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- Understanding Spiritual Intelligence
- Flexibility & Self-Awareness in Action: Aarti Madhusudan’s Story
- Facing and Growing Through Suffering: Bindu Vinodhan’s Journey
- Vision-Driven Leadership: Brinda Adige’s Path
- Spiritual Intelligence in Practice: Three Stories of Impact
- What These Stories Tell Us About Spiritual Intelligence
- Inspiring Action: Embracing SQ
- Ignite Your Spiritual Intelligence
On November 30th in Bengaluru, Coacharya hosted a conference that brought together over 20 leaders to discuss Spiritual Intelligence and its role in leadership. During this gathering, 3 remarkable women shared their experiences that left a lasting impression on everyone present.
These social sector leaders spoke candidly about their childhoods, what drew them to their work, and their experiences navigating challenging circumstances in the field. They shared honest accounts of working in environments that most would hesitate to enter, yet where their work was needed most.
What stood out in their stories was their unwavering commitment to being present – not just physically, but wholly and intentionally. Each woman spoke of how they aligned their actions with their core values, even when faced with difficult choices. Their approaches demonstrated Spiritual Intelligence in practice, showing how this quality guides decision-making in complex social situations.
Understanding Spiritual Intelligence
As defined by Danah Zohar and Ian Marshall, spiritual intelligence is the capacity to connect with something deeper within ourselves and the world around us. It’s the ability to access intuition, creativity, and a sense of purpose. Zohar and Marshall list the following indicators of SI:
- Flexibility
- Self-awareness
- Capacity to face and use suffering
- Capacity to face and transcend pain
- Quality of being inspired by vision and values
- Reluctance to cause unnecessary harm
- Tendency to see connections between diverse things
- Tendency to ask why, what if, and to seek answers
- Facility to work against convention
- Servant leader
These leaders, who showed up despite great odds, demonstrated a profound understanding of their own spiritual intelligence, using it to navigate challenges, inspire others, and create lasting impact.
Flexibility & Self-Awareness in Action: Aarti Madhusudan’s Story
As the old adage goes, ‘no good deed goes unpunished.’ Aarti Madhusudan knows this all too well. In the early 90s, when the devadasi system was very much prevalent (and even flourishing), Aarti was working with an NGO. There, she witnessed young, innocent girls who were wedded to the deity and were later, behind that temple, initiated. “You’d hear them scream and you’d hear them shout and the only thought that came back to me was that my daughter was just lucky to be born to me.” Her anguish and pain witnessing this reinforced her belief that if she could do anything to have even one girl less in the Devdasi system, it would be worth it.
As Aarti herself pointed out, immediate gratification is not a possibility in the social sector. She recognized that true reward lies not in the immediate outcome but in the commitment to the cause. Her ability to find joy in the process, despite the daunting challenges, is a testament to her resilience and spiritual intelligence.
Aarti’s story is a testament to her incredible flexibility and self-awareness. She adapted to the harsh realities of the situation, understanding the deep-rooted societal issues that perpetuated the Devadasi system. She also recognized her own capacity to make a difference, even in the face of overwhelming challenges.
Facing and Growing Through Suffering: Bindu Vinodhan’s Journey
Bindu Vinodhan’s journey into the heart of rural India was a stark contrast to her corporate past. Faced with the harsh realities of bonded labor and human trafficking, she encountered suffering on a scale she had never imagined. Yet, instead of being deterred, she channeled this adversity into a powerful force for change. The resilience of the women she worked with, their courage in the face of oppression, and their unwavering spirit inspired her. “I always thought that I was alone; I had to fight alone, but I realized I am not. I am connected to 600 soul sisters.”
By embracing their collective suffering, they transformed it into a catalyst for social transformation. This experience underscored the profound truth that suffering, when confronted with empathy and determination, can be a potent source of strength, resilience, and ultimately, positive change.
Vision-Driven Leadership: Brinda Adige’s Path
Pain and suffering can often immobilize, but they can also ignite a powerful drive for change. Brinda Adige, a women’s rights activist and the visionary behind India’s first child-protection helpline, exemplifies the latter. With no interest in administration, or chalaofying (instructing) people, Brinda supported several organizations dedicated to social justice for a while. Yet, her search for deeper impact and her remarkable spiritual strength propelled her toward trailblazing action.
Her journey to establishing the child-protection helpline was neither convenient nor easy—it was fueled by a profound sense of purpose born from an unforgettable experience. Witnessing a young girl, abandoned and shattered after a brutal gang-rape at a railway station, left an indelible mark on Brinda. The pain and injustice she encountered became the catalyst for her unwavering determination. Defying skeptics in positions of power who dismissed helplines as futile, Brinda channeled her anguish into action. Her work is a testament to servant leadership in its truest form—leading with compassion, prioritizing the needs of the vulnerable, and proving that selfless resolve can spark transformative change.
Spiritual Intelligence in Practice: Three Stories of Impact
The stories of Aarti Madhusudan, Bindu Vinodhan, and Brinda Adige demonstrate how Spiritual Intelligence shapes effective social change. Each woman’s journey illustrates different facets of SQ at work in challenging circumstances.
Aarti’s response to the Devadasi system shows how flexibility and self-awareness can guide sustained action, even when immediate results aren’t visible. In the face of deeply entrenched practices, she maintained her focus on saving even one girl from the system. Bindu’s work in rural India exemplifies how facing suffering head-on can lead to meaningful change. By connecting with the experiences of bonded laborers and trafficking survivors, she turned collective pain into collaborative action. Brinda’s creation of India’s first child protection helpline demonstrates how vision-driven leadership can overcome systemic barriers. When confronted with bureaucratic resistance, she drew on her sense of purpose to create a vital resource for vulnerable children.
What connects these stories is how each woman accessed different aspects of Spiritual Intelligence to guide their work. They saw beyond surface-level solutions to address deep-rooted problems. When faced with obstacles, they didn’t just rely on conventional approaches – they drew on their inner resources to find new ways forward. They understood that meaningful change requires more than just professional skills; it needs a deep connection to purpose and values.
These experiences show us that Spiritual Intelligence isn’t an abstract concept – it’s a practical tool for creating social change. In each case, SQ provided the framework for understanding complex problems, maintaining focus despite setbacks, and finding innovative solutions to seemingly insurmountable challenges.
What These Stories Tell Us About Spiritual Intelligence
Spiritual Intelligence goes beyond meditation or traditional notions of spirituality. These three women’s experiences show us that it’s a practical approach to addressing complex social challenges. When Aarti continued her work despite seeing no immediate results, when Bindu chose to stay engaged with difficult realities in rural India, and when Brinda persisted in creating the helpline despite skepticism – they were all demonstrating SQ in action.
Their stories highlight how SQ helps in making difficult choices and staying committed to long-term goals. It’s about understanding what needs to be done and finding the inner resources to do it, especially when faced with resistance or setbacks. This kind of intelligence helps us see connections between different aspects of a problem, maintain our focus during challenges, and take action aligned with our core values.
Inspiring Action: Embracing SQ
Reflect on your own life. Are there areas where you can embody more SQ? Maybe it’s volunteering for a cause you care about, speaking up for what’s right, taking a stand for yourself, or simply being more present in your relationships. Small steps lead to big changes.
Take time for self-reflection. Practice techniques like meditation or yoga to cultivate inner peace. Connect with nature, spend time with loved ones, and pursue activities that bring you joy. By nurturing your spiritual well-being, you’ll be better equipped to face life’s challenges with grace and resilience.
Ignite Your Spiritual Intelligence
More than a concept, Spiritual Intelligence (SI) is a call to action to live with greater purpose, compassion, and awareness. It calls us to show up for ourselves and others, making a difference in ways that matter, and inspiring those around us. The journey doesn’t have to be monumental at first. You can start small—volunteer for a cause close to your heart, spend a few mindful moments each day reflecting or reconnect with the serenity of nature. In a world that is deeply divided and getting more disconnected by the day, these simple acts can open your mind to new perspectives and infuse your life with meaning.
At Coacharya, we believe in the transformative power of SQ and its potential to shape not just individuals but entire communities. Our coach training programs focus on the integration of spiritual intelligence with professional and personal growth. Explore our programs today and discover how cultivating SQ can empower you to lead with authenticity, inspire change, and create a ripple effect of positivity in the world. Your journey to deeper connection and purpose begins here.