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The U.S. City Leaders call on January 7th featured our second conversation with Dr. Reggie McNeal, Jim Liske and Lisa Mathews. The time was rich with insights and encouragement, as Dr. McNeal highlighted the importance of both self-awareness and self-management for leaders. The irony is that we don’t come to self-awareness on our own, he said. And the pain we encounter in our lives forces us to reflect in necessary ways, while developing “failure tolerance” gives us the capacity to risk that pain. As leaders, we can model this process for those in our constellation of influence, which leads to a culture of grace.

With a fresh perspective on the concept of a sabbath, Dr. McNeal emphasized that rest is important but reflection is also key. He gave two powerful analogies of what rest and reflection can look like – reviewing film with your football coach and dating your wife – that provide great insight into the importance of making the time and allowing the Holy Spirit to be present in it.