times in the previous months. Maybe the most concise answer I can give is that I seek an integrally developed life, a context filled with infinite opportunities to flourish with like-minded and like-hearted people.

And a sign could be a sense of peace which is different from a sense of complacency.

Complacency feels like being stuck on shallow waters, but peace feels like a voyage on a grand ocean with comrades and loved ones.

John 1:35-42. “What do you seek?”

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-004: JANUARY 4, 2023]

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How should assisting GOATs feel like?

How should assisting GOATs feel like?

For those familiar with sports talk, fans and the media always talk about GOATs or athletes who are the “greatest of all time”. This is an extremely high honor and there is sense for players to aspire being the GOAT of their sport.

But in a podcast hosted by NBA player JJ Redick, he interviewed former Laker and champion Alex Caruso, a fan favorite role player when the LA Lakers won the championship during the NBA bubble in 2020. Caruso mentioned that for NBA players to flourish, they need to learn their roles. They can be the star of their high school team, but when it comes to the NBA, their talents might be best framed as assisting the best players or those with GOAT potential.

It is always a struggle finding that balance – when do we concede that certain things are beyond our scope, and when do we dare to break our initially perceived limits? There is no easy answer, except to be very self-aware. Maybe it is somewhere between being intimately aware of our flaws while projecting an authentic kind of confidence born from arduous preparation.

Whether the context calls for us to assist GOATs or if we are fortunate to be considered having GOAT potential ourselves, it should feel like we are always better today than yesterday.

John 1:29-34. The testimony of John the Baptist

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-003: JANUARY 3, 2023]

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If we know our scope, we can exceed our limits

If we know our scope, we can exceed our limits

The gospel of today provides an interesting story of how Jesus was identified by John the Baptist. This speaks of the importance of knowing ourselves, our limitations, and those who are better than us.

What stands out to me is the admirable self-awareness of John the Baptist. Imagine: what kind of man would you have to be when you know that you have the power and influence to fool others into believing that you are a god, but you choose to stay true to yourself and acknowledge your role? This is an admirable example of humility, of understanding who you are and your place in the world.

Maybe the lesson is that trying to stretch ourselves beyond our purpose’s intended scope might look like we are growing at first, but in reality, it might hinder us and people around us from having the appropriate space to flourish. We need to discern and arrive at a conviction of what our niche really is and where we are called to serve.

When we know our scope, we can flourish beyond our perceived limitations.

John 1:19-28. John the Forerunner

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-002: JANUARY 2, 2023]

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