Leadership Inspired by a Zen Master and a Successful YouTuber

The teachings of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh and the advice of YouTuber and dating coach Matthew Hussey offer a complementary vision of self-love with direct implications for the quality of leadership in business…

Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh and successful YouTuber and dating coach Matthew Hussey, by emphasizing the healing of the “inner child” and the importance of self-care as we would for a loved one, offer a complementary perspective on self-love, with direct implications for the quality of leadership in business.

Healing the Inner Child

Vietnamese-born Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, recognized for his commitment to peace and for actively contributing to the popularization of mindfulness in the West, suggests that to better know, understand, and free ourselves from certain suffering, it is beneficial to reconnect with our “inner child.” This inner child carries both wounds and an innate capacity to feel joy, often buried by life’s challenges. In his book Reconciliation : Healing the Inner Child, Thich Nhat Hanh invites us to listen to this child with kindness, to acknowledge their pain, and to offer them the love they may not have received.

Taking Care of Your Human

British author and YouTuber Matthew Hussey, a relationship coach close to actresses Eva Longoria and Tyra Banks, approaches the topic pragmatically, inviting each person to consider their relationship with themselves as a continuous duty of care toward a “human” for whom they are “responsible.” Loving oneself is thus not only a feeling but also — and perhaps primarily — an engagement and a responsibility. We don’t need to be fully satisfied with ourselves to love ourselves; it’s about deciding to care for ourselves, day by day, by making choices that promote our well-being and avoiding toxic relationships as much as possible. It’s about treating oneself with respect, even on days when we don’t feel our best. For those who may lack practice, self-love gradually becomes a daily practice, a series of choices to protect and thrive, regardless of one’s current level of self-appreciation.

Self-Love: A Daily Practice

By combining the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh and the advice of Matthew Hussey, we can approach self-love as a practice that requires both gentleness and perseverance. It’s not just about appreciating our qualities but about actively engaging in a process of care:
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• Recognize and accept: The first step is to recognize the existence of this inner child, their wounds, and their vulnerabilities. Thich Nhat Hanh encourages us to welcome this vulnerable part of ourselves with compassion. By becoming aware of our past experiences and their effects on our present, we can understand better some of our emotional reactions and behaviors. This compassionate welcome provides a solid foundation for building a peaceful relationship with ourselves.
• Care for: Matthew Hussey invites us to treat our own well-being with the same care we would offer to a loved one. It’s about making concrete choices that honor us and protect us from negative influences.
• Give Yourself the necessary time: Each day, self-love is a practice, a renewed commitment to oneself, through life’s highs and lows, here and now, without requiring perfection nor rigid expectations.

Implications for Leadership

For leaders, integrating these principles into their personal lives goes far beyond personal well-being. This approach transforms their leadership by making them more aware of their own vulnerabilities and emotions. This awareness fosters empathy, allowing them to better understand and respond to the emotional needs of their teams, which strengthens trust and a culture of kindness within their organizational context.
By nurturing their “inner child” and their “human,” leaders adopt a balanced and resilient approach that supports them in coping with daily pressures, especially when they face decisions that require ethics and courage.

Thus, this journey of personal development, inspired and illustrated by a Zen monk and a YouTuber, would not only help transform and improve the quality of personal life but could also positively impact the professional environment by fostering collective fulfillment and sustainable growth.


References
Hussey, M. (2024). Love Life: How to Raise Your Standards, Find Your Person, and Live Happily. London: Harper Collins Publishers.
Thich Nhat Hanh (2010). Reconciliation : Healing the Inner Child. Berkeley (CA): Parallax Press.

Frédéric Bagutti
Licensed Psychologist, MSc., DESS University of Geneva, Frédéric specialized in the fields of organizational psychology and executive coaching at INSEAD, Hult Ashridge and the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations. His practice centers on the psychological dimensions of organizational change and leadership transitions. This focus has been shaped by twenty years of experience in corporate leadership and organizational development, as well as internal consulting and executive coaching in global organizational settings. Frédéric work with organizations and private clients, in person and online, in English and French.

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