Historically, we as human beings have needed to find strategies to survive—often by seeking answers and a sense of safety outside ourselves.
Today, we are increasingly living in a different era. In many parts of the world, it is no longer only about survival, but about truly living. We are not only striving to survive—we are striving to make conscious choices, live sustainably, and be true to ourselves.
The big existential questions are not new. People have always wondered: Why am I here? What am I doing here? What do I want from my life? The difference today is that these questions are mixed with a constant flow of impressions—like small pop-up windows appearing all the time. Social media and the world around us display beautiful shop windows of lifestyles, solutions to life’s big questions, and visions of possible success.
All of this can be true and inspiring. I do not question the shop windows. But the important question is: what is right for me?
To answer that, we need to ground ourselves. We need to return to the ability to listen inward, quiet the mind, and reconnect with the part of us that already knows. The conscious mind is only a small part of who we are—the rest consists of old programming, experiences, and ingrained patterns. If we do not pause, we risk living our lives on autopilot.
It is relatively easy to find inspiration for personal and leadership development through online channels. But I am not always sure that we truly want—or have the courage—to do the work with ourselves, with all that it entails.
Today, we can turn to everything from gurus, biohacking, coaches, therapists, meditation, supplements, yoga, astrology, tea, and mediums—there is an abundance of perspectives. All of them can have their place. At its core, personal leadership for me comes down to our two fundamental drivers: love or fear. The question I need to ask myself again and again is: do I lead myself from fear—driven by demands, control, and worry—or from love, curiosity, and care for myself and others, where I dare to be honest, present, and human?
Increased self-awareness can be reached in many ways, and often it is life itself that invites us into training journeys through what we experience. The personal leadership of the future does not always need to be complicated. It can begin with simple tools:
– pausing for a few minutes
– placing one hand on the heart and one on the stomach
– reminding yourself: “one step at a time, one thing at a time”
Here you can, for example, add a simple breathing exercise. Inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4. A few repetitions are enough. With this tool, you help your nervous system regulate itself and return to a calmer state, reconnecting with your wise heart and your brain—which, at its core, already knows.
Listening to our own inner wisdom, taking our feelings seriously, and speaking with people around us who have good intentions, share our values and foundations, and dare to be honest. I am convinced that it is in these kinds of conversations, and in that presence, that the personal leadership of the future takes shape.
For me, that is the essence of personal leadership in the future—to consciously choose how we want to live, lead, and contribute. And to remind ourselves that it is often the small, consistent steps that make the greatest difference over time.
Anne-Leé Holmberg
