Listening to Yourself

"Some people have a false impression of leadership," says Charlene Costanzo, author of The Twelve Gifts of Birth. "They think of it as someone who gets up in front of others and tells them what to do. But the people who have always inspired me most are those who seem to listen to their own inner guides, and who are being true to themselves. Those people lead by example. And they're more effective than those who are consciously trying to lead others.

"Being a leader is important, but you can never forget you are one with those whom you lead. My favorite example comes from nature. When geese fly in formation, there is always one goose who is at the head of the V. That lead bird is the one who faces the most resistance, and therefore tires fastest. But I recently learned that the geese take turns being in the lead position. When one bird tires, another bird moves into the head of the V. And all the birds behind continue to honk and honk, as if they were urging the leader on, saying, 'Go! Go! Go!'

"I believe we all have opportunities—and a responsibility—to take the leadership position once in a while. Sometimes we look at people in the news, people we perceive to be leaders, and we think, 'I couldn't do that.' Maybe you can't do exactly what that person has done. But we can all listen to our own inner guidance and find the unique abilities we have to make a difference in life. Often when we have big dreams, we say, 'Who am I to think I can do this? Why me?' The question really is, 'Why not me?'"