When we look up to someone, often, we tend to place them on a pedestal. We may do this unknowingly, or we may do it because that person behaves in a way that is far from us. Today, as spiritual teachers embody and share tenets of the original teachings, there's a need for them to go beyond simply listening and responding to their followers.

Whether it's medication, meditation, or anything else, we all depend on more than divinity and enlightenment to take care of ourselves. Robert and Dave point out that when leaders are open, honest, and vulnerable, it gives others a glimpse into their humanness. It allows students to relate better to their teachers and understand how to approach similar problems in their lives. This act of vulnerability also allows others to see how to intertwine personal spiritual guidance and external help to get through difficult moments.

If you're a leader or teacher, take a moment to think about how you let your congregation identify with you? Do you include them, or do you not give them a chance to share their support and help? How do you express your challenges to yourself before you share them with the world? What are the steps you're taking to help yourself through it? The answers to these questions will help you understand how much your congregation has the potential to relate to you. You will connect with them better when they relate to you on your core emotional level.

At the same time, as followers and believers, we must ask for what we need from our leaders and teachers. Being direct in our values and asking questions that encourage our teachers or ministers to share their human experience can help us in our greatest time of need. It also could help us gain self esteem that we could help those teachers and guides who are helping us. At the same time we can stay true to our authentic beliefs no matter what they are while seeking help or insights. Instead of being passive listeners, we would likely benefit enormously by being active participants so that we can share our true selves through our actions and our attitudes.

Over time, your authentic beliefs, your understanding and connection to your teachers, and your ways of taking care of yourself in difficult moments will help you naturally expand your quality of life. This, in turn, might encourage you to be more supportive of humanity and the world at large — which, after all, also includes you and your loved ones.

Read the transcription and listen to this episode on The Global Bridge Foundation website.