There was a time when I felt like a passenger in my own mind. Despite outward success, I couldn’t understand why certain days left me feeling disconnected from my purpose, my team, and even myself. I had mastered strategic planning, financial projections, and market analysis, yet the most complex system remained my own thoughts.
Then, in 2015, I found myself watching “Inside Out” repeatedly, captivated by its genius. Not just because it was a brilliant film, but because I recognized something profound happening on screen. Each character represented a different emotion, bringing to life the internal dialogue we all experience but rarely discuss in boardrooms or executive retreats.
As I watched those animated emotions anger, happiness, sadness, disgust, and fear interact inside an 11-year-old’s mind, I saw the same conversations happening in my own head. That hilarious, sometimes chaotic interchange of voices leaves us feeling pulled in different directions, even as we maintain composed exteriors in leadership meetings.
Sometimes, I fully identify with one emotion. Other times, I loved or hated them all equally. Often, I couldn’t choose between them. This is what we simply call confusion or lack of clarity, that moment when we don’t know which voice to trust with the wheel of our leadership decisions.
What struck me most was realizing I hadn’t known I could choose which emotion would drive my actions and responses. Before this awareness, I felt like I was on a spinning carousel, lacking control over my own reactions. How many decisions had I made from fear rather than wisdom? How often had anger taken control when patience would have transformed the outcome?
I noticed something profound in the film when happiness took control with the simple goal of feeling good; everything aligned toward the best possible outcome. This resonated deeply with me. When I’m in a state of love, I’m happy. And this, I realized, is the sign I’d been looking for in my leadership journey.
Over the years of working with high-achieving executives, I’ve discovered this is everyone’s purpose beneath the metrics and the suit. We all want to feel love in our work, in our impact, in our legacy.
So, I made a conscious decision, inspired by the most unexpected source. I would fully trust and give control to one voice inside me: the voice of love. Not the sentimentalized version that avoids difficult conversations, but the authentic love that seeks the highest good for yourself and others.
This doesn’t mean silencing other emotions. They all have a place in effective leadership. They’re allowed to speak, comment, and stay awhile if they insist. But the guiding voice, the one that benefits us all and creates harmony among competing desires and priorities, is love.
Even the most challenging leadership decisions become clear. When I learned to love all parts of myself, all the voices inside me, I found myself naturally extending that love to everyone around me, my team, my clients, and even my competitors.
Which emotion will you choose to rule your leadership self?
If you’re ready to master your mindset and take control of your success from the inside out, I invite you to schedule a complimentary evaluation call with me.
Together, we’ll uncover the leader Within.
With more amore,
Mor Rotem
The CEO Mindset Mentor | Emotional Intelligence for Leaders
