Each month (or thereabouts), we share insights, reflection questions, quotes, and book recommendations on a key theme, as well as update you on new experiences in our community.

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Welcome. The theme for this month is War and Peace.

Arguably one of the greatest literary minds in recent history, Leo Tolstoy, titled his epic work War and Peace. This is my book recommendation for this newsletter. 

In it, his exploration of the human condition -perceptive, vulnerable, and susceptible to being moved by forces outside himself – is revealed through a variety of personalities, characters, and souls. 

In War and Peace, Tolstoy invites reflection on what we can and cannot author as individuals swept by unconscious and conscious collective currents, as he explores the deeper meaning of existence. 

I grew up with stories of World War II, most impressively those of my grandmother’s extraordinary story, escaping death and capture, years in hiding, and her subsequent life rebuilt.  What most struck me was her ability to live in such an open-hearted and open-minded way after the death of her parents and other loved ones in concentration camps and witnessing unspeakable horrors. 

Finding peace in forgiveness, in the appreciation of everyday beauty, in the intact humanity of her own heart was and is an inspiration to me.  

Among other privileges, I have largely taken relative peace for granted. My home country, Australia, a safe harbour to return to from more daring world adventures.  

And yet, like all of us, I have experienced the challenges of relating. Betrayal, misunderstanding, worldview clashes, and political manoeuvres are consequences of living in the world and are further exacerbated by having a presence and a voice.

What is worth fighting for? 

War is in the psyche, and most humans are fighting some kind of battle most days, often without being aware of what they are really fighting for or defending. 

In times of outward peace, people fight to protect their ego, their insecurities, and their points of view. Occasionally, this expands to an identity group, the marginalised or oppressed, an ideal, a position in the market, economic or political philosophy, a forest or someone’s dignity. 

Many of these battles are unconscious and driven by evolutionary impulses to belong and be secure. At times, we consciously evaluate what is worth fighting for and take a principled stand. 

Often, we dress up our security needs in the language of principle as a more sophisticated ego defence against that which threatens it. 

As long as we defend our own ego or ideology, we are closed to experiencing a higher principle or virtue, thereby perpetuating the conditions that give rise to further battlegrounds. 

While it can be argued that fighting for something is worthwhile, to do so soulfully, we first need to fight and win the small yet profound personal battles we face daily. 

These are battles with: 

• Our defence mechanisms
• Fear or paranoia
• Worry about what others think
• Righteousness or ego seeking glory and praise
•  Attachments that keep us small
• Greed and avarice

In learning to work with these elements of our psyche, the greatest weapons are truthful observation, love, forgiveness, and the embodiment of soul qualities. We teach this as a meaningful, ongoing and joyful process of liberation in The Academy.

It seems to me that with the pace of technological and social change, winning these small battles becomes ever-more important. 

Wisdom and heart are needed to traverse the changing waters we find ourselves in. To lead and self-author a path through these times is the ultimate evidence of mastery. Some small but meaningful moves towards this might look like: 

• Pausing to reflect before jumping on a trend or following a blind instinct
• Holding our families and communities steady, in soulful values, when our attention is constantly competed for by technology and other distractions
• Finding stillness in so much movement.

This is our focus at the New Millennium Leader Academy. To help you find your unyielding centre, to determine what you will stand for and not falter. To allow you to live in and from the strength of love. 

Peace is not the absence of war; it is alignment with the indwelling nature of the soul, illuminated by truth, love, and compassion. 

As the world descends further into war, we need leaders illuminated by peace to guide us. 

The work begins within and is most often revealed through relationships, particularly those that cause tension or conflict. 

Generative Questions to expand and explore

• What do you notice yourself battling and why?
• What defences might you need to surrender to win the battle of your own heart and soul?
• What are the vulnerabilities in you that others or systems may exploit? How can you take back ground?
• What is worth fighting for and how?
• How and why are you violent towards yourself and others?
• How might you nurture the peace inside you?

Quotes on our theme: War and Peace

“We can know only that we know nothing. And that is the highest degree of human wisdom” – Leo Tolstoy, from War and Peace

“War will stop when we no longer praise it or give it any attention at all. Peace will come wherever it is sincerely invited” – Alice Walker

“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace” – Jimi Hendrix

“If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there’d be peace” – John Lennon

Book Recommendation on this theme

🕊️ War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

For more inspiration, you can find previous newsletters here.

For soulful reflection you can download my very popular annual New Year Reflection Journal.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

Would you like to learn more about the New Millennium Leader Academy?

Join our upcoming masterclass on March 31st by clicking on the image below.

If you haven’t read Leadership for the New Millennium yet this is your cue – it is available in paperback, e-book, and audiobook.

I would love to hear your thoughts or reflections on this newsletter at alison@alisoncameron.com.