The Courageous Life

Gentle Power - Shifting the Way We Define True Strength | Dr. E. Elisabet Lahti Pt. 2

January 24, 2023 Joshua Steinfeldt Season 3 Episode 70
The Courageous Life
Gentle Power - Shifting the Way We Define True Strength | Dr. E. Elisabet Lahti Pt. 2
Show Notes

Often times gentleness and power can be seen as opposites, ideas or ways of being that may not go together. Today’s guest, Dr. Emilia Elisabet Lahti invites us to rethink this. Sharing a number of insights from her new book Gentle Power: A Revolution in How We Think, Lead and Succeed Using the Finnish Art of Sisu she argues that the intersection of these two qualities can be a catalyst for unlocking some of our greatest potential as people, and as leaders. 

In this episode:

  • We dive into more of Elisabet’s journey including reflections from Sisu Not Silence, a 2400km run across the country of New Zealand which she did to help end the silence around domestic and interpersonal violence. Check out part one with Dr. Lahti (episode 69) for more much more of the backstory on this.
  • She will share key discoveries she gained during the run as well as her martial arts training over the years, and how these insights and revelations were a key part of her research on Gentle Power as an elevated expression of SISU. 
  • We will also take a deep dive into gentleness (what it is, what it’s not, and why it matters)
  • Being nice vs. being kind and why being kind is a training ground for gentle power
  • How gentleness can transform into strength when it meets difficulty
  • Elisabet’s in the moment practices for cultivating gentle power in difficult conversations
  • Questions to help cultivate self-awareness that may be the first step toward unlocking true power
  • The importance of humility and how it relates to true power
  • And more!

Pick up your copy of Gentle Power now and learn more about Dr. Lahti at sisulab.com

About Dr. Emilia Elisabet Lahti:

Emilia Elisabet Lahti, who goes by her second name Elisabet, is an awarded educator, applied psychology researcher, published author, and international presenter on topics of inner strength in times of adversity and transformation through self-leadership. Elisabet studied applied positive psychology at the University of Pennsylvania under the guidance of Dr. Martin Seligman and completed a PhD at Aalto University in Finland in which she pioneered the research on the Finnish construct of sisu (a psychological strength potential referring to extraordinary determination, courage and resoluteness in the face of extreme adversity). She is passionate about the study of human flourishing and cultivation of virtues, and to determine how these can be leveraged on a systemic level to promote worldwide change. Founder of Sisu Lab which builds communities and organizational cultures based on everyday leadership as expression of courage and compassion. Her work has been featured in The New Yorker, Business Insider, BBC, and Forbes. Originally from Finland, she’s taught internationally and given talks at Fortune 500 companies. 

You can find more more information and resources at www.sisulab.com.


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