Word of the Month: LEADERSHIP

As the Winter Solstice approaches, I am often brought back to my ancestors, who saw this annual procession of our planet around the sun as sacred. Every one of our ancestors marked the moment when the shortest day of the year arrives and the light returns to the earth. It draws us to reflect on the interconnected way they viewed their world. I invite you to take a moment to reflect on this interconnection as I tell the story of?Wayfinding Leadership—a way of being that transcends strategy and becomes a guiding force for life itself. Our ancestors, the Wayfinders, offer profound lessons for leaders stepping into their roles in the new year.

These navigators traversed vast oceans, snow-covered lands, and desert dunes without compasses or maps. Instead, they relied on an intimate relationship with the celestial ballet—the sun, stars, winds, and tides—attuning themselves to the natural world's rhythms. Their ability to align with these forces, adapt gracefully, and move with intentionality exemplifies the leadership our time demands: one grounded in wisdom, resilience, and a connection to something greater than ourselves.

?The Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year, is not merely a marker of time but a crucible of transformation—a moment to sit with the shadows and acknowledge our pain and challenges. It calls us to pause and reflect on what it truly means to lead in times of uncertainty. Like the Wayfinders, we are reminded that even in the deepest darkness, the stars remain steadfast, offering guidance and hope. To lead as a Wayfinder is to embrace this wisdom, to navigate ambiguity with clarity, and to commit to a path of connection, collective healing, and shared purpose. Wayfinding Leaders honor the Solstice as a time for a sacred pause and to reimagine leadership as a journey of aligning with our values, charting a course toward a brighter future, and guiding others with courage and grace through the complexities of the world.

This sacred journey for Wayfinders requires alignment—alignment with three fundamental principles:

?Aloha Akua: Love and connection to the divine. When we anchor ourselves in a relationship with the divine, however, we understand it, we access a source of strength and guidance that transcends our limitations. This connection grounds us in purpose, reminding us of the interconnectedness of all life.

Aloha 'āina: Love and connection to the land. Just as Wayfinders read the rhythms of the ocean and sky, we, too, must attune ourselves to the land and place we inhabit. Our relationship with the land reflects our stewardship of the world, and we find balance and harmony that sustain us in caring for it.

Aloha Kānaka: Love and connection to our fellow human beings. When we align with the divine and the land, we can truly open our hearts to one another. This principle calls us to lead with empathy, compassion, and respect, ensuring our relationships are guided by mutual care and understanding.

?Without this alignment, we risk losing our way. Like a compass that has lost its true north, our leadership becomes erratic, our communities drift apart, and our ability to navigate the complexities of ambiguity and change weakens. But when we align with these principles, we restore our sense of direction and purpose, finding the courage to move through uncertainty with clarity and grace.

?In these times of change and complexity, Wayfinding Leadership becomes not just a method but a way of being. It calls for a redefinition of resilience—not merely the ability to bounce back after adversity but the capacity to maintain balance, composure, and adaptability amidst ongoing challenges. This deeper resilience, as defined by the Institute of HeartMath (IHM, emphasizes the ability to navigate the storms of life with emotional regulation, clarity, and purpose. It requires us to move beyond reactive survival and into intentional living, where stress is not a force that derails us but a signal that invites us to align more deeply with our inner strength. In this sense, resilience transforms leadership into a practice of grounded responsiveness, ensuring that we act from a place of clarity and stability rather than confusion or overwhelm.

True Wayfinding Leadership attunes us to external signals—the shifting winds of change—and the inner compass that anchors us to our core values. It is a call to engage emotional intelligence to shift perspectives, see opportunities within obstacles, and create space for connection even amid uncertainty. By embracing ambiguity with courage and grace, we open pathways toward healing—not only for ourselves but for the relationships and communities we nurture. This way of leading becomes a bridge, guiding us through the complexities of our world while fostering a more profound sense of belonging, harmony, and shared purpose. In this way, Wayfinding Leadership is not simply about navigating the unknown; it is about transforming challenges into opportunities for growth and reconnection.?

May we move into the Solstice and the new year with hearts open to Aloha Akua, rooted in Aloha 'āina, and committed to embodying Aloha Kānaka. Let us navigate this shared journey together, lighting the way for one another and generations to come, with reverence for the rhythms of the season and the leadership required to navigate the uncharted.

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Ke makemake nei ?oe a me kāu kau ho?omaha maika?i!!

(Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season!!)

?Dr. G

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dr. Gerry Ebalaroza-Tunnell is the Principal Consultant and CEO of Co3 Consulting: Co-Creating Cohesive Communities. Co3 Consulting is based on the foundation of ALOHA and utilizes a unique blend of Indigenous philosophies and Western methods to work through decolonial healing processes. She is the author of the two-time award children’s book Let’s Live ALOHA.

Dr. Gerry Ebalaroza-Tunnell (she/her/wahine) identifies as an Indigenous scholar born and raised on the island of O’ahu, Hawaii, and has over 20 years of experience working in public, private, and non-profit sectors with a focus on social justice, community organizing, and leadership development. Dr. G earned her doctorate in Transformative Studies and Consciousness from the California Institute of Integral Studies and her master’s in Whole Systems Design from Antioch University, Seattle. She has been a HeartMath Certified Trainer since 2014. You can learn more about her work at www.Co3Consulting.net and www.EvolutionOfAloha.com