On heartache and hope
683 days. That’s nearly two years.
Two years of headlines that read like history’s darkest chapters repeating themselves: a people dehumanised, starved and slaughtered while much of the world looks away. The justifications change, the excuses multiply, but the outcome is the same: children buried, voices silenced, truth smothered.
And still, many of those entrusted to lead us do little more than issue statements. Some say one thing and do something else. Others bristle at the mere suggestion that they show some spine. If you take offence at being asked to be courageous, what does that say about your leadership? Courage is Leadership 101. The role of a leader is not to please everyone, but to stand in truth even when it costs.
When the heart closes
What I’ve realised (both in these global events and in more personal encounters) is this: you cannot reason with a closed heart. The heart is like the brain’s gatekeeper. When it’s shut, no amount of reasoning or logic will be allowed in. Facts bounce off. Evidence is dismissed. A closed heart hears only the story it already believes. Compassion be damned.
And that’s the real danger. A closed heart produces cruelty. But an open heart makes room for truth, growth and humanity.
It’s the same in leadership at every level. Whether you’re leading a nation, a team, your household or simply yourself, if your heart is shut, no amount of skill or strategy will make you trustworthy.
The test for all of us
If you think this is just about politicians or world leaders, think again. It shows up in our own everyday choices too.
Every day, you and I face smaller tests that reveal whether our hearts are open or closed:
Do I shut down voices that challenge me, or do I listen?
Do I bend my values to fit the crowd, or hold them even when it costs me?
Do I apply standards to others equitably?
Do I see people for who they truly are, or only through the lens of my own bias and comfort?
Hope lives in open hearts
All this can really tear at the heart. It can even leave one feeling hopeless. But here’s what keeps me going: hearts are opening. Across the globe, people are questioning the stories they’ve been fed for decades. Some are breaking away from the comfort of silence, choosing instead to speak hard truths. Others are learning that while your upbringing may shape you, your choices define you.
That gives me hope. Because whether you’re a CEO, a coach, a parent or a friend, the same principle applies: keeping your heart open when it’s easier to close is what reveals your courage.
Final reflection
The world doesn’t need more leaders who keep their hearts shut. It needs leaders willing to open their hearts, stand in their values and act with courage.
So ask yourself:
Where am I tempted to close my heart?
What truth am I avoiding because it feels costly?
How can I lead, in my own sphere, with both conviction and compassion?
Because in the end, the story of humanity has always turned on the choices of a courageous few who refused to close their hearts.
