Mirror or Window: Leading with Compassion and Accountability

Introduction

Welcome back. Thank you for tuning in and listening today. Wow, what an incredible week this past week has been. And I just want to start by saying for anyone out there for any reason that’s hurting in pain, frustrated, angry, whatever the case is, I just have a tremendous amount of compassion for you.

No matter what side somebody is on, on any issue, I think the message I want to convey is one of compassion, because I think we need to start with a little more compassion towards ourselves and compassion towards others.

Compassion Over Force

No matter our viewpoints, force and violence are not solutions—they just perpetuate problems.

Understanding, respect, compassion, and love are part of solutions, and I’m more interested in those.

We’re at a pivotal time in life. It’s time for each of us to take accountability for ourselves. Be the leader of your life.

Ask yourself:

• What kind of human do you want to be while you’re doing the things you do?
• Who are you while you do them?

Who Do You Want to Be?

Do you want to be the person that complains, blames, or puts others down to feel elevated?

Or do you want to be someone who takes accountability, who loves, who has compassion, who chooses people over things?

Leadership is not about:

• Blame or finger-pointing
• Division or superiority
• Cloaking bigotry, racism, sexism, or elitism as “free speech”

True leadership is about unity, accountability, and lifting others. It’s about truth, transparency, and responsibility.

Redefining Leadership

Standing up to help the marginalized or those who have not had a voice—that’s leadership.

Conspiracy theories and fake science are not leadership.

Holding people (and ourselves) to a standard of truth and accountability is leadership.

It’s not about who’s right, it’s about what’s right.

Mirror vs. Window: The First Edit

Do we want to be a constant part of the problem—or do we want to make an edit in our life to be the solution?

Instead of going straight to the window of blame and complain, look first into the mirror of change and refrain.

If you don’t like what you see in the mirror, make a decision to do the deep work necessary to change.

Get help if you need it.

My Story: Finding My Compass

I did. I needed intense professional help—and I got it. Through months of therapy, including EMDR, I had to dig deep to accept what I was seeing in the mirror.

In that process, I discovered my internal compass: compassion.

Every time I faced anger, frustration, sadness, or pain—compassion guided me through it.

I had to start with compassion for myself, then extend it to others.

That may not be your compass, and that’s okay. But find yours.

Finding Your Internal Compass

If you’re hurting, frustrated, or angry—dig deep.

Find what can pull you through to the side of solution, not perpetuation of the problem.

You matter.

You can make a difference in your circle of influence.

But you have to start somewhere—start with you.

If you disagree strongly with someone, instead of trying to prove them wrong, try to prove them right.

You might see common ground, or at least gain understanding and respect.

Leadership Lessons from “Good to Great”

In Good to Great, Jim Collins says too many leaders spend their time catering to low performers—bringing everyone down instead of lifting others up.

We can apply this to life:

• Don’t degrade or marginalize.
• Lift others to a higher standard.
• Inspire and motivate instead of blame and shame.

Mirror and Window in Leadership

When there’s success, true leaders look through the window first—to praise those around them.

When there are challenges, true leaders look in the mirror first—to take accountability.

That’s the test of leadership.

Ask yourself:

• When there’s success, who gets the credit?
• When there’s failure, who takes the blame?

Choosing Leaders and Leading Ourselves

As we choose our leaders—personally, professionally, or politically—watch how they respond to success and adversity.

Are they honest, compassionate, hard-working, and accountable?

We’re each in control of ourselves.

The real question is: which mirror and windows are we looking at?

The Compass of Compassion

In tough times, lean into compassion—for yourself and others.

No matter the beliefs, arguments, or divisions, compassion brings us closer to unity.

Then, find your internal compass—the one thing that steadies you when you’re in free fall.

Disconnect to Reconnect

Take time away from social media.

It doesn’t validate you—it manipulates you.

Step back.

Sit in silence, prayer, or meditation.

Ask hard questions.

Get grounded.

If you need help, get it. Real help—not what’s comfortable to hear, but what you need to hear.

The Final Edit

Social media will feed your bias, not your growth.

So take control of yourself.

Be part of the solution, not the noise.

Look in the mirror first—then through the window last.

This was a deep segment, but one that matters. Change has to occur—and it starts within us.

Let’s lean into what lifts, inspires, and unites.

Until next time, let’s make the edits within ourselves that we need—and I’ll get back to medical topics next time.

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