In sharing her life story in abbreviated form at a technology conference, Goldie Hawn manifested what we have described as mindful leadership.
Goldie was participating in the final day of the conference which was devoted to how mindfulness practices can develop a person’s potential. She certainly epitomised what can happen when we grow in mindfulness.
At the age of 8, Goldie experienced a panic attack related to the fear of war with Russia. She experienced another severe panic attack following the 9/11 terrorist attack in New York. In between, Goldie had experienced the benefits of transcendental meditation to calm her body and mind.
It was through recalling the benefits of this mindful practice that she was able to regain her balance and display the resilience that was reflected in her life story.
Goldie set about understanding herself, her emotional reactions and her brain. She explored the most recent insights into brain functioning offered by neuroscience and came to understand herself better. She progressively grew in self-awareness and awareness of others.
Through increased self-awareness, she was able to learn self-management, both of which were enhanced by her mindful practices.
Through her own experience as a child and her growth in mindfulness, Goldie developed a very strong empathy for children suffering emotional stress, unhappiness and depression. She could strongly relate to how children were suffering through fear and anxiety and the pressures of modern life and study.
This empathy provided the motivation and a goal to work towards – world peace through developing mindfulness in children who will be future leaders. She wanted to equip children with an understanding of the mind, how it works and how to use the resources of the mind and mindfulness to manage pain and stress and develop strong self-esteem, joy and competence.
Goldie did not stop at feeling empathetic and formulating a motivating goal, in true compassion for the mental health of children she decided to act and draw on her own experience, her knowledge of mindfulness and neuroscience, her financial position and her visibility as an actress, to help children in schools. This active intent led to the formation of the Hart Foundation and the development of the MindUP program.
Goldie’s presentation at the technology conference was clear evidence of her communicating with insight. Her communication would surely inspire followers who were moved by her story, her passion and her results. They could see clear evidence of how mindfulness has helped her grow into the wonderful human being that she is.
Goldie Hawn’s life journey is a story of growth in mindful leadership – an achievement that is open to all of us as we grow in mindfulness through mindful practice.
By Ron Passfield – Copyright (Creative Commons license, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives)
Image source: courtesy of johnhain on Pixabay