It’s so easy for us to live and lead ensnared in our racing minds. To move from hour to hour toggling between the past and the future—questionning ourselves to the point of paralysis, and hyper-focusing on details we tell ourselves are “critical.”
This state of mind is a trap that robs us from experiencing the depth of this human truth: We are more powerful than we know.
A Shared Human Mission: 2,300 Miles on Foot
On October 26, 2025, a group of 24 venerable monks from Fort Worth, TX set out on foot on a 2,300-mile journey to Washington, DC. They were led by Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara—by their side was a stray pup named Aloka. The multi-generational group was guided by a vision to travel from where they were to where they wanted to go and a singular, shared human mission: walk for peace.
Their journey started quietly, humbly, and purposefully. They walked as mindfully as they live.
They didn’t carry political signs or country flags. They had no megaphones to announce their arrival.
They carried a single white flag and one other that said, “Walk for Peace”.
These two flags carried by the group, represented all of us—the hope, agency, and ability we have to leave a meaningful mark in this life—evidence that we lived intentionally.
During the early days of their journey, they were greeted by very small groups of people waiting quietly on the side of the road—welcoming them with silent bows of respect, toothy smiles, and eyes that were as full of tears as their hearts were of love.
With each purposeful step, one then another, the small groups grew into large crowds— thousands of souls young and old waiting just as quietly and reverently on the side of the road.
Leading Through Adversity
The monks’ journey was lengthy and uncertain. They faced adverse conditions: rough terrain, extreme weather, and an accident that cost one monk his leg—metaphors for the adversity and unprecedented uncertainty many of us face today as humans and leaders.
The millions of steps they took were often uncomfortable, challenging, and physically exhausting. They could have found any number of reasons to give up, call it quits, and go home. But that isn’t how their story unfolded.
Mindfulness guided every forward step they took together. They stayed present with all that was—their mindset and mental agility became their superpowers.
Their shared mission, that began with a shared human vision, was fueled by mindfulness and their collective belief in their ability to successfully complete the challenging journey together.
The parallels between their journey and the one so many leaders are facing in the 2026 AI-era were not lost on me.
Day 91: Raleigh, NC
I was fortunate enough to walk alongside the monks on Day 91 when they stopped in my home city of Raleigh, NC. Our streets were lined with thousands of people gathered in freezing temperatures—just ahead of a snowstorm—to witness their spirit and soak in their presence.
As we stood together on the lawn of our Capitol building, I remembered that what we share as people is far greater and more powerful than what divides us—a transformative fact that can be difficult for we humans to remember these days.
Lessons in Humanity and Leadership
The monks and their sweet pup Aloka, now fully part of the pack, made it to D.C. yesterday—two days ahead of schedule, despite all of the adversity they navigated along the way.
As I reflect on their incredible journey that they accomplished against countless odds, my mind goes to the leadership lessons this group of monks (and their pup) have to offer us about humanity, leadership, and the unrivaled power of living mindfully with a daring, shared vision.
✵ Vision: Leading with a shared human vision creates the foundation for collaboration, mutual support, cooperation, and realizing collective greatness beyond our wildest individual imagination.
✵ Commitment: Holding a shared commitment, and understanding our role within it, motivates the people we lead to press on in the face of adversity, uncertainty, and exhaustion.
✵ Presence: Paired with purpose and determination, presence provides the mental environment we need to lead one meaningful step at a time.
✵ Adaptability: Mental flexibility creates adaptability and resilience. When we lead with grounded, focused minds we heighten our ability to adapt and find a way forward.
✵ Belief: An essential leadership trait that fuels us to keep going even when it’s scary as hell and the terrain ahead is rough.
✵ Mindset is our choice. Agency is our power. Mindfulness is a cognitive skill that keeps us grounded and focused. It creates the mental conditions that support us to thrive during change, lead intentionally, and live fully.
✵ We are never alone. We can find our people and our purpose, even when we feel most lost. Aloka taught us we just need to be courageous enough to go out into the world, look for our pack, and be vulnerable enough to admit we need one another.
✵ Humility, compassion, and love are traits of powerful leaders. The monks walked every step of those 2,300 miles as they live: quietly, humbly, and purposefully. Their journey reminds me that the most powerful leadership traits are human.
Mindful Leadership: An Invitation to Authenticity
Our brave new world is full of complexity, noise, adversity, and uncertainty. It can be tempting to become overwrought by anxiety and believe that we can’t make a difference.
It can be so damn tempting to throw our hands up and give in—to tell ourselves the problems we face are too big to solve. It can be tempting to lose faith in humanity.
I know because somedays, I feel it too.
It’s a daring choice to remember that we’re powerful. One that requires us to be courageous enough to exercise our agency. And as we do, a heart to make sure the vision and mission we have, serves a big human purpose. Lastly, it’s absolutely essential to remember that by taking one small step then another, together, we can achieve more than we’ve ever dared to dream.
I am eternally grateful for the Venerable monks, Aloka, and the team who supported them. (And Venerable monks, just in case you happen to read this…)
THANK YOU for choosing to live outside of your comfort zone to live into a powerful human vision.
THANK YOU for the human lessons you shared quietly and humbly that transcend time.
Your 2,300-mile journey, on foot, reminds me of this: When mindfulness guides our hearts, minds, and lives, we step into the agency we have to live as our whole, authentic human selves—refusing to accept “neck up” as ever good enough.
Start Your Journey
Reclaiming your agency doesn’t require a 2,300-mile walk, but it does require the choice to live and lead mindfully.
If you’re ready to stop toggling between the past and future and start living and leading as your whole, authentic self, let’s explore how mindset coaching can support your journey.
Book your discovery call and take your next meaningful step.
Learn more about The Walk for Peace. Visit their website.
