And I don’t mean the dictionary.com definition. I mean, the essence of it. What does leadership boil down to?

We are living in an increasingly frantic and hurried world. Research shows that people are less present, more stressed and anxious that ever before. Life seems to be a series of nonstop stimuli, which leaves us feeling emotionally exhausted, unable to enjoy the present moment, and with our brains perpetually in an active and problem-solving state. Life becomes a series of quick, snappy commercials – each with an arc and an ending, only to be following by another series of arcs and endings – with no end in sight.

When did we forego ownership of our lives? What everyday behaviors can we adopt to can remind us of how resourceful, abundant, dynamic and powerful we are? What choices can influence this behavior?

This is where leadership comes in. To be a leader, you don’t have to sit at the head of some long, dark oak table as a CEO. You don’t have to be part of an influential Board, or be a media mogul. You can be a leader of your life because leadership is a series of choices that any one of us can make in our capacity in order to live a conscious, full, impactful and empowering lives.

Leadership is taking ownership of our lives by making deliberate choices. Let’s commit to leading a life of whole-heartedness, empowerment, and choice so that we show up better in our lives and make a meaningful difference in the world.