Spiritual Foundations for Leadership

How important is spirituality in your life?

When I lived in Los Angeles, as a  working actor, I spent my free time doing yoga and making art. I first started doing yoga to help my focus, and I chose Hatha Yoga at the time. I checked out books from the library and put a mat in my apartment and did thirty minutes a day. When I finally got to a studio, it blew my mind. My favorite yoga is Bikram. It’s the one I will settle on for life. It’s played one of the greatest roles in my healing journey. I welcome the 90-minute struggle.

The rest of my spiritual life is more nuanced. Mary Magdalene and Maryam are both key to my spiritual life. They are the foundation of what I’m doing. Simply having their images in my home brings peace. I love to go to various Marian sites and leave flowers and prayers. There is an entire ritual to the things I do, and when I do them, I am living my highest self.

I woke up this morning thinking of St. Ignatius of Loyola. He was the Spanish saint of the abused and down trodden. His flock was like Oshun’s. He was a Jesuit, and if you know my heart for Papa Francisco, I will always believe it was a sign from him. This is a gentle reminder to be there for my ladies. The ones whose stories get hidden behind some ugly things. Also for my son’s. Because when you speak to the heart of men, even when it’s tough, they will look out for you.