Learning from Nature Archives - Hyun Jin Preston Moon

Tree Nursery Initiative Promotes Sustainable Development and Peace in Kenya

Editor — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 16:01:49 +0000

“This natural world is our common home, a blessing to all people for our mutual benefit. Therefore it is our shared responsibility to care for our environment, use resources in wise and sustainable ways, and conserve the bounty of nature for the well-being of present and future generations. When we live in accordance with universal laws and in harmony with the natural world, we can best tap the resourceful energy of human creativity. Innovative leadership focuses that energy to find new and inventive approaches to solve problems and create new opportunities.” —Dr. Hyun Jin P. Moon

Many Global Peace Foundation programs incorporate a culture of service and environmental conservation into the moral and innovative leadership education of young people around the world. Leadership that considers the concerns of the entire human family, especially in preserving the natural environment we share, can best promote a higher quality of life for our entire human family, and lay the groundwork for sustainable peace. One example of this impactful process is GPF Kenya, which is establishing tree nurseries at schools nurtured by students and representatives from partners in the local communities.

In an ongoing effort to protect environmental conservation, Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Kenya is working with partners to establish tree nurseries.

Key partners met in January 2024 to inspect one tree nursery at Lenana School. The Lenana School tree nursery is one of eleven tree nurseries slated for establishment in 2024. This collaborative effort underscores a commitment to environmental sustainability and aligns with the national tree-growing strategy, aiming to plant 15 billion trees by 2032.

The tree nursery initiative plays a crucial role in fostering the growth of saplings, which will, in turn, contribute to the realization of the ambitious target set by the national tree-growing strategy. The initiative focuses on the quantity and quality of the trees being planted, ensuring that they thrive and make a lasting impact on the environment.

The many partners have brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the project.

GPF Kenya has been a driving force in promoting peace and social development, becoming an instrumental partner in initiatives like this one that address global challenges.

The Global Peace Foundation and its partners’ joint efforts in establishing the tree nursery at Lenana School exemplify a model of collaboration for a shared vision. As they align with the national tree-growing strategy, the initiative not only contributes to the country’s environmental goals but also stands as a testament to the collective impact that can be achieved through strategic partnerships.

The original post appears on Global Peace Foundation. Global Peace Foundation is an international non-sectarian, non-partisan, nonprofit organization, which promotes an innovative, values-based approach to peacebuilding, guided by the vision of One Family under God. GPF engages and organizes a global network of public and private-sector partners who develop community, national, and regional peacebuilding models as the foundation for ethical and cohesive societies. Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon is the founder and chairman of the Global Peace Foundation.

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Education for Life

Editor — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 20:25:41 +0000

In nature, a butterfly struggles to emerge from a cocoon. It is difficult and painful. Yet, were the butterfly cut out of its cocoon, without the vigorous physical exercise required to get out of the cocoon, the butterfly’s wings remain weak, brittle and it is ultimately unable to fly. We might take note of this to take a bigger view of the bitter and difficult experiences our children will need to go through.

Though it is the natural desire of parents to protect their children and help them succeed, this kind of parenting takes away opportunities for children to grow and gain independence. In The Coddling of the American Mind, Jonathan Haidt and Luke Kianoff surmise that the cause of “hothouse children” is a result of “a consistent message from adults: life is dangerous, but adults will do everything in their power to protect you from harm, not just from strangers but from one another as well.”

The dangers of this kind of parenting may not be immediately obvious, but underlying this idea is that children are fragile, weak, and unable to make his or her own choices.

The former editor-in-chief and editor-at-large of Psychology Today, Hara Estroff Marano, writes:

“Having had—or been allowed to have—few disappointments in their overparented, overtrophied lives, many have not learned to handle difficulty. In the absence of skills to dispel disappointment, difficulty becomes catastrophe.”

These hothouse children often come to expect or demand protection in exchange for essential qualities for a fulfilling life: agency, independence, and responsibility. A fuller view of life requires us to understand that the “hard things” are essential to realizing our innate potential.

This realization leads to a revision in the perspective of education.

A principal of a small kindergarten in the western edge of Tokyo explained, “Every child is strong; strength comes from within. So we have to step back and question if what we’re doing is for the good of the child or the convenience of the parent.”

The principal encourages parents to set clear limits and then to step back to let children learn and grow. The “education for the future” program in his school is designed with the idea that education needs to consider the long-term needs of the children. Within clearly defined boundaries, children are encouraged to play and to find answers for themselves.

“I want to consider what kind of adult the child will become… that the education each child receives here will help them to know that they are strong and help them to become responsible citizens.”

Parenting and education need to be for the sake of the child as well as for the good of society. Families can directly contribute to the health of a nation by raising strong, virtuous, and interdependent adults capable of making good choices and motivated to serve the greater good.

Schools can support this kind of education but as the primary locus of learning and self-understanding, the family can take a greater role in leading us back to education that prepares children for the future.

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Preparing for Spring

Editor — Thu, 28 May 2020 16:07:21 +0000

The Right Attitude in Times of Challenge

The more we overcome, the more we gain in wisdom, understanding, and building a character that does not give way to panic in times of crisis.

In the US Pacific Northwest, spring is a big deal. From the dark, rainy, sometimes snowy winter, suddenly the sun emerges and everywhere splashes of color burst out in pink, white, yellow, purple, and red.

Driving through the mountain roads, the same roads that just a week ago were too perilous to cross without tire chains, the transformation is evident. Such a drastic transition from cold and grey, to warm and colorful, makes us pause, and ask: did we use the winter to prepare to welcome spring?

Winter is hard. It challenges us, but how we weather it determines how we greet spring. Planters in the Northwest know that a cold snap is an important step for some seeds to begin gestation.

When we lose sight of the cycle of death and rebirth, and the opportunities for growth and learning that the hard times in life give us, then when the sun hides its face, when things are no longer joyfully colorful, when the warm breeze is replaced by a cold, wet squall, we lose a very important opportunity for reflection, cleansing, and reorientation.

This winter had more snow than usual, and it lasted through April. For many, there are moments where the feeling of being hopeless and empty in the face of the endless wet and cold start to seep in. In those moments of inner challenge, we have the opportunity to readjust our bearings and keep sight of what the experience of winter teaches us and does for us. Snow, for one, shows us a completely different viewpoint on the same landscape. And, there are so many things possible with snow. But also, in the cold, the unnecessary things, mold, critters in the house, are cleared, and we prepare for a new life – if we keep perspective.

It is the same in life. There will inevitably be challenges in life, patches of winter here, and there. But winter gives us an opportunity to check our attitude, connect with God, the source of our inspiration, strength, and wisdom, slough off excess growth and strip down to the essentials, and make room for new possibilities. If we allow it. And sometimes winters last longer than we want it to, but if we realize that maybe there is more to go through, we can take full advantage of the opportunity it presents. Then when the land warms up, and the buds peak their heads out of the thawing ground, and the birds begin to sing again, we can greet spring, without past baggage, transformed by winter, ready to face our next chapter in life.

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Ways Nature Can Make Better Leaders

Editor — Fri, 23 Nov 2018 08:01:24 +0000

A group of college students from across the United States came together to participate in a week-long hiking trip in the iconic wildernesses of Montana. Emerging from barren hills spiked with burnt trees, snow-covered mountain peaks and shining crystal lakes, this group of young people changed in ways that were inevitably difficult to articulate. Afterwards, they wrote simple but profound reflections on how nature can be a crucible for leadership development and not just a picture on the background of their smartphones and computers.

Arguably the best classroom for life, nature is the perfect space for youth to become the kind of leaders our world needs today. Without any fuss, nature forces all that engage with it to face themselves, leaving behind any pretensions or masks they may put up for those around them.

In the words of college youth post-hike, here is why time spent in nature can make you a better leader:

Good leaders do not strive to be comfortable; they take risks and face their weaknesses. Every team member was required to take on different leadership roles each day, like trail lead (orienteering and pace control) and medic (administrating first aid).

“Even with all the peace and beauty of nature that surrounded us, I often struggled from the discomfort that came with the responsibilities of my role. Stemming from my shyness, I continuously faced a weakness that I knew all too well — my fear of making mistakes.

I was unfamiliar with the tasks of my assigned role… As a result, I found myself doing the bare minimum. Although I was able to avoid making big mistakes, I soon became consumed by a sense of defeat that followed my escape from the challenge.

I now realize that such a challenge was precisely the gift that nature offered, presenting me with the opportunity to identify and observe my weaknesses.”

Leave behind distractions; focus on the present, the presence of the people around you. Montana mountains don’t come with power outlets. Leaving behind the constant availability of technological conveniences, the hikers quickly realized how much there was to live for in the moment, not surfing the web or playing games on their phones.

College students pumping water together for meal prep

“In the mountains, we were without our phones and other man-made distractions. We were forced to use the natural things around us, to watch over and care for others, and ask for help if we needed. Even just after five days, I experienced that we literally had to live for the sake of others in order to survive. It is only natural that we worried for others and also depended on others.”

“In my daily life, surrounded by flashy technology, busy schedules and social interactions, it is easy for me to ignore the flaws in my character that hold me back. Making excuses was easy in such an environment filled with distractions.

‘I can forget about it for now.’

‘I have more important things to do.’

This constant delay in solving my problems led to negative emotions that I avoided by watching TV-shows and playing video games.

But, such tricks don’t work in nature.

When I was having a difficult time confronting my weaknesses, I couldn’t rely on a YouTube video and my favorite snack to distract myself. Instead, I had no choice but to face myself. The purity and simplicity of nature was such that I had to face my flaws and that helped me to set a sincere determination to overcome them. I came away on that day with a deeper understanding of myself.”

You already have everything you need to be a leader. There may be many improvements to be made within each of us that we must discover ourselves, but the materials we need to become great leaders are already available to every one of us. It takes grit, humility to learn from others, and a constant positive attitude.

Leading the team to the day’s destination

“When out in nature, I also saw that it does not take much for us to live happily in this physical world. Even in the woods, God had provided us with everything we need to live. Besides the food that we brought with us (or could have gotten from hunting and fishing if necessary), we had streams for water, flat and grassy lands for comfortable shelter, trees to hang food away from bears, wood to build warm fires, and all of nature’s beauty to enjoy. As we hiked during the day and rested during the nights, we also had one another to interact with and learn from.

They say that people learn a lot about one another and bond closely when we live together in the mountains, and I think that is very true! It was very refreshing to talk to my brothers and sisters not just about how they are doing, but also have conversations on a deeper level.”

Turn off your phone. Nature is calling.

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3 Ways Nature Makes You Happier

Editor — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 16:28:01 +0000

“Spirituality is a basis of fundamental truths – the universal aspirations, principles, and values acknowledged by all people, regardless of race, regardless of nationality, regardless of ethnicity and most of all, regardless of religion. For me, the clearest evidence and greatest lessons about this essential spirituality are found in nature. In the wilderness, one comes to understand that there is an essence to life far greater than things in our material lives.”Dr. Hyun Jin P. Moon

When was the last time you took a hike or went outdoors and escaped to nature? Going out into nature holds some not so secret benefits to your overall health and happiness and unlike gym memberships or every other therapy of choice, it’s free. Here are 3 Ways Nature Makes You Happier:

Happy in BodyThe physical exertion for any number of outdoor sports and activities keeps your body fit inside and out. The constantly changing environment is refreshing and asks your body to be challenged, adapt and become stronger (and wiser). Not to mention, wind resistance can naturally help you burn more calories 😉 .You will be stronger, healthier, and more confident in your ability to tackle new challenges.

Happy in MindPerhaps it is the fresh air filling your lungs, or the environment free of the distraction and noise of your busy life, or the piercing awareness of your aching, tired body as you climb upwards on your hike that brings you to reflect on the current state of your mind and body, your goals, dreams, and aspirations.Studies show that the simple act of walking in nature puts you at lower risk for depression. One study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, compared people who walked in a high-traffic urban setting to those who walked for 90 minutes in a natural area, with the conclusion that the participants in nature showed decreased activity in a region of the brain associated with a key factor in depression.

Happy in SpiritWith all the advances in technology, medicine, and all sciences, one would think modern conveniences would be enough to satisfy our human needs, however, as each outdoor experience will prove, there is a something deeper, more spiritual that flourishes in the raw beauty and challenge of our natural world.There are so many things to worry about, whether it is school, work, friends, or family, once you descend from the mountain and return to your normal routine. But right now, you see the forest breathing with life, one living thing living for another in an endless cycle sustaining a larger system to allow life to continue and flourish. And as you stand there observing, maybe it hits you that you are a part of that system, too. Maybe the problems that plague us at home or in society stem from this simple point we forgot in our detachment from nature: we forgot how to live for others. Nature teaches us to care for ourselves, to be strong in body and heart, not for our own sake, but so that we can care for each other, helping each other flourish and contribute something beautiful to the greater whole. Still need inspiration? Take a hike.

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Knowing Our Earth: Environmental Stewardship 101

Main — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 09:00:49 +0000

Originally posted on April 23, 2012. Updated on April 19, 2018.

Today, we are looking for ways to protect our planet and build a sustainable future. But the solution lies deeper than at the bottom of a recycling bin.

We are facing the question of stewardship. To become better stewards of our environment, we need to cultivate our relationship with the natural world.

Without first-hand experiences with creation we become detached from the value of the natural world. A fisherman knows the footprint he leaves when he catches a fish. If you’ve planted a seed and nurtured it to fruition, helped a sow give birth to her calf, or caught and cleaned a trout for dinner, you have experienced the delicate relationship we have with the natural world.

Dr. Hyun Jin Moon admires the majesty of creation during a trek through the mountains.

The first step to becoming better stewards of this earth is to go out and get to know the life on this earth. Those experiences will help us gain a deeper understanding of who we are and the role we play in learning how to live in harmony with our earth.

American environmental lawyer, Gus Speth, once said, “I used to think the top environmental problems were biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse, and climate change. I thought that with 30 years of good science we could address those problems. But I was wrong. The top environmental problems are selfishness, greed and apathy… to deal with those we need a spiritual and cultural transformation.”

When we understand the beauty of the world we live in, we expand our gratitude for it, providing the fuel and passion that is combined with the knowledge to come up with creative solutions and innovations.

We become better stewards of this earth when we become aware of our mark on the ecosystem. The natural world gives us and teaches us so much. If we knew how intimately we are related to the local plants, animals and waterways, we would better preserve and serve those ecosystems.

What are ways you can become a better steward for the environment this International Mother Earth Day?

MORE: 4 Lessons on Leadership from Mother Nature

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Finding True North on a Moral Compass

Editor — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 15:41:06 +0000

“This is called a compass,” the experienced mountaineer addressed myself and my peers in the remote wilderness of Montana, facetiously holding up the orienteering object to a crowd of smiling teenagers and twenty-somethings.

If you are like me, you have grown accustomed to the comforts of your smartphone and its convenient GPS features and would also find yourself laughing at the idea of having to use the archaic device. But soon, it would be no laughing matter.

As part of a youth leadership development program, I would spend the next week in the captivating beauty of Montana’s Tobacco Root mountain range, sometimes having to go off trail to scale summits and traverse valleys.

View from the top of Horse Mountain in the Tobacco Root mountain range.

Before embarking on our adventure we would spend the first day in teams, testing our orienteering skills with a map and compass to find and collect flags spread across a fenced off terrain pocketed with forested areas and small mountains. Every flag was worth a varying number of points and being late to the finish line meant those points would degrade every minute.

Although young and fairly athletic, the day proved to be a challenge for all of us. As a team, one of the greatest challenges was respecting each other’s opinions and strategies. Strength and determination are essential qualities on a competitive path to accomplish any goal, but without a clear sense of purpose and direction and the humility and wisdom to see from alternative perspectives other than your own, we waste valuable time and energy wandering around.

This is true when we’re out in the wilderness with a map and compass and when we attempt to navigate our everyday lives.

Moral compass is a common phrase used to reference our ability as human beings to judge what is right and wrong and take action accordingly.

When our teacher showed us how to find “true north” using our compass, he also explained how adventurers could wander from their direction by greater and greater degrees simply by not consistently checking their compass as they went.

This lesson is relevant for our own journey in life. What is your vision? What is your goal? What is your True North?

Checking your compass means a lot of consistent (and honest) reflection. If you’re off by any number of degrees, you better adjust or you are in danger of losing your way.

There are times to simply enjoy the breathtaking views around you. But the sun feels so much warmer and the water so much more refreshing when you know exactly where you are and where you are going.

This testimony on the power of nature in leadership development is contributed by a participant of True North Adventures Outdoor Education: a week-long leadership program held in the wilderness of Montana.

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The Transforming Power of the Wilderness

Editor — Fri, 02 Jun 2017 08:00:14 +0000

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. Albert Einstein

For centuries, poets, authors, religious leaders, scientists and great minds from around the world have acknowledged the irreplaceable lessons on leadership, self-discovery and self-mastery provided by nature.

A select group of young leaders from around the world discovered just how transformative the wilderness can be, surprised to discover their innate passion to become global citizens and their extraordinary leadership potential in an outdoor adventure as part of the Global Peace Youth Exchange (GPYE) held in Nepal last April.

Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon credits the natural world as one of the best classrooms for leadership and reflection. “In the wilderness, one comes to understand that there is an essence to life far greater than things in our material lives. That is why I go to the mountains when I want to reflect deeply and renew my spirit.”

The youth division of Global Peace Foundation (GPF) challenges young leaders with outdoor adventure programs like the most recent one in Nepal as an essential tool for leadership and character development. Nature treats every human being the same, no matter our nationality, ethnicity, or religious or political beliefs. In nature, we learn to see each other and ourselves for who we really are, growing as individuals and as members of a larger team.

GPYE delegates meet villagers living out of tin and wood houses

Beginning with a cultural and service expedition to Nepal’s Patle village, a remote community hit by the devastating earthquake in 2015, one GPYE delegate was deeply touched by the kind welcome of the villagers, many of whom were living out of temporary houses made of tin and wood. Their attitude was so overwhelming that Isha Poudel could easily overlook what the villagers lacked and instead pointed out their wealth of compassion and happiness saying, “You don’t always need a house to make it a home and you don’t always need books to learn lessons.”

The GPYE adventurers were sure to learn many new lessons as they took on the rapids of Trishuli River and the steep heights of Poon Hill. Facing their challenges and fears together, the delegates rafted for three hours through the rushing river, learning the importance of teamwork and recognizing the unique value of each member of their team. The rapids seemed to wash away the Global Peace Volunteers’ differences and bring them even closer together.

Joyce Cuerbo from the Philippines described the outdoor challenge as the greatest way to discover her strengths and weaknesses. “The experience of meeting everybody, from the locals to different nationalities, broadened my perception and vision of the world.”

Joyce Cuerbo pauses during the GPYE hike to reflect

Upon reaching the summit of their mountain challenge after four long days, Farah Afzan Faridi from Malaysia reflected, “It is not about the success of reaching the top but how all of us could manage to reach the top together through our leadership.”

Filipino delegate Yussef Paglas was transformed by the adventure. “Traveling with people from across the nations and sharing stories about each other’s lives has made me realize how amazingly connected we all are. This program gave me inner strength to face the obstacles in my life.”

The original post appears on Global Peace Foundation. Global Peace Foundation is an international non-sectarian, non-partisan, nonprofit organization, which promotes an innovative, values-based approach to peacebuilding, guided by the vision of One Family under God. GPF engages and organizes a global network of public and private-sector partners who develop community, national, and regional peace building models as the foundation for ethical and cohesive societies. Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon is founder and chairman of the Global Peace Foundation.

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4 Lessons on Leadership from Mother Nature

Editor — Wed, 31 May 2017 15:24:46 +0000

Nature is one of humankind’s greatest classrooms. In nature, we are tested physically and mentally. We learn who we really are as leaders and spiritual beings, and how we are connected and responsible for each other as part of one human family.

We face our true selves in an environment that has no regard for race, religion, wealth and position in society, and treats us exactly how we are. This is what makes nature a prime space to reflect, learn and grow.

Here are four lessons on leadership from nature:

Challenge is good

The gnarled branches of a Bristlecone Pine reach out in the Sierra Desert

The Bristlecone Pine is the oldest known organism on Earth, living for over 5,000 years in extremely harsh conditions year-round in the Rockies and Sierra. What is the lesson?

As human beings, we face our fair share of struggles in the natural world, however, as former United States first lady Abigail Adams stated, “It is not in the still calm of life that great characters are formed. The habits of a vigorous mind are formed in contending with difficulties.”

Facing challenge with a negative mindset can easily set you up for failure and pain, not only physically, but especially mentally. However, when we approach challenge positively focusing on our goals, we become resilient, capable of withstanding tough situations and coming out the other side stronger in body and mind.

Challenge helps you discover who you really are and where you are at as a leader. We learn what we are capable of, what is most valuable to us, and where we want to end up and how to get there.

Innovation

Engraving of Martin Luther King Jr. at his memorial in Washington DC

Nature is wild; life is not always predictable. We can’t always foresee the circumstances that will affect our life everyday, but we can control the way we respond. Civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. expressed the importance of facing challenge with the flexibility of creative solutions when he said, “Our very survival depends on our ability to stay awake, to adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant and to face the challenge of change.” With a positive attitude and our creative and unique qualities as individuals and members of a bigger family, we have the capacity to pull together people and resources to forge new solutions to the challenges presented to us.

In nature, there is a continuous cycle full of transitions that allow balance and harmony. As a leader, it is essential to recognize how to move forward, transitioning from one stage to the next for the benefit of the whole.

Leadership is living for the sake of others

Everything in nature contributes to the life of others, even in death. As one organism passes away, it leaves behind nutrition and sustenance for another. Wildfires help to release nutrients in the soil and improve nutrient cycling. Animals and plants together recycle oxygen and carbon dioxide to breathe.

As stated by an Indian poet, “Nothing in nature lives for itself. Rivers don’t drink their own water. Trees don’t eat their own fruit. Sun doesn’t give heat for itself. Flowers don’t spread fragrance for themselves. Living for others is the Rule of Nature.”

Leadership is about living for the greater good, and gaining vitality in doing so. True Leadership considers not the survival of oneself, but ensuring the survival, happiness and quality of life for generations to come.

Have a clear vision

Whether you are in the wilderness alone or in a group, having a clear long-term vision is not only important for the proper frame of mind that enables you to glean the knowledge around you, but it is also essential to your survival.

A well-prepared mountain climber nears the summit of the Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps

Leaders need to convey the greater vision to others consistently and through their own actions as a role model. Without a clear vision, we risk making unnecessary mistakes, missing valuable opportunities to learn (even from our failures), wasting valuable time, and losing our capacity to take on perspectives that could save lives now and in the future.

In addition to preparing the knowledge and supplies to face the possible dangers of the harsh environment of the great outdoors, experienced mountaineers outline a clear vision and goal that gives them mental toughness to tackle challenges along the journey.

For a seasoned mountain climber, vision does not just involve summiting a peak or reaching a specific destination. The summit is merely a marker along a grander journey that may include multiple mountain ranges, and countless experiences, including some failures, all of which become lessons for the seasoned outdoorsman that carry over to the next great adventure. Every experience is a lesson contributing towards a bigger vision.

As the Dalai Lama once said, “In order to carry a positive action we must develop here a positive vision.”

While these are four critical lessons, the most important takeaway from our experience with nature is our ability to nurture an attitude of positivity and resilience in becoming leaders with both moral and innovative capacities to contribute to a better world.

So get out there. Nature is waiting.

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Morality and Innovation: Two Sides of a Coin

Editor — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 20:15:58 +0000

“When we live in accordance with universal laws and in harmony with the natural world, we can best tap the resourceful energy of human creativity. Innovative leadership focuses that energy to find new and inventive approaches to solve problems and create new opportunities.” –Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon

We may all be equally affected by the elements of our natural world, but it is the code we live by that determines how we react to our environment. It takes innovation to come up with creative solutions that address the challenges at hand.

Nature can be seen as one of the greatest classrooms for people to experience self-discovery and provide inspiration for innovative solutions to the challenges humanity faces every day. In facing harsh elements, people must adjust to survive, using critical thinking and reflection to take action.

Innovation alone, however, is only one aspect of the new kind of leadership desperately needed today.

“A true leader’s position should not reflect any self-serving personal or political interests but benefit ‘the greater good’ of humanity. The moral aspect of leadership provides a vision rooted in universal aspirations, principles and values, while the innovative aspect of leadership provides the methods through which the vision can be realized. They are like two sides of a coin.” -Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon

No matter what our background, ethnicity, religious or politic beliefs, as human beings sharing this planet, our lives are governed not just by the natural laws surrounding us, but also by the principles that guide our everyday actions and reactions. This moral aspect of leadership provides focus and purpose behind innovative solutions that address the greater good of communities and societies.

Through our experiences with nature, we have the opportunity to reflect on these natural laws, including the most basic: the cycle of life and death. From the changing of seasons to the habits of wildlife, there are many examples. Salmon is one example of a species that plays a key role in spreading nutrients between the oceans and rivers, ensuring healthy future ecosystems. New fish migrate from rivers to the sea, where they spend the majority of their lifespan before returning again to riverbeds to spawn. This journey back to freshwater drains the salmon of fat and muscle storage. After preparing a bed for the fertilized eggs, both the male and female salmon die, supplying the river habitat with the nutrients it will need to survive so that future generations may continue the cycle.

Moral and innovative leadership at its essence is the idea of using power, creativity, and energy for the sake of improving the lives of others. When individuals live with transparency and selflessness in their positions of influence, living by a code that puts the needs of others before their own, they build trust and respect. This will inevitably lead to infinite potential for further influence, creating a chain reaction of positive change.

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