IT took Joe Biden and Kamala Harris less than a day to reverse some of the horrendous discriminatory acts signed off by Donald Trump, and to issue an executive order expanding LGBTQ non-discrimination protections.

If ever there was a sign that this new leadership team are determined to rule from the heart, with compassion and care for all, this was it.

Watching from the sidelines, here in the UK, I sense the strong message between the lines as well. Biden, himself a dedicated Catholic, has already sent a ‘love is love’ shockwave across the country — perhaps, even the world — in the aftermath of so much ridiculous rhetoric about religious freedoms being downtrodden by the LTBTQ ‘agenda’.

As a gay woman, in a loving, stable relationship of some 23 years, I can tell you there IS no agenda of this kind.

Where there’s love…

There is simply a need for the world to move on. We cannot continue to pick and choose which parts of religious doctrine we quote to justify our ignorance, hatred and discrimination. Where there’s love, there’s God. It’s that simple.

Biden’s order (read the full detail on NBC News) has been heralded as “the most substantive, wide-ranging executive order concerning sexual orientation and gender identity ever issued by a United States president” by Alphonso David, president of the Human Rights Campaign.

Some of the wording in the order really touched my heart — particularly these excerpts: “Children should be able to learn without worrying about whether they will be denied access to the restroom, the locker room, or school sports,” the executive order states. “Adults should be able to earn a living and pursue a vocation knowing that they will not be fired, demoted, or mistreated because of whom they go home to or because how they dress does not conform to sex-based stereotypes.”

What’s right is right. Welcome to 2021… and a future filled with hope.

How refreshing to have one of THE most powerful politicians in the world speaking with such care about the people he serves, regardless of his own religious allegiance. What’s right is right. Welcome to 2021… and a future filled with hope.

It’s that energy of love and compassion that, for me, makes the Biden/Harris dynamic not only endearing, but a partnership that leads from the front, with heart, passion and a real sense of truth and authenticity.

This is the difference between the ‘powerful’ former incumbent and the ‘power-full’ presidential team in place now. It’s not about lauding power over people, it’s about being filled with power and using that for the good of all.

The power of love

I’m not about to go all Jennifer Rush on you, but the power of love really is potent, and absolutely is needed — not just in the US, but globally!

Compare the energy and essence of the new set of US leaders with the staid old stiff upper lip shenanigans of our political bigwigs in the UK.

Can you imagine Boris outwardly displaying that level of heart and compassion in any of his addresses to the nation? What about Rees-Mogg? Certainly, his outward handling of his own religious beliefs is a far cry from Biden’s approach.

Of course, before Biden and Harris took office, we had the likes of New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern to look up to as well.

Whatever your political allegiance, it’s hard not to applaud her apparent warmth and down to earth approach. It’s that human touch that draws the nation — and people from other nations — to her.

How many other political leaders can you think of who address the people of their country through off-the-cuff Facebook lives? She speaks to human beings as a human being. That’s rare.

How many other political leaders can you think of who address the people of their country through off-the-cuff Facebook lives? She speaks to human beings as a human being. That’s rare.

I think, before then, the closest we had was Canada’s Justin Trudeau — certainly, he seemed to be far more inclusive and heart-based than the usual raft of politicians who came before. Has he made mistakes? Sure. Who hasn’t? Mistakes are an indelibly human trait.

What’s different, in the cases of Biden, Harris, Ardern and Trudea, is connection. Heart. Care for the people under their charge. Dare I say it again? Love.

Some of the cynics reading this might claim it’s all part of an elaborate PR stunt, I’m sure, but I’m not convinced it’s possible to fake that level of compassion and empathy for so long. It’s one thing saying the words someone else has carefully scripted for you, but quite another holding that visible, connective emotion for so long. The eyes have it — windows to the soul.

Heart-centred leaders

In wrapping up, I want to encourage more of us to step forward as compassionate, heart-centred leaders.

I’m not talking just about politicians.

In my work as a coach, I’m privileged to work with some amazing professionals whose mission in life is to put people first.

They span all sectors: HR, PR, app development, teaching, mental health support, fashion and style, therapy, recruitment… the list is endless.

They all lead from the heart. They all recognise the power of that human touch. They all (to quote Jennifer Rush again) recognise the power of LOVE.

I really do believe that genuinely caring is not only the best business strategy, but the most power-full LIFE plan.

We need to unbutton those stiff upper lips.

We need to recognise that, in order to move our world onwards and upwards, we need more compassion, empathy and truth from our leaders.

We need to recognise that, in order to move our world onwards and upwards, we need more compassion, empathy and truth from our leaders.

We need to get braver about speaking openly about the things that really matter.

Love. We need more of that. It’s not just for romance — it’s universal.

Until next time,

#UnleashYourAwesome — AND your heart!

Taz

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Taz Thornton is the author of Awesome Sauce — a free, weekly positive life and business round-up, with good news stories, positivity tips and visibility hacks for your brand. In a few minutes each week, you get a dose of optimism and some awesome advice to get seen and stay happy.

Taz is a best-selling author, inspirational business speaker and multiple TEDx speaker, consultant on confidence, personal brand and visibility, and an award-winning coach (UK’s Best Female Coach 2018 — Best Business Woman Awards, Female Professional Of The Year, Central England, 2020). She is also the creator of the #UnleashYourAwesome and #BrandMastery personal and business development programmes, as well as #UNLEASHED — an affordable confidence, content and cashflow building programme for coaches, healers and therapists, and #LIFEFORCE — an affordable online spiritual empowerment and coaching programme for people wanting to bring more optimism into their lives.

Taz has been featured on BBC, ITV, in HuffPost, Diva, The Daily Mail and countless other newspapers, magazines and podcasts. Taz is also a regular columnist for the America Out Loud talkshow network. In 2019, she was named as one of the most inspirational businesswomen in the UK and, in 2020, she was named as one of the world’s top 50 women in marketing to follow.

Find her on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Insta, Ko-Fi and TazThornton.com.