At this watershed moment in American politics, could Obama's State of the Union call to Americans to bring our better self into politics be a coded call to women? After all, who is the one men usually refer to when they refer to "my better self?"
Who gets credit for breaking through the gridlock in Congress? Women. Who is able to manage high levels of complexity the best during highly stressful times? Women.
Ask Sharktank's Kevin O'Leary. Referring to women, O'Leary bluntly points out: women led companies, are better investments, with lower risk and higher yields.
As Obama reminded, we live in divided times. These are times when most belief systems that have brought us together are breaking down.
We also live at a decisive moment in human history where we have a choice. We can chose to cling to the familiar or follow our heart. If if we choose to follow our heart, we are choosing change.
Change, like life itself implies growth. Even the driving force of climate change is driving us to grow and change at a demanding pace.
So imagine what the new face of politics might look like if our leaders in Congress were to come closer together instead of pulling farther apart. What if we referred to those we voted into office as as mindful, empathetic, and compassionate leaders?
In his State of the Union call to "our better self," President Obama sought to define himself as a compassionate leader. He used the word compassion for all life as if defining a a gravitational force.
Was he inviting us to work together to shape a better future? Was this invitation also a coded call to women?
If so, there truly is reason for hope.
As the 19th Century philosopher, Matthew Arnold, wrote nearly two hundred years ago: "If ever the world sees a tie when women shall come together purely and simply for the benefit of humankind, it will be a power such as the world has never known."
Alexia Parks is founder of the 10 TRAITS Leadership Institute.