By: Jillian Sawers
Source: The Daily Guardian https://epaper.thedailyguardian.com/view/2016/the-daily-guardian/15
Dated: February 8th, 2025

How Silence Helps You See your Blind Spots

Self-knowledge through inner silence is a key component for those at the apex of the Maslow Hierarchy of needs. 

If we are dwelling in the ‘what’ or ‘how’ without the ‘who’ and ‘why’, or dangling in the lower levels of the triangle, looking to prove ourselves, gain approval and acceptance; then we are not self-realised, we are ego-based mind controlled automatons.

What is the ego? In the simplest of definitions that I find useful; Ego is identifying with what you are not. It takes many gross forms, such as living and breathing football, my team’s success and failures, its colours and anthems, its players. Such identifications can become obsessive to the point of violence. 

But for the leader, it can take more subtle forms. Like blowing your own trumpet at a team celebration, unwittingly demoralising your whole team. Defending your mistakes. Being resistant to change, in case it risks your privileges and perks. The list goes on and on. And becomes ever more subtle. These behaviours are all based on mistaken identity. I think I am my job, my projects, my successes. 

In order to stop identifying with our roles, and all the appendages’ accompanying them, like my profits, my privileges, my power, my personality, my popularity, my projects, my success or lack of it; we simply need to realise our true identity. I say simply, because you do not have to create a true identity. It is there, constantly. 

You simply become aware of the you present behind the noise of thoughts. We can call it all sorts of words, such as soul, or source, but then we immediately jump into thoughts about what we believe that is. We can argue for or against its existence. Neither side will end up any clearer. But if we drop into silence, we become aware of our beingness. And that puts everything in perspective. 

To compassionately but humorously observe your own absurdity as you battle away inside your mind with your desires, and frustrations, you begin to almost see yourself as cartoon character.

When we see someone with exaggerated personality traits, such as boasting or moaning all the time, or staying young and desirable at all costs, they appear a bit like a cartoon character. When we can see ourselves in the same way; when the contrast between the grace of being and the buffoon the ego makes of us, then perhaps we are a little closer to self-actualisation. Closer to creative inspired action. Closer to leading with clear purpose and vision, because those come naturally to someone who operates from the inside out.

A’ leader’ with an unexamined ego, simply cannot lead. They can only imitate the language and actions of true leaders. But as the old adage goes, pride definitely comes before a fall. And none of us can ultimately escape the removal of all that is false from our being. Whether we do that gracefully with wisdom , or prefer to dwell in the drama of cartoon land a little longer, will define if you can lead today or maybe sometime in the future.

Jillian Sawers is a professional self-development trainer 
and has a YouTube channel called ’The Department of Silence’. 
She is based in Mount Abu, Rajasthan.