History's Leaders:
Burned Out
How Their Deteriorating Mental Conditions Shaped World Events
Every now and then, for a complete change of pace, I'll pick up a magazine that is pretty out of the ordinary for me. I do this so I am exposed to a world of ideas that is not my normal routine. I recently did this and picked up a copy of:
Ideas and Discoveries.
It had articles on:
- What's Brewing in Your Kitchen
- How to Become Bulletproof and attempts to buidl the perfect armor
- The new frontiers in the field of forensics
- Neuro parasites that live in the brain
- Sunspots
- Underwater labyrinths and caves
All really interesting items (I started thinking I want to read this magazine on a regular basis). But I really picked it up because the cover story grabbed my attention.
History's Leaders: Burned Out
How Their Deteriorating Mental Conditions Shaped World Events
There were articles on Churchill, Lincoln, Alexander the Great, Che Guevara, Michelangelo, Caligula and Barak Obama.
The articles looked at issues of stress, anxiety, unfulfilled expectations, isolation, depression, conflict, the "messiah complex," and the resulting BURNOUT. And it looked at what happens when leaders with great influence move in to these all too human experiences.
In short - the consequences are enormous. Bad decisions, poor leadership, and spiraling repercussions.
I found myself reflecting on friends, colleagues and my self... and the sense that we need to pay attention to our mental, emotional, spiritual and physical health. For others will be affected by these dynamics in our lives.
So - how are you doing?
Brian K. Rice
Leadership ConneXtions International
www.lci.typepad.com
