False Leaders

One of the most disorienting things about spiritual and coaching circles is the sheer number of imitators—people who parrot the language of wisdom, without ever tasting stillness.

They quote the mystics and sages, preach surrender, talk about “holding space,” but they’ve never truly met themselves in the stillness—the unbound nature of awareness which composes their precious and tender human heart.

Yet, people follow them. They pull at our insecurities—”if you do as I tell you, you’ll be rich like me, desired like me, respected like me.”

But authentic, ethical leaders don’t promise outcomes or convince anyone of anything. They point people back to themselves.

A few years ago, someone reached out to me for guidance. They were sharp, financially successful, charismatic, and had reached almost celebrity-status in their field. At first, I thought they were sincere. They asked thoughtful questions, expressed an ostensibly genuine interest in meditation, and wanted to learn to lead from the heart.

It quickly became clear, though: they didn’t want to embody any of it. They simply wanted to steal my voice. They wanted the language of depth without doing the inner work.

Were they aware of their true intent? I don’t know. Maybe they convinced themselves that they were helping people. Maybe they believed that repeating wise words is the same as living them. Maybe they were just trying to survive. Again, I don’t know.

But I do know that you can feel the difference. In that gap—between appearance and integrity—something is lost. Authentic influence expands you, leaves you open, clear, and whole. False influence leaves you subtly disoriented, like something’s been taken without your permission.

We need mirrors, not masks. We need leaders who know that true influence begins with open-hearted awareness, not authority or branding.

If you’ve ever felt uneasy around someone who seemed “spiritual,” trust that feeling. Discernment is not judgment. Integrity has a texture you can feel, even before you find the words.

By John Driggs

“You can run on for a long time…But sooner or later God’s gonna cut you down.”

– Johnny Cash