#also 'nature is hierarchical there are leaders and followers'

[thedreadvampy]

me at the women in leadership conference: ah yes I will be so good at corporate leadership, I have many leadership insights

me at the pub an hour later: *actually uses leadership skills for labour organising like a boss*

[nyaagolor]

Paldean League Worldbuilding

aka how Geeta is reshaping the poke-economy and making herself the most hated woman ever in the process

I generally try to keep any sort of real world analogues out of my HCs for Pokemon bc I think it's more of a utopian society and doesn't need to operate on the same logic of economics or politics as irl, but swsh and sv seem more grounded in our reality so I've been thinking about them (especially sv) a LOT. Decided I would just dump all my musings and HCs about the paldean league here if only to organize it all. Also disclaimer that I am not an economist and will never pretend to be so it’s more than likely this system would never work irl but it’s pokemon so it’s fine

The Galarian and Paldean Leagues always struck me as relatively recent, at least in terms of their current operation, and mostly spearheaded by a super ambitious head of operations who restructured the entire place as soon as they got there. I'll talk about Galar in another post, but atm Paldea has my brain in a chokehold so this is all about them

My main HC about the Paldean League is that up until extremely recently (20 years ago give or take I'm not doing specific timelines here) the Paldean League was extremely corrupt and poorly run. When the Paldean empire collapsed, the League was formed as a way to try and maintain the status quo and keep power in the hands of those who previously held it. It was, and continued to be for the next few centuries, an oligarchy. No one in the system was elected, and those in lower positions had to be personally selected and approved by their superiors. There were no checks and balances, so the people at the top could and did maintain power indefinitely. By the time we reached 20~ years before the main story, the structure was as follows:

Chairman: The leader of the entire thing. Has absolute power over everyone else in the system. Does all the boring stuff Top Champion: A battler and figurehead for the public. The "face" of the League, but generally not in charge of anything and has no political power. Their battle with up and coming trainers determines whether they get champion rank ^ If ur thinking this is similar to the Galar League, you'd be correct. They were based off the same model for a while Elite Four: Originally called the Council of Four, they act as a council that makes decisions along with the Chairman and test trainers' worthiness. Typically in charge of a handful of gym leaders Gym Leaders: Local political leaders that operate under the Council of Four and ensure things don't get too rowdy on the town level. In charge of testing trainers, protecting the town from wild threats, keeping up appearances, and union busting (they mostly did that last one) Everyone else: Salary workers. They have not yet unionized

The system, ultimately, was corrupt as hell. There was no job security, and the hierarchical nature of the league ensured you had to suck up to and do the dirty work for your boss if you wanted to get paid at all. Unions? Idk her. Corruption and embezzlement was the name of the game, and Paldea was basically flat broke because of it, with infrastructure decades behind neighboring regions and a bevvy of shitty trainers. The champion, unlike other regions, was not decided by who unseated the current champion. It didn't matter how good someone was, they had to be selected by the chairman to be Top Champion, and the Chairman would only select someone who would work with them without question. Paldea was basically the laughingstock of the world because of their complete and utter incompetence in any and all battle tournaments and lack of advancements in literally every sector. Then shit hit the fan and we moved onto the system we see in-game

I'm not sure what the event was (a recession, investigative journalism, doesn't really matter) but the newfound understanding of just HOW corrupt the league was and the resulting scandal made the Chairman resign and shook the very foundation of the League. Luckily or unluckily, a young upstart politician named Geeta was quick to fill that void, and through a few political loopholes and charisma, she managed to secure herself as Chairwoman. She had long since hated the current Paldean system, thinking that it held her beloved region back from greatness. She had always been gunning for higher and higher positions, a dark horse of Paldean politics with undetermined motives, extreme intelligence, and frightening levels of ambition. The Chairman had always had their eye on her, personally keeping her in check, but when they were gone Geeta immediately seized the opportunity to grab as much power as physically possible. Getting the position made her effectively untouchable, and that was the ultimate goal, because her plan for Paldea was about to make her the single most hated woman in the region's history

Geeta, upon gaining a position where they legally could not get rid of her, decided to fire every single person in the upper echelons of the league. Every gym leader, elite four, and the top champion were all fired, and she withdrew Paldea from every battling tournament and public appearance until she could workshop the league into something servicable. It was the boldest move since the dissolving of the Paldean Monarchy and it did NOT make her any friends

Though her ultimate goal was to reform the entire Paldean league, her early changes were only possible because of the old system. She could and did reform the system to her liking without consequence only because of the old hierarchy system already in place. Her ability to hand select her coworkers and fire people indiscriminately was one of the greatest abuses of power Paldea had ever seen, whether for noble reasons or not, and the people she fired tried to smear her as much as they could. Though these radical steps were necessary to undo and reshape the corruption hellscape the League had become, it wasn't exactly a good look for the new chairwoman (not that she cared)

Geeta also combined the top champion position and chairwoman position, which was so shockingly unpopular and suspicious-looking that she effectively cemented her godawful reputation. She saw the top champion as an unnecessary expense and decided to take on the responsibilities herself so she could funnel the top champion salary into public projects. This is part of the reason why she’s so Bad at being champion: she’s doing it to save the league money and only needs to the absolute bare minimum. Most of her job for the first decade was analyzing the current hierarchy, finding trainers to fill positions, and trying to figure out how to fix things so that would be sustainable after she left and wouldn't fall back into old corruption. She took on a job in the academy schoolboard to keep an eye out for younger trainers, put as much money into research and economic opportunities as possible, then got to work shaping the League to her vision

Her main vision for the league was to make as many parts of the system economically self-sustaining as possible, which was vital for her gym leader choices. She picked people who had *enough* skill in battling, but who all had other careers that would generate interest in and revenue for the gym. Paldea didn't have the pure battling talent yet to make a name for itself on any kind of world stage so Geeta was completely unconcerned about the actual battling skill of her picks as long as they were good enough and making cash. In terms of gym challenges, she mandated that they had to be free or extremely cheap and somehow tied to the town itself-- the giant contraptions of other regions were NOT in the budget. She wanted the gym system to be a celebration of the towns they were in and to inspire people to visit in the same way Galar's stadiums did, all in the hopes that gyms wouldn't need money from the league itself

The gyms would maintain a similar system as before, with each town and gym operating like a smaller independent organization. Most day to day operations and decisions like numbers of workers and salaries would be handled by the gyms themselves, but with all details publicly available so interventions could take place if things got fishy. All revenue generated by the gym would stay within the town-- it would be used to pay salaries, do upkeep, etc, and anything left over could be used to make renovations / add more stuff to gym challenges / support local businesses. If the revenue generated wasn't enough to cover upkeep and salary, the league would fill in the rest

The reason the gym buildings Look Like That is because the old league funneled most of the money into the pockets of the higher-ups and very little was allocated for building gyms. Geeta kept the design bc it's cheap, Paldea is broke, and the uniformity of the gyms allows trainers to find it more easily. it's also convenient if there's a turnover of the position-- no need to build a new gym! It's mostly an administrative office anyway, only there for paperwork and to house office staff, and Geeta is under the (correct) impression that most gym leaders prefer having stages at their favorite places instead of a specific building. Only two gym leaders have strong negative opinions about the building itself: Grusha, who can't have an outdoor reception area because of the snow and hates sitting in the lobby all the time, and Brassius, who thinks it's ugly as shit (he's right) and wants to paint a mural on it

The gym system is actually run much better than it was before-- it's still hitting its stride at the time of the game but is shaping up into a system that will work long after Geeta retires. The gym leaders also like how things are run quite a bit-- they just hate Geeta as a person (but that's smth I plan on exploring in another post)

The Elite Four is something Geeta admittedly hasn't put much thought into: her main focus was on redoing the administrative side of the league and ensuring the gyms were generating enough money to function + helping the towns they were in. The Elite Four, in her mind, were an afterthought, especially since she stripped them of their political power and distributed that power amongst regular office staff. She uncoupled politics from battling in the upper spheres of the league, allowing for more concentrated and specialized attention to issues so the Elite Four could just battle

In the new league, the Elite Four isn't a council of politicians, just people who test the strength of trainers looking to be champion-- every current Elite Four member is an employee in another sector working the job for a bonus (except for Poppy-- her parents are accountants and she ended up in the position as a joke that went a liiiiittle too far). In the future, the Elite Four and Top Champion might be dedicated battlers rather than a side hustle, but Paldea doesn't have the talent nor money for that at the moment

In terms of economics, Geeta decided to set an inflation-adjusted salary rate for each position that was viewable by the public and that couldn't be changed without a public vote in the hopes this would limit corruption. She also redid the League Points system— it used to be how employees were paid, but now it’s mostly for trainers, allowing the league to subsidize common trainer goods and make things easier to buy (all employees are paid with regular money). Paldea doesn’t have designated trainer routes like other regions and cash is far easier to mug than digital currency, so trainers are encouraged to use LP as a precaution so they don’t get robbed while in the Paldean wilds. However because the LP system isn’t very popular and NOT secure, Geeta is debating phasing it out

In the new system, gyms operate mostly on their own, so the central administrative stuff (aka everything that happens in the league building by the academy as well as E4 salaries and whatnot) gets their money from returns on investments— mostly from Tera Orbs. Fees from defeating trainers also helps, but Geeta made sure not to tie it to anyone’s salaries so that they wouldn’t thrash trainers for money, as encouraging them is the whole point of the challenge. Side note about Tera Orbs: once the league got the patent, Geeta didn’t think twice about the professors, being far too busy with Everything Else to think about her old business partner. Not keeping an eye on them is one of her greatest regrets

In terms of future plans, Geeta has already implemented checks and balances on every position but her own. When she’s confident in how the League is progressing and is sure the system won’t fall back into corruption, she plans on turning her own position to an elected one. Geeta isn’t stupid, she knows that everyone hates her and will lose her position as soon as she puts proper checks and balances on it, so she’s waiting until she’s confident in the League’s system to let the rest of the league get rid of her. By that point, she hopes that the League will be organized, financially stable, and balanced enough so that it can run smoothly long after she’s gone. Also, the league is likely to enter back into international batting conferences by the end of the decade, since there’s a LOT of up and coming battling talent that can make Paldea proud (and hopefully bring enough positive attention and money back to the region so they can actually make the league profitable)

To me Paldea’s league always felt like it was in a transition period, building itself from the ground up again. We happen to see it right at the middle, just before it’s really up to a properly functioning and self-sustaining entity. I don’t really have a closer for this but if u read all the way here I’m very flattered and apologize for being a lil delusional about this :)

[minggukieology]

Hi, do you mind translating this clip? Cos I’ve seen another version which was slightly different so I’m not sure which is more accurate: https://mobile.twitter.com/lovemazejikook/status/1641421413193220096

Thanks in advance!

Hi, thanks for your message 😊

Shortly, it seems to me that this translation is not correct. (explanation below)

Adding the inquired about translation for context:

and also the full clip for anyone interested (apologies for the quality, i just quickly screen recorded this off of twitter)

The issue here is that the translator incorrectly assumed the pronouns and thus misinterpreted what Jimin said.

My translation is as follows:

MC: What's the ranking in the team? Jimin: Our maknae decided the ranking and he decided for the lowest (rank) for (me). *pointing at himself*

MC: (You're) the lowest? *pointing at Jimin* Who's the top rank then? Jimin: The top rank? I think leader hyung-nim, his ranking is the highest.

The meaning becomes also obvious when you look at the added captions that say:

"[Jimin] Designated as BTS' lowest rank"

and then the MC asking him:

[Jimin-ssi] (you're) the lowest rank?

to which Jimin responded with agreement.

As always, here the pronouns have to be assumed as they are not spoken in Korean (I typically put the added pronouns into brackets in my translations), so these discrepancies can sometimes happen. Though I believe one should be careful to get the full context before issuing a translation.

-------------------------------

To add to this topic:

Funnily enough, I've already made a few posts on the whole ranking talk which has been a trope within the team ever since BTS has been formed. (I think this also stems from the fact the Korean society is hierarchical in nature, therefore in every team an important aspect is the dynamic according to the hierarchical order based on age and seniority)

The twist here is that from the very beginning Jimin was treated as the 'maknae' especially by Jungkook which Jimin once again acknowledges even nowadays 😆 If you are interested in learning more about the whole topic of "ranking Jimin the lowest' I am linking my previous translations and write-ups here and here. 😊

Thanks a lot for your question once again, I hope I was able to provide a sufficient answer!

[from-the-coffee-shop-in-edoras]

Talking about my beloved Háma earlier this week got me thinking again about how Beregond is the Háma of Gondor. One of the ways Tolkien showed us how bound together Gondor and Rohan were as countries was by drawing explicit parallels between individual Gondorians and Rohirrim (like Boromir and Théodred), and it happens for everyone's favorite guards, too. They have some differences (I mean, Háma dies 😭), but they’re much more alike than not. 

Most importantly, they’re both soldiers—part of a very hierarchical, duty-bound structure—who nonetheless decide in key moments to disregard orders and follow their own judgment and good sense instead. Háma will let Gandalf violate the ban on weapons in Meduseld and Beregond will leave his post and literally slay anyone facilitating the burning of Faramir because their hearts and minds tell them that sometimes laws must be broken in service of a larger morality. That takes courage, independence of thought, and a strong sense of self. By disobeying, they both knowingly risk punishment—and, indeed, both are punished—but they do it anyway because they know it’s right. And ultimately, both are forgiven and honored because everyone can see they made correct, if unlawful, decisions. (This parallel is also replicated a little further up the respective hierarchies because Éomer and Faramir are also both noted mavericks who choose at pivotal moments to aid members of the Fellowship even though, by law, those outsiders should be arrested or killed. So, again, parallels between pairs of Gondorians and Rohirrim abound!)

I like that Tolkien takes care to show that it’s not just the folks at the very top of communities of Men that can have and display these really admirable and noble traits. It’s important for there to be a Háma and a Beregond so that we know these lands of Men are worth protecting—there is goodness there! And of course it fits very neatly with the “small hands do great deeds” theme of LOTR overall. Háma and Beregond each change the course of history when they trust to their own worth and hold to their own values, no matter the circumstances or consequences.

So that’s the biggest/weightiest parallel for Háma and Beregond, but it’s certainly not the only one. They both work for prestigious military units in the capital city of their countries. They both play formal roles in granting our major characters access to those cities. They’re both firsthand witnesses to the mental manipulation and torment of their leaders (Théoden and Denethor) by an enemy. They both get joyful moments witnessing the healing of a beloved lord. They’re both Gandalf enthusiasts in places where not everyone respects or welcomes Gandalf’s presence. They both demonstrate a willingness to draw swords on anyone they perceive as threatening their lords. They’re both pretty adept at rolling with it when things take a really weird turn (I mean, really, the legendary lost heir of Elendil shows up on Háma’s doorstep claiming to be friends with a mythical elf-sorceress, and he just goes with it. And Beregond has never seen a hobbit before and maybe isn’t even sure they’re real when one is thrust on him, and he immediately makes Pip his buddy!). 

Those are the canon parallels, but I would be remiss if I didn’t finish by specifying that @brigwife and I agree it is rock solid head canon that Háma and Beregond met somehow and became actual long distance best friends. It’s only natural that they’d get along given how much they have in common—just two absolute gems of the race of Men who would totally love and appreciate one another. And I’d like to think that even as Háma’s legacy is commemorated at his resting place in Rohan, there’s also a little memorial for him in Gondor built by Beregond in a beautiful, peaceful part of Ithilien. During Beregond’s lifetime it stands as a tribute to his enduring friendship with Háma, and in later days, when anyone who knew them is gone, it stands instead as a tribute to the enduring friendship of Gondor and Rohan.

[10blue10]

Draconic Sociality

Many species of dragon are social. However, there are different levels of sociality, and dragons, like most animals, fall into various categories. 

Level 0 - Solitary 

Several species, such as Skrills and Armorwings, are highly territorial and do not tolerate the presence of other dragons. They likely only tolerate the presence of their own kind, as adults, if there is an opportunity to mate. 

Level 1 - Gregarious 

Many species, including Nadders, Gronckles and Terrors, are gregarious. They congregate, either naturally or under certain conditions, for the sake of protection, company, easier access to mates etc. These groups are referred to as flocks. There are single-species flocks, such as those of Smokebreaths, and there are multi-species flocks. Within flocks, a loose hierarchy often forms. 

Typically this is a case of Might makes Right. The bigger, stronger and more aggressive dragons tend to dominate over the smaller, weaker and less aggressive ones. Therefore, it follows logically that the biggest dragon in a flock, especially if they have no competition from their own kind, will become the ‘leader’ of the flock (also known as a Queen, King, alpha, defender etc.)

However, dragons do not behave solely based on instinct. They can and will recognise other qualities as being worthy of high status. (For example, Toothless is the de facto leader of the Berk flock not because he’s the biggest dragon, but because he killed the Red Death.) Dragons will naturally have friends and rivals within the larger social network of the flock. 

Level 2 - Hierarchical 

Several species, such as Changewings or Speed Stingers, live in single-species packs. A pack is distinguished from a flock by the more rigid social hierarchy and distinct pecking order they develop. The kind of hierarchy varies between species. For instance, Changewings have a social hierarchy similar to that of spotted hyenas, where females are dominant over males. 

‘Pack’ used to refer to single-species groups and ‘flock’ to multi-species groups. However, further research into the social dynamics of dragons has revealed that a more accurate distinction would be that packs have a pecking order, whereas flocks are more generalised. The norm is to have multi-species flocks and single-species packs, but of course there are always exceptions. 

Level 3 - Eusocial 

Firewyrms (and possibly Prickleboggles) are unusual amongst dragons as they are eusocial. Eusociality is characterised by the following: Reproductive division of labor (with or without sterile castes), overlapping generations, and cooperative care of young. It is considered the highest form of sociality. 

The Firewyrm Queen is the sole reproductive female within a colony. She reproduces parthenogenically, laying hundreds of unfertilised eggs that develop into non-reproductive drones. Genetically speaking, these are male, though functionally speaking they are sexless. The workers care for future generations, defend the colony and scout out new territory or food sources. 

When a colony starts to get too large, the resident Queen will produce a special type of fire-comb gel called drottninghunang (lit: ‘queen honey’) that is laced with hormones. This gel is fed to one of the hatchling drones, though the mechanism behind which this individual is chosen is not yet understood. 

The drottninghunang basically triggers their transformation into another reproductively-capable female, known as a Firewyrm Princess. When this female is large enough to fend for herself (and before she gets large enough to be a potential rival to her mother), she will leave the colony to start her own. 

[therealsophiependragon]

My Fics

Heyy, I'm therealsophiependragon on Ao3 or Pendragon as I go by on the dangerous seas of the internet. Here's a comprehensive list of everything I have written and put on Ao3!

Recent notable mentions include:

- The Moon Told Me Of You is at 300 kudos, which is absolutely mind-boggling to me!

- Moon Rabbit is at 500 hits ✨

- Listen To Me Love You has been given 25 kudos!

- Sidewalk Chalk reached 60 kudos!

Thank you very much!

Avatar: The Last Airbender

The Moon Told Me Of You

Cages are for monsters. Azula knew this well. Cages were deserved, by those singular enough to earn the watchfulness of others. And if that was true, then Azula was the queen of them, for hers was a very careful cage.

A careful cage for a monstrous girl.

Well, tonight they would see if it was careful enough.

Or,

A summoning-gone-wrong lands two princesses on a legendary quest to save the world that abandoned them both.

This fic includes:

Yuezula (Azula/Yue)

100k+ words, WIP multi-chapter

Dangerous quest

Obscene amount of liberties taken with the spirit world (the author admits to having only watched the first season of Korra... but I promise the liberties taken are kind of interesting?)

Annoyances-to-lovers with a sprinkle of grumpy/sunshine

Sun and Moon trope into oblivion

Moon Rabbit

“You think it was my destiny to be defeated by my pathetic excuse for a brother.”

“I think we write our own destinies.”

“Oh, for the love of Agni, go away.”

Or,

Yue visits Azula the night after the Agni Kai.

This fic includes:

Yuezula

4.8k words, complete one-shot

Sun and Moon trope

Musical inspiration (Moon Rabbit by Blackbird & Crow, very good song highly recommend also if you do give it a listen please consider writing out the lyrics and sending them to me because I have a very bad ear for lyrics and understand maybe half of what she's singing)

Yue Talking Sense Into Azula tm

Contains kneeling/subversion of hierarchal norms because love transcends all boundaries

My Hero Academia

Sidewalk Chalk

Toga does not know how to flirt, so naturally she stalks Uraraka for weeks before finally mustering the courage to ambush and invite her to participate in a sidewalk chalk challenge. As one does. Uraraka is unamused.

This fic includes:

Togachako (Toga Himiko/Uraraka Ochako)

2.4k words, complete one-shot

Toga being Toga

Improper usage of sidewalk chalk

An abundance of banter

Character study of the togachako relationship

Fun

Corporeal Levity

"I think my family is rotten."

"Yeah, welcome to the club, kid."

Or,

Hanako Takahashi used to have a family. Now, she's a villain, using her quirk to help the League of Villains find their leader, who they all know has to still be out there—before the rest of the world does. When a lead puts U.A. on their radar once again, Hanako must don a mask of morality and join the many wannabe heroes at the school to obtain information that could put the villains on top once more. And she might be able to pull it off, too... if her annoying new classmate would stop following her around like an overly-enthusiastic, opposite-of-stealthy puppy.

Eri Aizawa has a family, and a very nice one, but sometimes she feels... lost. When her dreams of heroism are put on hold by her wearily worried father, Eri knows she has to prove herself: by taking the U.A. exam anyway, and working her way up to being a hero everyone can be proud of. And if she can figure out her awesomely mysterious classmate while she's at it, well, that's just an added bonus.

This fic includes,

Not much actually because it's on indefinite hiatus after two chapters

12k words, incomplete

Found family

Teenage Eri Aizawa & LOV-child OC

Necromancy

Hopefully more once I decide I have time to write it

The Walking Dead

The Other Way

Sophia has always been a scared little girl in a world of monsters. The apocalypse didn’t change much.

But it did teach her one thing: there are lots of ways to turn.

This fic includes,

Zombies

A traumatized child

3.2k words (one-shot, complete)

Sophia Peletier character study

Is the brunt of all of my frustration that she died so early because DAMN if she had survived... ugh i wish

My pride and joy

It got hit with that kudos bot a while back too so now the kudos-to-hits ratio is obscene and makes me sad but whatever even the robots love me y'all

Harry Potter

Listen To Me Love You

Ginny and Luna are in love, they just don't know it yet.

Fortunately, all it takes to fix this is a nudge from Fate, and a little bit of bad luck.

This fic includes,

Linny (Ginny/Luna)

2.5k words, completed one-shot

Sun and Moon coded (kind of idk I say that but do I mean it nobody really knows)

Sad Ginny, Wise Luna

Set in Fifth Year (so Ginny's fourth year)

Actually beta-read, which is a first for me

[nkn0va]

I hope this isn't too complicated but I was thinking you could do the childhood friends to lovers trope with Tsubaki and a reader that is the adopted son of Hakumen and his apprentice.

Holy shit anon, this idea is super cool. I'm totally down for this. Hakumen's CS story made me fall in love with their dynamic.

Though not nearly as much as I'm hopelessly in love with her, why the fuck can't she be real...?

(LONG ass post incoming, I had way too much fun with this.)

-For the sake of this ask, canon will have to be changed around a bit. Hakumen never went into the Boundary, he was able to force Terumi into it without having to do a hail mary. Also, Tsubaki sees Jin as only an older brother, as is confirmed by in-game dialogue.

-For all the curses and inconveniences of having to wear the Susano'o Unit to be able to fight, there were it's upsides, such as being pretty much immortal, or at the very least a drastically increased lifespan, likely longer than mages.

-One day, by pure chance, Hakumen ended up finding a small child while wandering through a barren, quiet part of the city of Naobi.

-At first, his instinct was to pay this child no mind. But, getting a good look at you, something...seemed to awaken. Or rather, re-awaken. The humanity he thought he'd thrown away a long time ago when he put on the armor. What little of Jin Kisaragi remained after all this time.

-Hakumen was cold, yes, but he wasn't cruel. No kid deserved to be condemned to survive on their own out in the lower levels of a Hierarchical city where seithr poisoning was a possibility if one wasn't careful.

-...Perhaps he could give this boy at something of a life, a childhood that he never got to have, that was taken from him by that damn bastard Terumi.

-It wasn't long before the Duodecim caught wind of the leader of the Six Heroes adopting a child. The Yayoi family had taken a particular interest in such news, inviting the two of you over to their manor.

-There weren't kids your age you could see there. Hakumen had told you that you didn't need to stay, and to feel free to wander the manor at your own leisure as long as you stayed on the property. That was how you eventually found yourself in the garden outdoors.

-It was when you wandered out that for the first time, you'd found someone your age. A redheaded girl dressed in traditional clothing.

-She seemed to freak out, in a good way, when you told her that you were taken in by Hakumen. She was apparently a huge fan. The two of you became fast friends, being the only kids in the manor and the girl, who called herself Tsubaki, seeming ecstatic at just finally finding someone her age, not having any siblings or cousins.

-When the time came to leave you told Hakumen about your new friend. It was hard to really tell what he was thinking most of the time, mostly due to the fact that he had that mask always covering his face, but he seemed almost...nostalgic, longing. He didn't really do much, saying it was good you'd managed to make a friend and left it at that.

-He did make it a point for you to see Tsubaki as often as you could from then on, though. Whenever the Yayoi family was going anywhere, he'd make sure to follow mostly so you could see her, and accepting their invitations to the manor, which was quite a surprise considering none of the other families could say the same. When questioned on this, Hakumen refused to give an answer.

-Fast forward a long while, and you and Tsubaki both find yourselves in Torifune together to attend the academy. It had taken quite a bit of convincing to allow Hakumen to let you go (mostly because he knew the NOL's true nature), but he eventually gave in, on the condition that you'd "make the right decision when the time came." There were a lot of ways for that to be interpreted and he didn't seem to be in the mood to elaborate.

-As you go through your years there together with Tsubaki, you make memories, friends, and eventually the time comes to graduate and join the NOL. For the most part all seems to go well. That is until...Continuum Shift.

-Something changes inside Tsubaki, you heavily suspect it has something to do with Jin, and possible jealousy of Noel being his secretary.

-Of course, being as perceptive as your master/father had trained you to be, it's not long until you figure it out, and your worst fears come true. She had fallen under the Imperator's curse, and had become nothing more than a mindless slave to her will.

-You find yourself soon being swept up in Kagura Mutsuki and the Grimalkin's plans to overthrow the Imperator, though the main reason you join is to assist in saving Tsubaki from the Mind Eater curse.

-You join the operation inside the Eclipse Field with Makoto, Noel, and Jin. Once she'd materialized the Zero-Type Izayoi it was up to you and Jin to snap her out of it. Jin was to hold her off and weaken her a bit before tagging you in. You desperately held her off with all your might, trying to encourage her to resist the Mind Eater.

-Her breaking point is your reminding her of the promise you made as children. That'd you always be there for each other, no matter what. If you had to die for Tsubaki's sake, you'd gladly do so. The thought of you dying for her was the push Tsubaki needed. That's not what she wanted, she didn't want you to to be taken from her. At the very least, not without being able to tell you how she felt. Unfortunately for her, the Imperator had other plans.

-She stabbed you head on with the Immortal Breaker before passing out. Hakumen, or rather a vision of him appeared to Tsubaki as the curse broke, encouraging her to confront her true feelings.

-It was then she woke up and realized that thankfully you were unharmed. It was when your will was strongest, when you wanted to see Tsubaki safe and happy even more than you wanted to draw breath, that you finally had finally mastered Hakumen's teachings. The power of Order had manifested from your strength of will and protected you from the fatal blow.

-Tsubaki quickly breaks down into tears seeing you're alright, apologizing profusely for everything she's done. Makoto, Jin, and Noel thankfully have the tact to realize you two need some privacy.

-It's a long conversation of apologies, and reassurances between you two, and eventually you two realize you can't afford to hide from the truth anymore.

-Tsubaki's the first to confess. Ever since that fateful day you two had met, she'd felt some...special connection to you, even ignoring the fact that you were the son of her childhood hero. And you admit that you had fallen for her back. The tears of sadness and regret soon turn to ones of pure joy.

-That night you find yourself unable to sleep. Too many emotions were going rampant through your mind. Most were good, thankfully, yet some were of worry. There was still a lot to do. You wander through the city late at night, when out of nowhere a voice startles you out of your thoughts.

-Your father was behind you, arms crossed and back turned to you. Despite his closed off body language he congratulated you for what you'd done.

-It was then you realized what he'd meant those years ago. He wanted you to make the right choice, and save Tsubaki. To not leave her in her darkest hour, when she needed you most.

-An awkward pause permeates the air for a few moments. Hakumen seeming to try and come up with the words to say what was on his mind. He makes his way to leave, but not without saying something. A few short words that you never thought you'd actually hear from him in a million years.

-He was proud of you.

-And deep down he was, he really was. You were better than him when it mattered most. You stayed by Tsubaki's side and never gave up on her. Because of you, she'd live on.

-Hakumen of the legendary Six Heroes...no...Jin Kisaragi...

-He'd finally found peace.

[likealittleheartbeat]

Zuko’s character is crafted from the very first episode with an intense interest in striving toward moral goodness, it’s only that his concept of moral goodness is distinctly nationalistic then. Honor is the keyword for him, and his stated reason for doggedly searching for the avatar. Satisfying his father has to do with this moral obligation (to follow the patriarch’s orders and to preserve the safety of the nation which those orders entail and therefore to be Good). Zuko wants to be a good boy, and much of his initial angst derived from his father’s judgment that he’s not a good boy, when he spoke out of turn and then, worse!, refused to defend himself. His turn toward team avatar has less to do with a moral turn or even learning how to care and more to do with an expansion of who he includes within his circle of care (so that the well-being of those outside of the Fire Nation matter and he, himself, begins to matter), which coincides with his shift toward a new leader to trust with a less dogmatic relationship. Yet, his core of stringent morality remains.

Azula, on the other hand, is driven by success. Her ease with firebending gave her a taste for affection derived from performance rather than reverence. Her moral muscle is ignored and weak because of this. With her prowess and bemused charm, she got to be the Good Kid with no dark nights of the soul, no internal conflict about her place among others because she was at the top. Fans are right to be sympathetic to her experience of abuse. She’s a rich depiction of the abusive development of narcissism and the tragedy that’s required to disrupt that egomania.

I think a lot of comparison between these two responses to the abusive family dynamic places the blame on their mother Ursa. The worst takes emphasize Ursa’s passing remarks about Azula’s misbehavior as sites of abuse themselves, which ignores the high pressure environment created by Ozai and the Fire Nation Royal Family to neglect and punish vulnerability in pursuit of hierarchical power. That Azula latched onto one of these comments might be better read as Azula’s own sensitivity to criticism within such an extreme social environment. A more interesting perspective is that the development they got to experience with Ursa, the implementer of moral explanations as seen in Zuko Alone, might’ve shaped their responses. Zuko had more time with Ursa and got to experience her teachings of familial piety at a more mature age than Azula before their mother’s departure.

But I think the most all-encompassing perspective is something I mentioned earlier. Azula had the gift to perform what her abusive family valued without strain. Zuko had many things to offer but not prodigiousness, charm, or strategy—the skills his family valued. Their natural abilities (beyond their control) influenced the treatment they received from their parents (within Ozai and to a lesser but still a meaningful extent Ursa’s control). So Zuko dedicates himself to his family and to achieving his family’s expectations that are out of reach for him because he is offered no other options. He believes he is Bad for failing his family’s expectations and strives to be Good. Azula doesn’t have to work hard to embody her family’s abusive desires and knows that maintaining her prowess, beauty, and cunning is all that’s required to retain her place as the apple of their eye. She believes she is Good without concern for the possibility of being Bad.

I think those Good and Bad relationships are important for those dealing with abusive family dynamics. Therapists use archetypes to describe dysfunctional family roles (golden child and scape goat are the most familiar, but you’ll also see the mascot, the lost child, the flying monkeys, and the peacekeepers alongside the abuser and the enabler). They’re oversimplifying and force one’s attempts at self-identification towards sitcom tropes. Failing to fully identify with these rigid roles fed into me doubting the reality of my abuse. But Zuko’s relationship to morality felt familiar and I could see a similar development in my own life—the flexibility and tacit obedience my parents valued in children weren’t things I could easily offer (I’m a little too spectrummy for either of those to be easy options). Their corporal punishments did not change this, but they left me with the desire to act and be more flexible and obedient—the desire to be Good—and the shame of failing every time—the knowledge that I was Bad. It’s something I still struggle with. This categorical view of a self as inherently good or bad is a key marker for the experience of someone whose developed in an abusive, neglectful, or recurrently traumatic environment, and it’s what’s so well done throughout ATLA. Zuko and Azula provide such clear examples of what that moral coding can look like, and, as siblings, provide a really clear depiction of how and why it can be experienced and create outcomes that are so different even within one family.

[digisurvive]

More on Shuuji and Aoi's parallels.

While I did dedicate a section to Aoi's and Shuuji's parallels in my Wrathful meta, there's actually more to expand on: as previously stated, they're the overachievers, Harmony-seekers of the group, and their behavior is underlined by the want to conform to external expectations placed upon them. As a result, they have strong outer personas that look downright jarring when put side to side with their respective partners. Shuuji starts out as the seemingly iron-fisted and downright noxious leader in contrast to Lopmon's innocuous fragility and sensitivity. Aoi's personable, lenient and nurturing behavior contrasts to Labramon's opinionated, prideful and rather waspish demeanor. As we know, their partners represent their most authentic/ideal selves, so it's both reflecting their true natures/interiority as well as either the best of them (in Shuuji's case, his better points are not as apparent as his worst, so Lopmon is a good peek at the potential) or what they value (Aoi often mentions how Reliable Labramon is, and she often talks about wanting to attain that reliability for herself and heavily links to assertiveness).

As such, we have certain toying with appearances going on with both. Shuuji being rigid and logical would be expected of a guy, and he Is Logical, but also very gentle & easily molded by external expectations. Whenever the majority's opinion outnumbers his, he sets his aside and follows them: it happens twice in part 3, first he's opposed to exploring but caves in, then he mistrusts Arukenimon but follows the group to the cable car. In part 5, he's straight up at the verge of a breakdown over his intense fear of exploring the waterways, but he goes Anyway. This is a trait that never goes away— in Truthful, he wants to secure the Southern Shrine first since he deduces that being the least weakened would mean it has the least kenzoku presence, however, he follows the group's decision to tackle the Northern Shrine first. Not to mention his entire sense of self is predicated on fulfilling the narrow idea of what his father considers as success.

Aoi, on the other hand, is the one who ends up having the most set ideas over how things should be and the most rigid thinking out of the group— the extremely controlling and manipulative extents she goes on Wrathful and the fact she's the one kid who never backs down (because she's 'the one who's right') are the most telling examples of this. However, she's also the one who regularly reminds others of what the appropriate conduct is, which is partly the reason the group is so hierarchical early on (and this, of course, earns her the teasing over how nagging she is in that one affinity dialogue in part 9 when Takuma calls her a wizard lol). All of this behavior stems on how deeply inflexible she can be about her values at times, as well as her hidden grievances (She does often get unfairly passive aggressive to Minoru lol).

Both Aoi's and Shuuji's positive character growth is predicated on the idea of them embracing their true selves more, as part of Survive's ever-going preoccupation with a balance between individualism and collectivism. This is best observed with what ends up being their end-game with regards authority: Shuuji thinks that he needs to be in that center position even though it makes him deeply uncomfortable/he's not suited for it. He has to learn to be okay with taking a more supporting role. Whereas Aoi was being wishy washy about it (and straight up shrinks out of the responsibility in part 2) because of her belief she couldn't handle it and her fears over making the wrong decision/not being able to live up to the expectations. However, it's still a position she ends up occupying as she gets more involved with the group, partly because of her strong sense of responsibility but also because of her want to guide others to the Right Behavior. She wants the respect to take care of the group in a way that allows her to enforce certain behaviors & dynamics and set the tone about how they should operate. Even if that how is getting everyone on board, she still wants that authority to get to do things her way.

In a sense, you could say their positive developments go in opposite directions while still informing the same thematic threads.

[spectrum-color]

Random question but do you think the characters from the following series would get along with each other:

The Wheel of Time

The Stormlight Archive

Realm of the Elderlings

This is a good question! It varies I think. Like Fitz would probably respect the wonder girls and Aviendha because they are the kind of strong women he’s used to and commiserate with Rand on the world changing destiny and chronic mental illness, but I think he would get annoyed with Perrin for trying so hard to reject the wolves. As a fellow wolf man who has embraced it he would be like wtf why are you so against being a wolf brother I’m offended on Nighteyes behalf. The Fool would absolutely hate Mat too and probably say some hilariously cutting things to him, because though they’re similar in some ways as trickster characters they have key differences (Mat constantly tries to escape his destiny while the Fool takes his very seriously, Mat married the Seanchan empress and there’s nothing the Fool hates more than deeply hierarchal and repressive societies.) He would totally hit it off with Min though; they could talk about the burden of knowing the future and what it’s like to be hopelessly in love with an emotionally dysfunctional man. Kettricken would be all in on Aiel and their culture; I think the ji’hi’toh thing would really resonate with her and her views on duty and sacrifice.

Bringing Stormlight into it, Kaladin would click with both Rand and Fitz. Tortured heroes who blame everything on themselves and are full of guilt and general angst. Fitz would find Shallan annoying and not understand her at all, despite ironically using the exact same coping mechanisms of repression and denial, because he has no self awareness and doesn’t like seeing his own issues reflected like that, but the Fool would def feel a kinship with her and they would be besties. The Fool would also really like Renarin; he tends to pick out the nearest outcast and bond with them plus queer solidarity. Chade would LOVE Jasnah; he would def see her as like the ideal template for a queen with her ruthlessness and analytical nature and be getting into all sorts of discussions with her. Mat, Adolin, and Burrich can all bond over the care and keeping of horses. Adolin, the Fool, Nynaeve, and Elayne could also form a little fashion club (Mat would show up every time and insist that he’s not actually a part of it he just happens to stumble upon them when he’s in the area.) Fitz and the Fool would also be considerably less bothered by Moash than the Stormlight characters because political violence and assassinating bad leaders is much more normalized in their world; Chade may even admire his effectiveness. Szeth and Fitz would have a hilariously awkward convo on being assassins where they just talk past each other because though neither of them enjoy it their respective books have very different approaches.

[thepastisalreadywritten]

SAINT OF THE DAY (October 17)

On October 17, the Roman Catholic Church remembers the early Church Father, bishop and martyr Saint Ignatius of Antioch, whose writings attest to the sacramental and hierarchical nature of the Church from its earliest days.

Eastern Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate his memory on December 20.

In a 2007 general audience on St. Ignatius of Antioch, Pope Benedict XVI observed that “no Church Father has expressed the longing for union with Christ and for life in him with the intensity of Ignatius.”

In his letters, the Pope said:

“One feels the freshness of the faith of the generation, which had still known the Apostles. In these letters, the ardent love of a saint can also be felt.”

Born in Syria in the middle of the first century A.D., Ignatius was said to have been personally instructed – along with another future martyr, Saint Polycarp – by the Apostle Saint John.

When Ignatius became the Bishop of Antioch around the year 70, he assumed leadership of a local church that was, according to tradition, first led by Saint Peter before his move to Rome.

Although St. Peter transmitted his Papal primacy to the bishops of Rome rather than Antioch, the city played an important role in the life of the early Church.

Located in present-day Turkey, it was a chief city of the Roman Empire. It was also the location where the believers in Jesus' teachings and his resurrection were first called “Christians.”

Ignatius led the Christians of Antioch during the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian, the first of the emperors to proclaim his divinity by adopting the title “Lord and God.”

Subjects who would not give worship to the emperor under this title could be punished with death. As the leader of a major Catholic diocese during this period, Ignatius showed courage and worked to inspire it in others.

After Domitian's murder in the year 96, his successor Nerva reigned only briefly and was soon followed by the Emperor Trajan.

Under his rule, Christians were once again liable to death for denying the pagan state religion and refusing to participate in its rites.

It was during his reign that Ignatius was convicted for his Christian testimony and sent from Syria to Rome to be put to death.

Escorted by a team of military guards, Ignatius nonetheless managed to compose seven letters: six to various local churches throughout the empire (including the Church of Rome), and one to his fellow bishop Polycarp who would give his own life for Christ several decades later.

Ignatius' letters passionately stressed the importance of Church unity, the dangers of heresy, and the surpassing importance of the Eucharist as the “medicine of immortality.”

These writings contain the first surviving written description of the Church as “Catholic,” from the Greek word indicating both universality and fullness.

One of the most striking features of Ignatius' letters is his enthusiastic embrace of martyrdom as a means to union with God and eternal life.

“All the pleasures of the world, and all the kingdoms of this earth, shall profit me nothing,” he wrote to the Church of Rome. “It is better for me to die in behalf of Jesus Christ, than to reign over all the ends of the earth.”

“Now I begin to be a disciple,” the bishop declared. “Let fire and the cross; let the crowds of wild beasts; let tearings, breakings, and dislocations of bones; let cutting off of members; let shatterings of the whole body; and let all the dreadful torments of the devil come upon me: only let me attain to Jesus Christ.”

St. Ignatius of Antioch bore witness to Christ publicly for the last time in Rome's Flavian Amphitheater, where he was mauled to death by lions.

“I am the wheat of the Lord,” he had declared, before facing them. “I must be ground by the teeth of these beasts to be made the pure bread of Christ.”

His memory was honored, and his bones venerated soon after his death around the year 107.

[generation1point5]

There is an implicit dichotomy instilled in almost all narrative storytelling as a result of neoliberal, capitalist system that runs the global economy and society. The moral of so many stories today is that the only reliable means of change comes from individual development and our external circumstances cannot be depended upon, or even altered.

Perhaps part of that dichotomy is also psychological at heart; it is terrifying to face a reality where there is a class of people and their descendants who have spent years accumulating power and insulating its loss to any other, who have spent decades, even centuries, legitimizing their own tyranny; to fight against it would feel like facing a force of nature, like fighting gods.

When a government beholden to capital interests can drop a missile on someone and their whole family's house thousands of miles away on a whim, that is not far from the truth. To resist this imperialism by any means available to them, including violence, is only natural, but also ultimately doomed. Hope for justice in this is bleak. What has risen in its place is a feckless neoliberal order, beholden to the interests of capital.

Liberalism and the Kingdom of Conscience is small and individualized by necessity; it is the only room in the world we can carve for ourselves from the scraps left to the majority by the powerful who have come before. We are the crabs in the bucket, consigned to our castles of sand. Likewise, it soothes the conscience of the powerful, that by individual, inconsistent, and ultimately meaningless acts of charity, they can ease the conscience of the brutality of the system from which they have benefitted.

What Disco Elysium proposed was so revolutionary that I feel much of its player base did not understand the truths that it highlighted, the importance of historical materialism and the dynamics of power that so greatly affects all our lives, and the trials and tribulations of the human condition stuck somewhere between, universal to all but affecting others differently by degrees of how their government supports them.

Acknowledging the universality of human suffering is a given; but our actions to mitigate these things should not be examined solely through our own hands, our own decisions. Liberalism and its thought are intuitive in this respect; we cannot reliably influence the will and decision of others, but we can control what we ourselves do with whatever means are available to us. That is true, but the solutions to our problems should nevertheless be examined also through the lens of power: namely, who has it, and what they do with it. It is necessary that these considerations be taken into account, that in response to the broad powerlessness of many there is organization among them. There must be a creation of a counterforce by the many to offset the powerful few. 

Any organization with strong leadership is hierarchal, and by that nature also at risk of corruption, but it is no less necessary for that shortcoming; the tent that leftists try to create is necessarily bigger than that of the conservative minority, and must satisfy the greater collective interest of its constituents, lest it become no different than the oppressors themselves. Moreover, the material benefits of being elected leader within a union are lesser than that of the owning class; if self-interest and the accumulation of wealth is the goal, then success would not lie in grifting for progressive values. Arguments from cynicism become just that; it fails to distinguish the meaningful, consequential, material differences that follow when pursuing values diametrically opposed to the current order. Socialism is not a poverty cult; it is the creation of a new system of providence entirely. Its ends are strived for by an entire revolution of means, not by individual acts to reverse the unequal results of the existing system.

Revolutions by violence or efforts at incremental process are resisted in equal and overwhelming measure; the former by a greater capacity for violence by the wealthy, and the latter by capitalism’s uncanny ability to absorb anything, even its critiques, into a consumer product. If history has taught us anything, it is that the chances for success, at least in our lifetimes, are incredibly low.

But if we truly believe what we are working for is right and good, then it is persisted upon for the sheer virtue in the act, and the hope that we are planting the seeds of trees in whose shade we will not live to enjoy. It is a call to live beyond oneself, and beyond making the choice to pursue it, that call is fundamentally an anti-liberal act. 

I want to write and read stories with such sentiments. Whether the end is happy or not is immaterial; there is virtue, even necessity, in the struggle itself. It is a message I feel like is badly needed in this day and age.

[tragicbackstoryenjoyer]

Worldbuilding Lore: Centiclarians

Ya'krath is a land of many religions and peoples. Nearly everyone follows some kind of god or creed, but no consensus has been reached in regards to a single truth, despite thousands of years of discourse and war. Perhaps there is no one truth at all.

Centiclarians: Justice. Order. Duty.

Most humans once worshipped the Old God Ahara, but all that changed when one hundred magical humans were born. Amassing great political power and influence, they called themselves the Centicularum. When the other races of Ya'krath all died out in a catastrophic plague, it was claimed that the Centicularum had killed the Old Gods and taken their place.

They left behind the magical children they had sired, known as the Descendents, who would inherit the new human kingdoms. With them, they left a list of One Hundred Tenets, detailing the rules they had to follow as leaders of a dramatically changed world. Soon, the Hundred Tenets would be expanded to apply to all humans, and a text chronicling the story of their ascension to godhood (known as the Hundred Testaments) would be discovered and added to the religious canon of the emerging religion of Centiclarianism.

Each line of Descendents has their own inherited magical ability, passed down on the father's side from their Ancestors, as the Centicularum came to be called. Not only are Descendents the divinely-ordained rulers of Ya'krath, they're also worshipped as conduits to the Hundred Ancestors. Because of this, they wear masks over their faces in order to emphasize their divine nature. Those who view their bare faces are punished by having their eyes gouged out. Descendents are only permitted to mate with other Descendents, thus keeping the number of magic users (and thus the size of the ruling class in Centiclarian society) low. This low number is additionally "helped" by the fact that carrying a magical child is even more dangerous than carrying a non-magical one, claiming the lives of one in three Centiclarians capable of childbirth.

Due to the unique pressures of ruling a newly-nonmagical nearly-empty world, the Tenet's rules are harsh and demand a strict hierarchy. Gender is a binary in which those society views as women (viewed as physically weaker without the help of magic) are seen as subservient to men, and queer people are shunned into the shadows. Or at least that's how modern Centiclarian society has taken it to mean.

Like any other religion, Centiclarianism is a religion of interpretation. Their texts advocate for religious tolerance, humility, and vigilance against tyranny. However, it also calls for the protection of Descendent interests above all else and ruthlessly hierarchal society. Its believers have used it for great good, and also great evil, but it cannot be so easily categorized as either.

Taglist (ask to be added or removed)

@mordrediscariot @dropsoftheuniverse @ladywithalamp @ashen-crest @laufire-writes @tc-doherty @muddshadow @lockejhaven @leighvalentin

[awesome-luciano-blog]

Unlocking the Power of EVAN Leadership: Transforming Organizational Culture

In today’s fast-paced and diverse corporate landscape, effective leadership is the cornerstone of any successful organization. Traditional leadership models often focus on hierarchical control and task management, but modern approaches, such as the EVAN leadership style developed by Dr. Luciano Santini of Common Sense Consulting, emphasize a more holistic and humane approach. EVAN stands for Empathy, Value, Attitude against all negativity, and Nourishing the mind. This article explores what male and female leadership can mean for an organization when leaders are trained in the EVAN leadership style, highlighting its benefits to mental health and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEI+B).

Understanding EVAN Leadership

E - Empathy: At the core of EVAN leadership is empathy. Leaders who practice empathy can understand and share the feelings of their team members, fostering a supportive and cohesive work environment. Empathetic leaders are more likely to build trust and loyalty, which can lead to higher employee satisfaction and retention.

V - Value: Valuing each team member is essential. This means recognizing and appreciating the unique contributions and perspectives that everyone brings to the table. Leaders who value their employees create an inclusive culture where individuals feel respected and important.

A - Attitude Against All Negativity: A positive attitude is crucial for overcoming challenges and maintaining a healthy work environment. Leaders who adopt an attitude against all negativity inspire their teams to stay motivated and focused, even in the face of adversity. This positive outlook can be contagious, promoting a resilient and optimistic organizational culture.

N - Nourishing the Mind: Continuous learning and mental well-being are vital. Leaders who prioritize nourishing the mind encourage professional and personal growth, fostering a culture of innovation and adaptability. This approach not only enhances individual performance but also contributes to the overall success of the organization.

The Benefits of EVAN Leadership

1. Mental Health: The EVAN leadership style significantly benefits mental health within an organization. By fostering empathy and a positive attitude, leaders create a supportive environment where employees feel understood and valued. This reduces stress and anxiety, promoting a healthier work-life balance. Nourishing the mind through continuous learning and development further contributes to mental well-being, as employees feel engaged and motivated to achieve their best.

2. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEI+B): DEI+B initiatives thrive under EVAN leadership. Leaders who value and empathize with their team members naturally create an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are celebrated. This inclusive culture ensures that all employees feel a sense of belonging, leading to increased engagement and collaboration. A positive attitude and focus on mental nourishment further enhance DEI+B efforts, as employees are more likely to support and uplift each other.

Comparing Leadership Styles: EVAN vs. Traditional

Example 1: The Empathetic Leader vs. The Detached Manager

Consider a scenario where two managers lead their respective teams in a large corporation. Manager A, trained in the EVAN leadership style, regularly checks in with team members, actively listens to their concerns, and offers support and encouragement. Manager B, following a traditional leadership approach, focuses solely on meeting deadlines and maintaining authority, with little regard for the personal well-being of their team.

The results are starkly different. Manager A’s team feels valued and supported, leading to high morale and productivity. The positive work environment reduces stress and fosters collaboration, resulting in innovative solutions and a strong sense of loyalty. In contrast, Manager B’s team experiences high levels of stress and burnout, leading to frequent conflicts, low morale, and high turnover rates.

Example 2: The Inclusive Leader vs. The Authoritarian Boss

In another example, two leaders are responsible for driving DEI+B initiatives in their organizations. Leader A, an advocate of the EVAN leadership style, actively involves diverse voices in decision-making processes, ensures equal opportunities for growth, and promotes a culture of continuous learning. Leader B, adhering to an authoritarian style, makes decisions unilaterally and prioritizes efficiency over inclusivity.

Leader A’s approach leads to a vibrant and inclusive workplace where employees feel empowered to contribute their unique perspectives. This inclusive environment boosts creativity and innovation, driving the organization forward. Leader B’s approach, however, stifles diversity and discourages open communication, resulting in a stagnant and disengaged workforce.

Conclusion

The EVAN leadership style developed by Dr. Luciano Santini represents a transformative approach to leadership. By prioritizing empathy, valuing individuals, maintaining a positive attitude, and nourishing the mind, leaders can significantly enhance mental health and foster a thriving DEI+B culture within their organizations. The benefits of EVAN leadership are clear: improved employee well-being, increased engagement, and a more innovative and inclusive workplace. As organizations continue to navigate the complexities of the modern business world, adopting the EVAN leadership style can be a powerful catalyst for lasting success.

[spiritualsoull1969]

"The Noble Art of Leading from the Heart"

The concept of servant leadership is a leadership philosophy and approach that emphasizes the importance of serving and supporting others as the primary focus of leadership. It flips the traditional hierarchical leadership model on its head by prioritizing the needs and well-being of followers or team members over the leader's own interests. Here's a more detailed explanation:

1. Service as the Core Value: Servant leadership places service at the heart of leadership. It's about leaders viewing themselves as servants first, and their role as leaders is to serve the needs of others. This doesn't mean leaders lack authority or decision-making power; rather, they use their authority to empower and support their team.

2. Empathy and Listening: Servant leaders actively seek to understand the perspectives, needs, and concerns of their team members. They practice deep empathy by listening actively and being genuinely interested in the welfare of their followers. This empathetic approach fosters trust and open communication within the team.

3. Putting Others First: In servant leadership, leaders prioritize the growth and development of their team members. They aim to help employees reach their full potential and achieve their goals, both personally and professionally. This often involves removing obstacles, providing resources, and offering guidance.

4. Humility: Servant leaders are characterized by their humility. They don't seek personal recognition or glory but instead celebrate the achievements of their team. They are willing to admit mistakes, learn from them, and take responsibility when things go wrong.

5. Empowerment: Servant leaders empower their team members to make decisions and take ownership of their work. They trust their employees to make the right choices and provide the support and resources needed to succeed.

6. Vision and Values: While servant leaders prioritize the needs of others, they also have a clear vision and set of values. They communicate this vision and align their team's efforts with these values, ensuring that everyone is working towards a common purpose.

7. Long-term Perspective: Servant leadership takes a long-term view of leadership. It's not about quick wins or short-term gains but about fostering sustainable growth and success for both individuals and the organization.

8. Personal Growth: Leaders who embrace servant leadership often experience personal growth themselves. By focusing on serving and supporting others, they develop a deeper understanding of human nature, improved communication skills, and a sense of purpose that goes beyond personal ambition.

9. Positive Organizational Impact: When applied effectively, servant leadership can lead to increased employee engagement, higher morale, improved teamwork, and ultimately, better organizational performance. Employees tend to be more committed and motivated when they feel their leaders genuinely care about their well-being.

In summary, servant leadership is a leadership philosophy that emphasizes serving others as the primary purpose of leadership. It's characterized by empathy, humility, putting others first, and empowering team members. Servant leaders aim to help individuals and teams grow, both personally and professionally, while also pursuing a clear vision and set of values. This approach to leadership can have a positive and lasting impact on both individuals and organizations, promoting self-improvement and personal growth for all involved.

In the heart of a bustling city, where time flows like a river, there lived a man named Amar. His face bore the wrinkles of wisdom, and his eyes sparkled with the light of inner knowledge. Many knew him as a humble shopkeeper, but to those who sought his counsel, he was a guide on the path to self-improvement and personal growth.

Amar's wisdom was steeped in the ancient principles of servant leadership. He believed that true leadership, like a river, flows not from a position of power but from the depths of one's soul. It was said that he could spin wisdom into tales that left listeners both enlightened and entertained.

One fine evening, as the sun cast long shadows across the cobbled streets, a young man named Kavi entered Amar's shop. His brows were furrowed with the weight of ambition, and he sought guidance on leadership.

Amar, with a gentle smile, welcomed Kavi and offered him a cup of fragrant tea. As they sipped the tea, Amar began his tale.

"In the heart of the forest," Amar began, "there lived a proud lion named Rajan. He was feared by all, and his roars sent shivers through the animal kingdom. He ruled with an iron paw, and his subjects obeyed him out of fear, not love."

Kavi listened intently, and Amar continued, "But not far from Rajan's realm, there dwelled another lion, Bhava. Bhava was different. He led with compassion, and his subjects revered him not out of fear, but out of admiration for his noble heart."

Amar paused for effect, and Kavi leaned forward, captivated by the story. "One day," Amar continued, "a great drought descended upon the forest. Water became scarce, and the animals struggled to survive. Rajan, in his arrogance, hoarded what little water remained, thinking it would secure his power."

Kavi frowned at the lion's selfishness, and Amar nodded knowingly. "But Bhava," he continued, "chose a different path. He used his strength to dig a deep well, providing water for all the animals of the forest. His heart was like a boundless ocean, and his actions reflected the true essence of leadership."

Kavi's eyes gleamed with understanding, and Amar knew it was time to impart the wisdom of servant leadership. "You see, my dear Kavi," he said, "leadership is not about wielding power over others but about serving them. It's about leading from the heart, just as Bhava did. When you serve others, you inspire loyalty, respect, and admiration."

Amar went on to explain the principles of servant leadership in detail. He spoke of empathy, the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, as the cornerstone of great leadership. He stressed the importance of active listening, humility, and selflessness in building trust and fostering growth.

Kavi nodded thoughtfully, absorbing each word like a sponge soaking up water. "But what about strength?" he asked. "Doesn't a leader need strength to protect and guide?"

Amar chuckled softly, revealing a touch of humor in his wisdom. "Ah, my dear Kavi, strength is indeed essential, but true strength lies not in physical might alone. It resides in the strength of character, the strength to do what is right even when it is difficult, and the strength to uplift others rather than dominate them."

As the evening sun dipped below the horizon, Amar concluded, "Remember, Kavi, a leader who serves with love and compassion can move mountains and touch hearts. To lead from the heart is to lead with the spirit of a servant. It is a path that leads to not only personal growth but also the growth and betterment of those you lead."

Kavi left Amar's shop that evening with a heart full of newfound wisdom and a resolve to embrace the principles of servant leadership. He realized that leadership was not a destination but a journey, one that required constant self-improvement and a commitment to nurturing the growth of others.

In the weeks and months that followed, Kavi applied the lessons he had learned from Amar. He listened to his team members with empathy, supported their ideas, and provided them with the tools to excel. He led by example, demonstrating humility and selflessness, and he used his strength to uplift those around him.

Slowly but surely, Kavi's leadership style transformed, and with it, the dynamics of his team. They no longer followed him out of obligation but out of genuine respect and admiration. Together, they achieved remarkable feats, and the atmosphere within the team became one of camaraderie, trust, and shared purpose.

And so, the wisdom of a humble shopkeeper named Amar, echoing the teachings of servant leadership from centuries past, guided a young leader like Kavi toward a path of self-improvement and personal growth. Like a river that flows from the depths of the mountains, true leadership springs from the heart, nurturing not only the leader but also the souls of those who follow. It is a journey, my dear reader, that begins with the decision to lead with love, humility, and a servant's heart. Embrace it, and you will find yourself not only growing as a leader but also enriching the lives of those you have the privilege to lead.

Months turned into years, and Kavi's reputation as a compassionate and effective leader continued to grow. His team flourished, and his influence expanded beyond the workplace. People from various walks of life sought his advice, not only on leadership but also on matters of the heart and soul.

One sunny afternoon, as Kavi walked through a bustling marketplace, he spotted an old friend, Meera. She had known Kavi before his transformation into a servant leader, and the change in him was evident.

"Kavi, my friend," Meera exclaimed, "you look different—happier and more at peace. What's your secret?"

Kavi smiled warmly and replied, "It's the journey of servant leadership, Meera. It has transformed not only my leadership style but also my life. It's about leading from the heart and serving others with empathy and compassion."

Intrigued, Meera invited Kavi to share his wisdom at a gathering of aspiring leaders and seekers of personal growth. Kavi accepted the invitation, and on the appointed evening, he stood before a diverse audience, much like Amar had done for him years ago.

He began with a story, as Amar had taught him. "In a small village nestled among the hills," Kavi began, "there lived a potter named Arjun. He was known for his exquisite pottery and the love he poured into his creations."

The audience leaned in, eager to hear the tale. "One day," Kavi continued, "a young boy approached Arjun and asked, 'How do you make such beautiful pots, Master?'"

Kavi paused, allowing the question to hang in the air. "Arjun," he continued, "smiled and replied, 'It's not just about the clay and the wheel, young one. It's about the love I put into every pot. I see the potential in each lump of clay, and I shape it with care and attention.'"

Meera watched as Kavi's words resonated with the audience, and he knew it was time to delve deeper into servant leadership.

"Leadership," Kavi declared, "is much like pottery. It's not about molding people into a predetermined shape but about recognizing their potential and nurturing it with love and care. It's about seeing the unique qualities in each individual and allowing them to shine."

With the audience's rapt attention, Kavi elaborated on the principles of servant leadership. He spoke of the importance of trust and how it flourished in an environment of authenticity and transparency. He emphasized the role of empowerment, allowing others to take ownership of their tasks and decisions, and how this led to personal growth and a sense of purpose.

As Kavi spoke, he shared anecdotes from his own journey, illustrating how servant leadership had not only improved his leadership abilities but had also enriched his personal life. He emphasized the need for continuous self-improvement, for a leader must lead by example, demonstrating humility and a commitment to learning.

Meera watched as Kavi's words kindled a fire in the hearts of the audience. They, like Kavi himself, were inspired to embark on their journey of servant leadership, to lead from the heart and serve with love and compassion.

As the gathering concluded, Meera approached Kavi with gratitude in her eyes. "Your words have touched many hearts today, my friend," she said. "You are truly a beacon of light, guiding others toward self-improvement and personal growth."

Kavi humbly nodded, his heart brimming with contentment. He had come a long way from the ambitious young man who had sought Amar's wisdom in that quaint shop. His journey had not only transformed him but had also allowed him to be a catalyst for positive change in the lives of others.

And so, the legacy of servant leadership continued, passed down from one generation to the next, each soul touched by its principles growing not only as leaders but also as individuals. In the end, my dear reader, it is the journey of the heart, guided by empathy, humility, and a servant's spirit, that leads us to the greatest heights of self-improvement and personal growth. May you, too, be inspired to embark on this noble path and let your heart lead the way.

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Wagging to Perfection: Effective Dog Obedience Training Nearby

Alpha Dog or Pack Leader Training:

The alpha dog or dog obedience training method is based on the idea that dogs are pack animals and follow a hierarchical structure. This method suggests that the owner must establish themselves as the "alpha" or leader of the pack to gain the dog's obedience. Advocates of this approach often emphasize the need for assertive and dominant behavior to show the dog who is in charge.

However, it's essential to note that the concept of an "alpha" has been challenged by modern research on dog behavior, which suggests that the pack dynamic in domestic dogs is different from that of wolves. Additionally, dominance-based training methods can sometimes lead to fear or anxiety in dogs and may not be suitable for all breeds or individual temperaments.

Relationship-Based Training:

Relationship-based training is a method that centers around building a strong emotional connection and understanding between the dog and the owner. The trainer focuses on positive reinforcement, but instead of relying solely on treats or rewards, the main reward becomes the bond and trust between the dog and its owner. This approach emphasizes communication, empathy, and responsiveness to the dog's needs and emotions.

Through relationship-based training, dogs learn to obey commands not just for the sake of rewards but because they genuinely want to please their owner and maintain a positive connection. This method can be highly effective, particularly for dogs that are sensitive or anxious, as it fosters a secure and trusting environment.

Science-Based Training (Operant Conditioning):

Science-based training, also known as operant conditioning, relies on the principles of behavioral science to modify dog behavior. It is a positive reinforcement-based approach that uses rewards (such as treats, toys, or praise) to reinforce desired behaviors and encourage their repetition. At the same time, undesirable behaviors are ignored or redirected to minimize their occurrence.

Operant conditioning takes advantage of a dog's natural inclination to seek rewards and avoid negative consequences. It is a systematic and evidence-based approach to training that aligns with the principles of animal learning theory. By focusing on reinforcing positive behaviors and avoiding punishment, science-based training aims to create a positive and enjoyable learning experience for the dog.

Dog obedience training encompasses a wide range of methods and techniques. Each approach has its merits and may suit different dogs based on their individual personalities, temperaments, and learning styles. While some traditional methods like alpha dog training have been challenged by modern behavioral research, science-based and relationship-based training methods continue to gain popularity for their effectiveness and positive impact on canine behavior.

As a responsible dog owner, it's essential to choose a training method that aligns with your beliefs, and most importantly, promotes the well-being and happiness of your furry companion. Remember that training should be a positive and enjoyable experience for both you and your dog, fostering a loving and respectful relationship that lasts a lifetime.