In Tanjore in South India lies a Hindu temple where, for a small payment to the owner, you can be kissed on the head by an elephant. Believers say it brings incredibly good fortune to those who do it. 

I can report first hand that it's less of a kiss, more of a nose wipe. 

I stood watching the line of people. Pay, bow, kiss, move on. Everyone emerged from the experience beaming with absolute delight in their good fortune. Whatever they were getting I wanted some too. 

I stood in line. My turn came. I paid my 20 Rupees and was shoved in front of Jumbo. Bowing my head, I saw the upward S-Curve of the trunk approaching. Then the delicate but firm kiss on my head.

Then… nothing!

I walked away with no big satisfied grin. People were staring at me. I touched the top of my head. Just a little moisture. I was deflated. Why did it work for them and not for me?

Later I realized. It's because I don't believe enough. The elephant kiss lifts your spirit if you truly believe it will.

It's belief that drives all our actions. To be precise it's faith in a belief that drives our actions. We're full of beliefs of all kinds. Faith is like a bungee cord attached to a belief that we know truly counts in life. The stronger we keep the cord the more likely we are to follow that belief. 

It's belief that differentiates the spiritually engaged leader at work. He or she believes that a greater creative power is there waiting to be revealed for the greater good and acts on that belief. I call it God. Unfortunately my faith bungee cord gets weakened by all the workplace pressure. It's not second nature yet to keep it strong. A New Equilibrium's tools help me not to forget, keep my faith strong, and deliver much better results.

Now what animal do we associate with not forgetting?

Stephen

ANE's Spiritual Engagement improves Leadership Effectiveness and produces Sustained Business Performance.

www.anewequilibrium.org