Emilie is Danish born with design and spirituality in her DNA. Besides being a designer, she holds an Inner MBA, a Masters in conscious business and entrepreneurship, from NYU. She is on a mission to enhance unity, compassion and heart centered entrepreneurship in modern life business endeavors.

thumbnail_Emilie.jpg

Emilie.jpg

Emilie Mogensen

<h4
 id="h-michael-stausholm-has-been-working-with-sustainability-in-the-business-world-for-more-than-20-years-he-is-the-founder-and-ceo-of-sprout-world-headquartered-in-copenhagen-denmark-with-an-office-in-boston-usa-sprout-world-was-named-the-second-most-sustainable-company-in-europe-in-2020-by-fast-company-and-michael-was-included-in-the-worthy-100-list-of-entrepreneurs-who-use-their-businesses-to-do-good-in-2021-by-worth-media-emilie-mogensen-writes-about-the-interview-she-did-with-him-recently-on-his-company-and-his-values"
 >
 MICHAEL STAUSHOLM
 has been working with sustainability in the business world for more
 than 20 years. He is the founder and CEO of Sprout World,
 headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, with an office in Boston, USA.
 Sprout World was named the second most sustainable company in Europe
 in 2020 by Fast Company, and Michael was included in the Worthy 100
 list of entrepreneurs who use their businesses to do good in 2021 by
 Worth Media.
 EMILIE MOGENSEN
 writes about the interview she did with him recently on his company
 and his values.
 </h4>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <figure>
 <img
 width="700"
 height="128"
 alt="planting-hope1"
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/planting_hope1_700x128_ff3fecf8a2.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T12:51:56.263Z"
 />
 </figure>

 
 As a European entrepreneur, with a Masters in Conscious Business and
 Entrepreneurship from NYU, I recently gave myself a challenge as a
 freelance writer for the Heartfulness Magazine. So far, I have spoken to
 North American conscious entrepreneurs. Next was to approach some
 European companies that excel in their values and integrity around
 sustainability and eco-ethics.
 

 
 Sprout is a company that fits this category of pioneers and early
 adaptors to a world where business owners take more responsibility for
 the planet and people than we have seen before in history. Michael
 Stausholm founded Sprout in 2013.
 

 
 I am really curious to hear if Michael has a contemplative practice, so
 it makes me smile when the very first thing we talk about is how Sprout
 is aligned with Mindfulness and a conscious approach to the inner
 environment of people. Michael explains that the simple thing of writing
 with a pencil is a value that speaks to him. It symbolizes the values he
 has managed to cultivate in the organization. The company created the
 first pencil that can be planted, growing herbs, vegetables and flowers
 from the little seeds inside.
 

 <div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img
 width="533"
 height="800"
 alt="Michael-Stausholm-1"
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/Michael_Stausholm_1_d0effdc5a6.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T12:52:30.422Z"
 />
 </figure>
 </div>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

 <h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 Sprout is a company that fits this category of pioneers and
 early adaptors to a world where businessowners take more
 responsibility for the planet and people.
 </h4>

 <hr />

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 There is something so simple and innocent about this idea, which makes
 it a captivating story; maybe because the world lacks the simplicity and
 authenticity of planting a simple seed and seeing it sprout. I feel a
 resonance with something honorable when I talk to Michael, and that
 makes me curious how he can stay centered in himself.
 

 
 He shares with me that he started a meditation practice during the
 lockdown, but it didn’t become his thing as much as taking long walks in
 silence, while clearing his head. I ask him if walking brings him into
 the present moment, and he seems to really agree with this way of
 stating it.
 

 
 There is something private around him, and I become curious because of
 this privacy. During our talk, I write notes about integrity,
 self-respect, and an inability to be flattered. On the Internet, many
 platforms write about Sprout and its impressive achievements. I can only
 imagine a person in Michael’s shoes is all the time meeting people who
 want something from him.
 

 
 I feel that his ability to stay so focused on a simple business model
 requires a lot of integrity, and it is what I notice about his private
 appearance. I know how easy it can be in the business world to fall out
 of the inner center, and it speaks tome that Michael keeps a distance
 while being able to express very profound values, going deeper into the
 human heart than a business adventure.
 

 
 When I ask him what makes him get out of bed every morning, his answer
 surprises me. He says it’s about being “proper,” and doing things
 properly. We speak Danish, and the word he uses is a very typical Danish
 word, so we become a bit word-nerdy when I ask him what the right word
 would be in English. I suggest “kind,” but we both agree that it is
 something else. The very fact that Michael takes the time to ponder over
 the word shows me how he really wants to live. He wants to do things
 properly, treat the planet and people in a genuine way, and this
 reflects in his organization.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <figure>
 <img
 width="700"
 height="443"
 alt="planting-hope2"
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/planting_hope2_1_700x443_d71933b0a0.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-10T12:53:08.853Z"
 />
 </figure>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 Very few employees leave once they check in with Sprout, and most of the
 leaders have been with him from the start. I want to know how he
 cultivated this kind of loyalty in his Sprout community, and he is super
 clear in his answer: it’s all due to one simple truth, a really strong
 team of very skilled leaders. The organization is built on mutual trust,
 and nobody minds each other’s business. If someone needs to leave at 3
 p.m., there are no questions asked. He emphasizes that the team consists
 of equal numbers of women and men.
 

 
 A part of me wants to ask why he is not totally into meditation, but I
 feel the need to withhold and be proper myself, as the conversation is
 not about my agenda of wanting to see the entire world meditating
 together. It is about Michael and Sprout, and how his business adventure
 is impacting the world, with its proper and compassionate eco-values.
 

 
 I ask Michael if he feels sustainable inside, and I love his answer. He
 says it’s not always easy to be conscious, because we need to change
 things in our lives, and it can seem a big task to change the world into
 a sustainable place. His suggestion is to start with small things, like
 moving closer to work, being able to leave the car at home and take his
 bicycle to work every day. He suggests that we look for ways to frame
 the difficulties in life into positive challenges. We laugh at the idea
 of an angry environmentalist being aggressive in their communication; it
 somehow seems counter-productive to the whole.
 

 
 “It’s really about being able to do those little things we do in
 Sprout,” he says. “We might not be saving the world by selling pencils,
 but surely we are contributing by planting seeds and giving people the
 opportunity to experience the sprouting process of a plant. It’s like we
 are planting little hopes in people’s lives.”
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

 <h4 class="has-text-align-center">Illustrations by LAKSHMI GADDAM</h4>

 <hr />

Planting hope

<h4
 id="h-melissa-bernstein-is-the-co-founder-of-melissa-doug-a-toy-company-with-a-mission-to-provide-a-launch-pad-to-ignite-imagination-and-a-sense-of-wonder-in-all-children-so-they-can-discover-themselves-their-passions-and-their-purpose-in-this-article-emilie-mogensen-starts-with-a-simple-interview-approach-with-melissa-which-blossoms-into-much-more-a-meeting-of-kindred-spirits">
 MELISSA BERNSTEIN is the co-founder of <a
 href="https://www.melissaanddoug.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Melissa &amp; Doug</a>, a
 toy company with a mission to “provide a launch pad to ignite imagination and a sense of wonder in all children
 so they can discover themselves, their passions, and their purpose.” In this article, EMILIE MOGENSEN starts with a simple interview
 approach with Melissa, which blossoms into much more – a meeting of kindred spirits!
</h4>



<hr class="vertical-space1">



“I am fearful, oh, so fearful, that if you do not show me light I will lose the will to live, and choose to
 end this futile fight.”



Back in 1970, this verse was written by a 5-year-old girl, who learned early in life that expressing her innermost
 vulnerable feelings in creative writing was not merely an expression of words, it was a way to survive.



Originally, the intention of this article was to write a portrait of a very successful and conscious entrepreneur.
 But that seemed too linear for her. It feels true to the essence of her lively, ethereal, and delicate being, to
 instead share a mystical and most rewarding story of how a meeting on Zoom turned into a sweet connection between
 two creative souls.



When I first experienced Melissa Bernstein, she was a guest speaker at The Inner MBA, which I am currently
 doing through Mindful NYU, Sounds True and LinkedIn. I was unaware that I had been buying her designs over the years
 as toys for my kids. I discovered that when I looked her up and recognized the online red logo of “Melissa &amp;
 Doug.”



<hr class="vertical-space1">




<figure><img decoding="async" width="322" height="485" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/kindred_spirits2_f2ac9deec6.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T11:29:57.723Z">
</figure>




<hr class="vertical-space1">



I was taken by storm from the moment I saw her. She was free and fun, loving and sharing. Melissa has created more
 than 10,000 toys and made millions of children happy around the world. I was especially inspired when Melissa spoke
 about being a “white space creative.” I could relate to that frame of mind, or should I say lack of frame of mind:
 an ability to see the entire universe of a certain project, long before the first drawing is even made; an
 intuitive, delicate, and very sensitive ability to open up and allow the stream of creative inspiration to come
 through the body, in order to manifest into a product or artistic expression. I found myself tearing up several
 times during the one hour gathering we had with her. That inspired me to reach out to her – I wanted more!



<hr class="vertical-space1">



<figure><img decoding="async" width="600" height="495" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/kindred_spirits3_06376fdc58.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T11:32:30.712Z">
</figure>



<hr class="vertical-space1">



So I am meeting Melissa on Zoom and we bond immediately in a very natural way. We dive into a very personal and
 vulnerable conversation about my journey as an entrepreneur. I share with her how I had to close down my company
 after two years with a wrongly-matched investor on board. She listens and asks questions, is compassionate, caring,
 and very intriguing.



So, here I am, having forgotten all my planned interview questions, in a fruitful and connecting conversation about
 life and death, heart-centered entrepreneurship, and how draining it can be to insist on cultivating intuition and
 sensitivity in a harsh business world.



<hr class="vertical-space1">



<hr>



<h4 class="has-text-align-center">She has transformed
 these tormenting shadows through intense therapy, heart centering, and her never-ending need to express herself creatively, through toys and writing verses.</h4>



<hr>



<hr class="vertical-space1">



Her joyful spirit makes me feel seen and appreciated, for what and who I am, in my innermost real place. In her
 presence, I unfold and expand my intuitive and creative wings in a free and relaxed way.



Later in our conversation, I discover that this happy spirit of hers was not always so happy. Melissa suffered from
 severe depression over more than two decades. Design and creativity were literally a lifeline for her. She needed to
 express herself creatively in order to transform what she calls her inner darkness. Inner despair, suicidal thoughts
 at the age of 19, and profound inner shadows, were part of Melissa’s journey.



She has transformed these tormenting shadows through intense therapy, heart centering, and her never-ending need to
 express herself creatively, through toys and writing verses.



She now helps many people through her newly-established entrepreneur adventure, Lifelines, which assists people to
 transform their inner darkness.



I don’t want to go into details about the achievements of Melissa and her husband Doug. You can Google their
 extraordinary journey – two entrepreneurs, who have been happily married for more than 35 years, with six kids.
 Today, Melissa &amp; Doug has a net worth of nearly 1 billion USD. Seen through the eyes of an average person like
 myself, this seems like the classic, slightly overwhelming, and maybe even intimidating fairy tale of the American
 dream.



But there is no such energy around her; she is not overwhelming and intimidating. She shows up as a very authentic,
 present, and feminine person, with wet hair after her morning shower, open-hearted, curious, and joyful.



I know that we can trust each other, and so does she. We laugh, skip all the surface talk, and jump right into the
 deepest and most painful parts of ourselves, sharing them in a space of mutual trust and empathy.



My intuitive feeling of a new world dawning, where like-minded people from different communities meet and connect,
 despite sitting on different continents with different backgrounds and nationalities, is unfolding in front of me.
 Feelings of deep meaning, gratitude, and connection bring me great joy in the two hours we talk, laugh, share, and
 connect.



We talk about how it has taken her many years to truly believe in herself, when surrounded by commercial people who
 use the left side of the brain in their work. It is a personal coaching session for me. I take it all. It resonates
 profoundly with my own journey as an intuitive creative in the business world.



She clearly feels in her body how the powerful urge to create can feel like a blessing in disguise. She even has a
 word for it, “Blurse” (blessing-curse). Coming from a family with a lot of creative entrepreneurs, I can relate to
 this rather exhausting paradox.



When Melissa starts sharing with me, she always checks in with her heart before taking any decision. I mention to her
 that I am a trainer of Heartfulness meditation. She immediately feels inclined to meditate together, and we clear
 three days during the following week to dive deep and transform together.



<hr class="vertical-space1">




<figure><img decoding="async" width="600" height="461" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/kindred_spirits4_1a7e557ce7.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T11:33:59.269Z">
</figure>




<hr class="vertical-space1">



A part of me is soothed by her presence. Something about her having gone through inner pain, questioning her reason
 to stay alive, yet creating a company with more than 800 employees, fascinates me. There is a hidden power in her,
 behind the down-to-earth, smiling, and curious personality.



She shares how hard she has worked with her therapist to transform her anxiety and need to control the outer world. I
 resonate with this constant need to manage and balance feelings, as they are the main drivers toward the best ideas.
 Shutting down feelings, which we feel forced to do when dealing with business people, can be counter-productive. We
 stop getting ideas. Nevertheless, it is crucial for mental stability to learn emotional management.



Some of the best artists throughout history are known for their mood swings and difficult lives. Creativity often
 goes hand in hand with emotional challenges, in my experience, and Melissa certainly seems to fit this category. Her
 courage to transform this sensitivity into her superpower is inspiring, and I feel it comes from a very authentic
 place.



<hr class="vertical-space1">




<figure><img decoding="async" width="600" height="490" alt="" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/kindred_spirits5_a2840f81ae.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T11:34:54.168Z">
</figure>




<hr class="vertical-space1">



We bond very nicely on a personal level, sharing an intuitive and creative approach to life and entrepreneurship. But
 in meditation with her, it becomes clear that she is more – a kindred spirit. A deep sense of knowing is present in
 our three 30-minute meditations, and I find myself smiling many times. It feels the same as when I am at a concert;
 the power of the collective, sharing deep feelings, coming through one individual.



It’s fascinating how one individual can channel something and impact the masses, like she does with her toys and her
 new company, Lifelines.



Why am I sharing this rather intimate space of meditation in an article? Because I feel the purpose of Melissa
 Bernstein is to inspire people to be exactly who they are. She courageously allows us into her innermost vulnerable
 place, and shows us how transforming darkness can make us come out stronger. It’s priceless and honorable, and
 profoundly needed in today’s world, where young people suffer from FOMO and low self-esteem. With Social Media, we
 brand ourselves, artificially, through the filters of so-called beauty.



Melissa unlocks creative potential in me, and transforms it into dynamic and balanced new energy. She engages in my
 journey, her thinking is free and expansive, and she keeps reminding me about the crucial need to be truthful to
 myself and my values. Always.



I pray, sending out the intention that more and more people in this suffering world will follow the example of
 Melissa, unlocking their inner and most truthful creative potential in order to co-create a wonderful world, where
 kindred spirits meet and meditate together.



Thank you, Melissa, for your ability to show us how to transform darkness into creativity. You make me feel like
 showing up as the best version of myself, where I create from the full potential within.


<hr>
<h4 class="has-text-align-center">Illustrations by ARATI SHEDDE</h4>
<hr>

Meeting Melissa: transforming darkness into creativity

<h2 id="h-emilie-mogensen">Emilie Mogensen</h2>

Emilie is Danish born with design and spirituality in her DNA. Besides being a designer, she holds an Inner MBA, a Masters in conscious business and entrepreneurship, from NYU. She is on a mission to enhance unity, compassion and heart centered entrepreneurship in modern life business endeavors. 

<h2>Steve Macadam</h2>

Steve is a senior executive and conscious CEO who was the President of EnPro, and is a director on the boards of Louisiana-Pacific Corporation and Valvoline Inc. He is committed to ethical behavior, sound corporate governance, profound people engagement, and long-term decisions for the greater good.

thumbnail_Steve-Macadam-Emilie.jpg

Steve-Macadam-Emilie.jpg

Steve Macadam and Emilie Mogensen

<h4
 id="h-emilie-mogensen-attended-steve-macadam-s-module-as-part-of-the-inner-mba-and-she-is-deeply-inspired-by-his-way-of-building-authentic-communities-steve-is-an-mba-from-harvard-a-baker-scholar-and-currently-an-independent-director-for-louisiana-pacific-corporation-and-valvoline-inc"
 >
 EMILIE MOGENSEN
 attended
 STEVE MACADAM’s module as part of The Inner MBA, and she is deeply
 inspired by his way of building authentic communities. Steve is an MBA
 from Harvard, a Baker Scholar, and currently an independent director
 for Louisiana-Pacific Corporation and Valvoline Inc.
 </h4>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 Although I have been on a sincere spiritual path for 29 years, I tend to
 be very impatient. When I feel inspired or see a need for change, I
 often find myself wanting to execute before thinking. This tendency led
 to extreme boredom at school, and it has stayed with me throughout life.
 At the same time, I believe it is what makes me move forward as an
 entrepreneur and in life. I am a “street achiever,” often rather
 fearless, with a strong drive. It serves me well most of the time,
 especially when my actions come from within, based on wisdom, or from
 knowledge inspired by great thinkers and entrepreneurs.
 

 
 I share this to emphasize how much I appreciated Steve Macadam’s module
 at The Inner MBA immersion program. If I had to choose one
 module as the most useful take-away, it would be Steve’s on how to build
 authentic communities. I feel the future call for these authentic
 communities and synchronicities whispering to me, “This is true,” and
 hope to share why.
 

 
 Steve has a very practical approach, and his messages resonate with the
 go-getter entrepreneur in me. His model has worked successfully at
 EnPro, where he was the CEO. I am not the right person to go into the
 corporate story of EnPro, a publicly-traded US company with 8,000
 employees; what makes my heart sing is to investigate the essence of
 human beings – in this case, Steve Macadam.
 

 
 Steve shares that building authentic communities is often based on the
 visions held by very passionate visionaries. They can be organizations,
 businesses, schools, or grassroots movements. It seems to be essential
 that someone holds the vision firmly in order for the communities to
 expand.
 

 
 Steve’s model of building authentic communities is simple and based on 4
 phases:
 

 Phase 1, the pseudo community

 Phase 2, the chaos community

 Phase 3, the emptying phase

 Phase 4, the authentic community

 
 Before diving into this, let’s explore what is a community and what does
 it mean when something or someone is authentic.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img
 width="546"
 height="600"
 alt="building-authentic-communities2"
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/building_authentic_communities2_1a53533246.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T06:26:12.527Z"
 />
 </figure>
 </div>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

 <h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 To be “authentic” means to be genuine and real. It’s about
 alignment between what happens inside and what is
 expressed outside.
 </h4>

 <hr />

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 “Community” refers to a group of people with shared interests, whether
 those interests are based on culture, spirituality, values, customs, or
 identity. Communities may share a geographical space, like a village or
 a church hall, or they may connect virtually, such as an online social
 network.
 

 
 Characteristics of a community include friendship, support, growth,
 shared attitudes, interests and goals. Some communities form naturally,
 such as those in specific geographical locations, while others form
 consciously with a shared purpose and goal.
 

 
 For example, a Heartfulness community is a gathering of people who wish
 to practice Heartfulness in a convenient and supportive space: a space
 where people can be themselves, meet with others, share experiences, and
 gain support and understanding. Essentially, a Heartfulness community
 provides the space for people to meditate together, share stories, and
 find love and support.
 

 
 To be “authentic” means to be genuine and real. It’s about alignment
 between what happens inside and what is expressed outside. Authenticity
 helps us feel safe. We are more aware of what is going on, instead of
 having to second guess and use various strategies to get what we need.
 

 
 I feel this is one of the most needed traits for humanity. It’s worth
 exploring how we can become better at being authentic together, at work,
 in spiritual communities, and elsewhere. In fact, I feel it is one of
 the missing links in our eagerness to co-create a more compassionate
 world.
 

 
 The most powerful message from my conversation with Steve is that there
 can be no authentic community without conflict.
 

 
 As someone engaged in a spiritual community, this can be difficult to
 embrace. I think many spiritual seekers tend to be pleasers by nature –
 we thrive in peace, and that is honorable!
 

 
 But can we try to dive deeper, and cultivate communities that fill us
 with even deeper connection and meaning? Talking to Steve helped me to
 learn that we can speak our own truth from a place of sovereignty and
 dignity, while holding space for others, especially when we don’t agree
 with them.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

 <h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 We can speak our own truth from a place of sovereignty and
 dignity, while holding space for others, especially when
 we don’t agree with them.
 </h4>

 <hr />

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 Next month, I will explore the four phases of the model Steve used at
 EnPro with remarkable results. EnPro is a multiple bottom lines company,
 placing equal value on people, planet, and profit, where the CEO reads
 fairytales to the workers, and everyone is allowed to express their
 inner truths. It comes from a very authentic place in my heart to share
 how Steve has inspired me to build and expand authentic communities. I
 hope it will inspire you too.

Building authentic communities

<h4
 class="block-heading"
 id="h-emilie-mogensen-attended-steve-macadam-s-module-as-part-of-the-inner-mba-and-she-is-deeply-inspired-by-his-way-of-building-authentic-communities-steve-is-an-mba-from-harvard-a-baker-scholar-and-currently-an-independent-director-for-louisiana-pacific-corporation-and-valvoline-inc-in-part-2-of-the-series-they-explore-the-4-phases-of-building-authentic-communities"
 >
 EMILIE MOGENSEN
 attended
 STEVE MACADAM’s
 module as part of The Inner MBA, and she is deeply inspired
 by his way of building authentic communities. Steve is an MBA from
 Harvard, a Baker Scholar, and currently an independent director for
 Louisiana-Pacific Corporation and Valvoline Inc. In part 2 of the
 series, they explore the 4 phases of building authentic
 communities.
 </h4>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <h5 class="has-text-align-center block-heading">
 “The next Buddha may take the form of a community – a community
 practicing understanding and loving kindness, a community
 practicing mindful living.”
 </h5>

 <h5 class="has-text-align-center block-heading">
 —Thich Nhat Hanh
 </h5>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 We are exploring Steve Macadam’s model on how to build authentic
 communities. The model is simple and based on 4 phases:
 

 
 Phase 1, the pseudo community
 

 
 Phase 2, the chaos community
 

 
 Phase 3, the emptying phase
 

 
 Phase 4, the authentic community
 

 
 Phase 1, the pseudo community, is artificial, not real.
 Steve explains that this phase is often where most companies and
 organizations are stuck for long periods and some people seem to be okay
 there. But the bottom line is that the community can thrive much better,
 and some people break away from those communities that don’t offer space
 for authenticity.
 

 
 This leads us to Phase 2, the chaos community, where a
 lot of people leave and some stay back, and often insist rather strongly
 on maintaining things “as they have always been.” We see this a lot in
 the world today, where the “great resignation” is a hardcore reality for
 many companies. People are simply no longer willing to put their jobs
 and positions above their personal well-being. I believe this is an
 unavoidable result of decades, even centuries, of the individual trying
 to fit in at any cost.
 

 
 This fitting in often comes from a very strong need to feel a part of
 the group and not to stand alone, which is a very sweet and innocent
 quality of the human heart – the need to be with fellow beings and to
 connect. But the question to ask is: do we really connect? And do we
 really thrive if we constantly value the profit of the company, the
 peace of the room, over our inner most truthful need of being allowed to
 feel okay just as we are?
 

 
 I am writing this article with a funny sense of insecurity, as I know
 the Heartfulness Magazine is a multicultural magazine, with readers from
 around the world, with different backgrounds, cultures, and religious
 beliefs. I respect this and want to honor everyone’s feelings. Some
 cultures believe strongly in putting the group’s needs over the
 individual, which a part of me does as well.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img
 alt="4phases-community2"
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/4phases_community2_700x523_03be816d90.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T10:46:45.011Z"
 />
 </figure>
 </div>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 So why am I so drawn to Steve’s model? Because another part of me is
 truly thirsty to step into a new world and a new expression of myself:
 of being able to hold space for others, and not feel threatened nor hurt
 when someone holds a very different opinion than me.
 

 
 It seems to be part of an evolutionary plan that we are in the midst of
 a paradigm shift. The fact that we have seen numerous communities
 breaking up, families breaking up, friendships breaking up, companies
 breaking up, shows me something is in deep transformation in our
 societal structures. We are in the middle of a collective “community of
 chaos,” phase 2.
 

 
 We travel through Phase 3, the emptying phase, to move
 from chaos to Phase 4, the authentic community. Phase 3
 is where Steve allows all the workers to express themselves, through
 listening to fairy tales and through mindfulness exercises. He
 emphasizes how important it is that the CEO, the leader, faces the
 people within a circle, sitting on a chair at the same height as the
 others in the group. A sense of equality must be present, so everyone
 can express their feelings and everyone can practice holding space for
 one another.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

 <h4 class="has-text-align-center block-heading">
 A sense of equality must be present, so everyone can
 express their feelings and everyone can practice holding
 space for one another.
 </h4>

 <hr />

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 This means to leave the thinking part of consciousness, and truly listen
 with the heart and the entire body. The heart holds our compassionate
 qualities, while our body is the container of a lot of hidden trauma. We
 tend to want to bypass the unpleasant feelings, as we don’t like to feel
 uncomfortable.
 

 
 This is where “emotional intelligence” comes into the picture.
 Demonstrating emotional intelligence is actually very simple. It is the
 ability to stay present in our own and other people’s emotions and
 feelings. It is not about understanding them, and certainly
 not about giving advice. It is about being able to hold a
 certain tune of someone’s instrument, even though we might prefer to
 play on other tunes. It requires the confidence to be brave enough to
 allow the unpleasant stream of consciousness to move through the energy
 body, without holding onto it or pushing it away. It’s an exercise in
 letting energy move through the physical body and the energy body, and
 letting it go when it’s ready to pass.
 

 
 I asked Steve to elaborate on the importance of strong and visible
 leadership in the emptying phase. He shares that it is crucial that
 everyone leads themselves from within, and nobody feels they are “being
 watched” by someone in power.
 

 
 I ask a bit further, wanting him to share some insights about how
 important it must be to have very defined frameworks around this in a
 community. It is very sweet how Steve is really not into top down
 leadership, as one could imagine a CEO in a publicly traded US company
 could be. He emphasizes the importance of a free and open environment,
 where everyone can express their truth. However, he ends up agreeing
 with me that a skillful leader is required to facilitate these community
 meetings, where everyone can empty their inner feelings and share their
 truths.
 

 
 He shares how we can benefit from being in a large circle, together,
 then some breakout sessions can take place. This is not something new in
 my own communities, and I have often felt it to be rather boring. Again,
 my impatient entrepreneur mentality! Steve shares with me that the
 typical entrepreneur is often the person who breaks out from
 communities. I resonate with that. Some sort of “don’t care, move on”
 thought pattern in my head.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

 <h4 class="has-text-align-center block-heading">
 It requires the confidence to be brave enough to allow the unpleasant stream of consciousness to move through
 the energy body, without holding onto it or pushing it away. It’s an exercise in letting energy move through the physical
 body and the energy body, and letting it go when it’s ready to
 pass.
 </h4>

 <hr />

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 A part of me is sad about this, because I truly wish to be a part of
 authentic communities, not just doing things my way. I feel split into
 these two sides. One is afraid to lose my go-getter power if I have to
 succumb to a group. It truly is faster to get things done on my own.
 Another part of me wants to be part of a group.
 

 
 I ask Steve how to deal with this, and his answer makes so much sense.
 “This is exactly what you have to share in the group,” he says. I feel a
 strong sense of healing when these two rather different personalities in
 me meet and shake hands.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

 <h4 class="has-text-align-center block-heading">
 Most human beings are 
 people with strong intentions for a better world, for compassion
 and peace. And what a human heart needs most is to feel allowed and contained in whatever process it is going through.
 </h4>

 <hr />

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 
 Back to the emptying phase, our community meeting, and sharing in small
 groups. What struck me with Steve’s model is that he guides us to come
 back after the breakout session and share together in a slightly
 different way than I am used to. What we share in the plenum is not what
 we discussed, but how did it make us feel to share in the breakout
 session? What struck us? How did we feel sharing? What were we good at
 sharing? This is brilliant in my eyes! Because most human beings (at
 least the ones reading this magazine) are people with strong intentions
 for a better world, for compassion and peace. And what a human heart
 needs most is to feel allowed and contained in whatever process it is
 going through.
 

 
 And who really wants to blame others? Not many! But sometimes we can’t
 stop blaming a certain person, a leader or a group, unless we are
 allowed to be acknowledged for the pain we have felt in the pseudo
 phase. The very fact that we share how sharing made us feel creates an
 authentic community, because we start showing more interest in how we
 feel, instead of what we think and say.
 

 The key takeaways from Steve’s model:

 
 To move from pseudo community to authentic community, each of us must
 demonstrate strong inner leadership.
 

 
 People in decision-making positions must practice asking what he calls
 “powerful questions.” Here are some examples: Why are you not
 feeling safe in this community? Why do you not like the way things
 are? What is your contribution to the very thing you address? What
 is your contribution as a leader?
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img
 alt="4phases-community3"
 class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/4phases_community3_e175ebee65.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T10:47:20.643Z"
 />
 </figure>
 </div>

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

 <h4 class="has-text-align-center block-heading">
 A true leader is someone who cares about having a
 positive impact on others, through role modeling rather
 than teaching or giving advice.
 </h4>

 <hr />

 
 Steve is not a top down leader, which truly makes me want to follow him
 and ask him for advice. He emphasizes that a true leader is someone who
 cares about having a positive impact on others, through role modeling
 rather than teaching or giving advice.
 

 
 Once the emptying phase is processed in a compassionate way, facilitated
 by leaders who are able to hold their vision and allow space for
 everyone to unfold their inner leader, the authentic community emerges
 from deep within everyone. It offers deep meaningful relationships, a
 sense of belonging, and loyalty to the respective organization or
 company.
 

 
 Thank you Steve for this wonderful opportunity to explore your
 experimental ways and to learn from you.
 

 <hr class="vertical-space1" />

 <hr />

 <h4 class="has-text-align-center block-heading">
 Illustrations by ALONA SAVCHUK
 </h4>

 <hr />