Before going to bed last night, however, a terrific article by Yoga Journal reminded me that gratitude doesn’t just roll around one season a year; it is a practice for living fully every day. With just a little care and attention, gratitude can be cultivated as an abundant way of being and operating. See for yourself. Try one or two of these gratitude-boosting exercises from the New York Times to deepen your relationship with a life partner, turn a negative situation into a positive one, or build a more productive team.

Out of pure thanks, do a kind act for someone else and watch the ripple effect. You’ll find out that gratitude is contagious. Your kindness will likely kick off a pay-it-forward kindness from someone else. And you benefit, too, from a bone-deep sense of happiness and optimism that gratitude— when done as a sincere act of blessing— always brings more of the same.

At the same time you enjoy that slice of pumpkin pie this holiday season, help yourself to a serving of gratitude. You just may find gratitude has the richer reward.

Photo by tonydolor

The three parts go together – you must do them all. First, BE REALISTIC. Study and understand what is. Know that your contribution alone may not turn the tide and that the tide may not turn for a long time. Second, BE HOPEFUL. Hold a vision that things can and will change for the better. Picture a time when the change you want has already happened. Third, DO WHAT YOU CAN. Do everything possible that is within your domain to make a difference, no matter how big or small. Act in service to the change you seek.

Let’s take a specific situation to see this in action. After a visit to my daughter last month in Chile, it seems unavoidable for me to choose air quality. The capital city of Santiago is often listed as one of the ten cities with the worst air. When I was there, the government issued one of its pre-emergency edicts— limiting automobiles on the road. When 7.2 million people live in a basin between the Chilean Coastal Range and the Andes, it is tough to avoid pollution.

Over the last century, wise governmental leaders saw what was happening as the city developed. They were realistic about the impact of growth and were hopeful about the positive impact of public transportation. The Santiago Metro was completed in the ’70s and an upgrade of the bus fleet was finished last year. Today, many citizens of Santiago use public transportation every day. A public health alert system was created. Some residents now wear masks to protect themselves. These actions did not eliminate the pollution problem. But they ARE making a difference. Santiago’s leaders and its citizens are making a difference for themselves and their community.

Halfway around the world in the Philippines, another realistic and hopeful—and very creative—approach to air pollution has taken shape. The Coca-Cola Company partnered with the World Wildlife Foundation to create a living, breathing advertisement. This 60 foot tall billboard is composed of recycled Coca-Cola bottles growing tea plants. The installation is expected to annually remove “46,800 pounds of carbon dioxide from the city’s air.” I call this an innovative application of the Triad of Irreducible Complexity—and a successful bid to make a difference.

In my work, I have used the Triad of Irreducible Complexity to develop appropriate interventions for clients, to regulate my emotions in highly charged situations, and to organize my own time:

How could you apply it in your work and your life?

Photos by jistk and bevwire

In my coursework, I have been continually asked to reflect on what it means to be a “holistic leader.” It wasn’t until working on my senior honors thesis—and reading George Lakoff’s The Political Mind—that I discovered that holistic leadership can really be described within a single value: empathy. Lakoff supposes that empathy creates the ties that bind society together, encouraging the development of a progressive system of politics and business. This rings true for me, since it is a commitment to empathy that encouraged me to “get on the bus” this summer.

As one of 40 Freedom Riders, in partnership with PBS, we’ll be encouraging civic activism for social justice causes. Fifty years ago Freedom Riders ventured into the South to challenge ongoing segregation and the legacy of Jim Crow laws. These peaceful protesters faced staunch public opposition, including violence. This year I will be retracing their original route as part of a coordinated effort to continue those historic efforts toward equality in society.

Lakoff uses a family metaphor to frame our political system, dividing society into “strict-father” and “nurturant-parent” philosophies. Although individuals are able to switch between the two philosophies given different circumstances, the idea is that a strict father acts as a disciplinary figure, employing punishment when necessary to correct self-discipline and character. By contrast, a nurturing parent is far more empathetic. When an infant cries, do you let them continue so they learn to be independent? Or do you comfort the child and seek to discover what is wrong? Certainly there is a balance between spoiling and neglecting, but the model holds true for civic justice.

Originally, I thought Lakoff’s model to be too simple, but I discovered its relevance in preparation for my Freedom Ride. I realized how central empathy is to my message. As I continue to strive for the breakdown of structural inequality, it is all too clear that I must start with empathy. It is not my job to “be the hero,” but instead to approach social justice issues by entering into solidarity with the marginalized so that together we can strive for justice. I choose empathy rather than the strict-father’s anthem of “pull yourself up by your boot straps!”

My point is not a political one; rather that leadership has traditionally been encouraged to be a strict father. When “leader” is used interchangeably with “delegator,” it becomes mere order-giving, followed by punishment of shortcomings. However, a nurturant-parent leader is one who is a servant leader, seeking to come alongside their organization and provide both guidance and collaboration toward success. I believe the principles of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) come from this model. CSR asks leaders to consider the costs, beyond sheer profit, and ensure that the bottom line does not compromise quality of life.

So as I prepare for the Freedom Rides, I am forced to ask myself, “What model will achieve social justice from an empathetic framework?” I’m interested in a model that will address all issues of equality, such as race, gender, sexual identity, and religion. The original freedom rides were not meant to be contrary for the sake of protesting, they were about identifying the humanity of those who suffer in our current system. Thus the answer to the model I’m seeking is clear: we need a holistic leadership model that puts people first.

Photo by papalars