CEO's and the Elite Are Wounded, too
Amber Ontiveros
| Author | Mentor | Ally: Transforming Executives Beyond Imposter Syndrome into Confident Leaders
Let's dive into the heart of what we’ll be exploring in this newsletter:
These four woundings are not exclusive to people of color or the middle class. The Elite are impacted by these trauma wounds as well.
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Unpacking the Anger against the “Elite”
?The rising anger directed towards the "Elite" in recent news reflects a deep-seated resentment over their control of coveted resources. Despite this resentment, there's a recognition that society relies on their pivotal economic role, even when they receive bailouts amid inequality debates. This paradoxical reaction boils down to a cognitive bias known as self-serving bias, where blame is externalized for negative outcomes while personal virtues are exaggerated.
Why has the discussion resulted in anger, protests, and hate? It’s all in our head. Literally. The neuroscientists call it the self-serving bias – we attribute bad things to someone else and good to ourselves. The problem is the brain is NOT always correct. The distortions blind us:
·?????? Perspective one: A CEO fires two people then posts a teary eyed selfie on LinkedIn. He expresses his sadness for being forced to lay off an employee. His bias, driven by his emotional wounds, prevented him from acknowledging that he had failed to properly assess financial risks earlier. Furthermore, he was unable to recognize that his self-worth does not diminish due to the necessity of laying off staff. His tears stem from a fear that his imperfections will tarnish his sense of worthiness.
·?????? Perspective two: The individuals who were laid off would likely be angry, but their perspective is also informed by the Four Woundings. These individuals are left asking the same question about their worthiness.
Both the CEO and the individual who was laid off are fighting to overcome the same feelings of inadequacy, just coming at it from different directions. These thoughts of unworthiness are not real thoughts. They are conditioned unconscious thoughts that are perpetuated by our self-serving bias and perpetuated by feelings of inadequacy and the four woundings.
These pervasive feelings of inadequacy are not factual assessments but rather conditioned responses, perpetuated by our biases and underlying emotional wounds.
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Talking About Oppression in a Different Light
It is critical to reframe our discussion on oppression. If the root cause lies in our brains, which can be affected by trauma, we must adopt a healing approach to address and heal the Reticular Activation System.
The root cause is the brain, the unconscious limiting thought loops that often result from trauma.
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Elites Brains Need Healing, too
Guess what – elites’ brains are biased too. Our brain applies a self-serving bias to your experiences without you even knowing it.
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But here’s a crazy idea: what if we can change the beliefs that results in our behaviors? By exploring our consciousness, we can begin to understand our old thought patterns so we can heal them.
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To fix the problem you need to understand the depth of the pain.
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The Reticular Activation System Unveiled
The Reticular Activation System (RAS) serves as a crucial filter in our brains, determining what information gets our attention and shapes our perception of reality. This neural network operates behind the scenes, sifting through the myriad stimuli bombarding us daily to prioritize what is deemed relevant based on our beliefs, emotions, and past experiences. Essentially, the RAS acts as a selective gateway, amplifying inputs that align with our existing biases and filtering out those that do not. This selective mechanism not only influences our conscious awareness but also plays a pivotal role in reinforcing cognitive biases and shaping our responses to the world around us. Understanding how the RAS operates can shed light on why certain beliefs persist, why we react the way we do to specific triggers, and how deeply ingrained patterns of thinking and behavior can be perpetuated over time. When someone rages against the Elites, it's because deep down, there are wounds talking and negative trauma is amplified and applied to the present moment experience via:
5.???? Automatic Responses - It can lead to automatic physiological responses (e.g., fight-or-flight) triggered by perceived threats, regardless of actual danger, based on past trauma associations.
6.???? Difficulty in Cognitive Processing - Trauma can impair cognitive processing and decision-making by dominating attention through the RAS, hindering rational assessment and response.
Understanding these mechanisms can help in developing strategies to mitigate the impact of trauma on daily life and promote healing and resilience.
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Executives Need Healing to Reduce Suboptimal Outcomes
If you're facing the challenges of executive responsibilities amid issues like anger, hostility, and toxic workplace dynamics, I encourage you to delve into "Heal the Four Woundings." This book and its accompanying resources offer a path toward healing and transformation. Addressing these trauma wounds is crucial not only for improving workplace dynamics but also for enhancing personal relationships. Ignoring these issues can adversely impact your risk assessment abilities, as fear may cloud your judgment and lead to suboptimal outcomes.
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Heart-Based Tools for Transformation
As always, with love and gratitude, Amber