What does it feel like to thrive? This is a different question from one where you identify the circumstances that you need to feel that way. What is the actual feeling state when you are thriving?

Thriving comes about by a series of recurring, intentional choices. Thriving is a verb...a way of being in action in your life. As creatures who move towards pleasure and away from pain, the feeling state of thriving is an engine for making choices and attracting support.

Since life is unquestionably about movement and change, then a big question arises: "Can you thrive in change?" Especially the kinds of change that first bring up your resistance (e.g. fear or anger, masked as doubt, insecurity, arrogance, denial, defensiveness, aggression, hiding, etc.). You'd be the rare person to say that "thriving" feels like being in resistance to life. Generally, thriving is a feeling of being in the flow of life, experiencing joy, an exhilaration of purpose being fulfilled, and openness to wonder and awe.

Leading is all about dealing with change and uncertainty. That's embedded in the idea of "leaders go first."

Did you know that the number one reason that CEOs get fired (or are forced to resign or retire) is "failure to manage change?" Surprised? Well, where our attention goes, that's what grows. "Hard" issues, such as finance, strategy and operations are where business leaders learn to focus their attention and expertise. Change, because it is about people and collaboration, is considered a "soft" issue and therefore is often not given priority. Cognitive blindness, unwillingness or incapacity to lead there comes at a high price.

What and who helps leaders to contain and direct change? How about change that results in a feeling of thriving? May the ideas and opportunities for learning I offer here give you a boost.

Tags: thrive, leadership, leading, change, choice, flow, joy, purpose, uncertainty, cognitive blindness