| The Qualities of Spiritual Intelligence
Zohar and Marshall derived 12 qualities of SQ from the principles of complex adaptive systems. In biology, complex adaptive systems are living systems that create order out of chaos, they create order and information and defy the law of entropy.
These characteristics demonstrate the significance of SQ for an individual, team or organisational system which seeks to be truly alive. It is important to note that these qualities can be developed. This makes SQ a critical consideration for any business seeking to move towards an organic existence which integrates a complex reality.
I have adapted Zohar and Marshall's qualities and definitions and added to them:
- Self-Awareness: Knowing what beliefs and values motivate you / the team / the organisation;
- Witness Consciousness: The capacity to see one's own ego and choose whether to go with habitual tendencies or do something different;
- Value-based Living: Having principles and considered beliefs and consistently living them; The ability to maintain boundaries and walk away;
- Simple Living: Using resources preciously and avoiding waste wherever possible;
- Spontaneity: Living in and interacting with the present moment;
- Holism: Seeing larger patterns, relationships, and connections; Seeing the bigger picture; Having a sense of belonging;
- Compassion: The quality of "feeling-with" and deep empathy. To move beyond cognitive understanding to identify with another;
- Celebration of Diversity: Valuing difference and seeking growth through complex reality;
- Independence: Holding one's own convictions even when that is costly;
- Humility: Having an accurate sense of your place in a larger drama;
- Questioning Tendency: Needing to understand things and get to the bottom of them;
- Ability to Reframe: Being able to cross-apply ideas, skills and experiences; the ability to synthesise;
- Courage: Taking responsibility; Not resorting to blame, guilt, rationalising, anger, despair, denial and typical defence mechanisms;
- Positive Use of Adversity: Learning and growing from mistakes, setbacks and suffering. Apologising and making amends wherever possible;
- Sense of Vocation: Feeling called upon to serve, to give something back;
- Centred Mobility: Having a clear sense of self known-ness and acceptance that makes adventure possible.
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| Francis Vaughn, Psychotherapist (2002)
My impression is that spiritual intelligence opens the heart, illuminates the mind, and inspires the soul, connecting the individual human psyche to the underlying ground of being. Spiritual intelligence can be developed with practice and can help a person distinguish reality from illusion. |
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