Well-being = Wisdom + Autonomy

Well-being is a state of the inner life. It is the experience of satisfaction, connection, and clarity. For many, this experience is merely a fleeting feeling after a great accomplishment or a status purchase. But throughout time well-being has not been tied to tokens of success, but to the achievement of a resilient inner life. The pursuit of well-being historically was seen as the key purpose of life.?

Somewhere along the way, especially in the modern world,?purpose was confused with profitability.?When that happened, everything was commodified. Only things with utility were deemed important. Productivity became king and well-being was diminished. The result has been a culture of accomplishment where loneliness, petty addictions, and shallow relationships are the norm.?

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How does a leader cultivate well-being in a culture of achievement??

Well-being:?

Because well-being is against the flow of modern life, it will only be pursued if deeply wanted. Humans are largely driven by our desires. Therefore, the process of change is rooted in prioritizing one passion for another. For example, if I want to lose weight and also eat donuts, one of these desires must be dominant.?

The way towards success is to stoke the fire of the desire to lose weight so that the desire for donuts is reduced. Image boards, hanging out with fit friends, learning about the benefits of a healthy diet are all ways of encouraging desire. Seeking well-being takes a similar path.?

Action Item:?

Identify why you want well-being. Make the reason very clear and compelling. For me, I came to the realization after an abrupt end to a career. That experience gave me clarity that I needed internal resources to sustain me through turmoil. I needed an inner place of calm. That experience made the desire for well-being very tangible.?

Wisdom:?

Wisdom is proper guidance. It is the distilled insight of many people over time. The remarkable similarity of literature on what is right for human flourishing is astounding. Across time, cultures, and class the core tenets of wisdom remain consistent:?

• Wisdom is a lifelong pursuit?
• Wisdom has a spiritual element?
• Wisdom is an ancient path?
• Wisdom produces creativity, curiosity, and perspective?
• Wisdom fosters magnanimity?
• Wisdom perceives the unity?behind difference?

Action Item:?

Write your own personal decalogue. What are the ten pieces of wisdom that you’ve found to be true and that are bedrock to your life??

Autonomy:?

Autonomy?stems from two Greek roots, autos (“self”) and nomos (“rule”).?Autonomy commonly is understood to be extreme individuality. The popularity of the “Don't tread on me” flag points to this way of interpreting autonomy.?

However, autonomy as a component of well-being is more than self-expression.?It is taking responsibility for actions and living in line with intrinsic values. Autonomy is not a bumper sticker, it is?a set of skills and attitudes. These skills include the ability to reason, to appreciate different points of view, and to dialogue with others. In order to do these things, the autonomous person must have a sense of self-worth and self-respect.?

Action Item:?

Make a list of the things for which you are responsible.?Then. make a list of things for which you are NOT responsible.?How do you confuse those lists? What happens when you do??

Summary:?

Well-being is achieved through seeking wisdom and respecting autonomy.?