Imagine for a moment a group of people chained to the ground in the depths of a cave. They face a wall, unable to turn around and see anything else other than the shadows, shapes and figures that are projected onto the wall by a large fire that blazes behind them.

This is all they know for eternity. They are Prisoners.

The shapes, figures and shadows represent their entire truth, awareness and their very limited reality. They are unable to see or hear anything else.

One day, one of the Prisoners frees themselves, discovering the fire that casts the shapes, figures and shadows and begins to realise that there may be a new reality.

As they walk towards the sunlight that shines in from the cave's opening their assumption is proved to be true.

A new reality emerges.

The Prisoner continues to walk towards the opening, emerging into the sunlight slowly adjusting their eyes and basking in the sun's warmth. They continue to realise a completely new truth and reality from what they have known and as they walk towards the sunshine, they learn something so compelling it touches their soul.

So inspired they are with this new knowledge and insight, they are compelled to tell the other Prisoners so they too might set themselves free.

The freed Prisoner returns to the depths of the cave to inform the others, but is met with resistance, ridicule and shame. The Prisoner is made to feel like an outsider, a Pariah, as the others stay chained in their place, staring at the familiar shapes, shadows and figures that are all they know, and all that they will ever know.

This is the story of Plato's Cave.

My last week was spent in a colloquium with a group of Australian leaders. We discussed ethics, leadership and the overlap of the two. We grasped at abstract concepts, swam through the swamp and murky waters which run through our organisations and communities alike, and we wrestled with the reality of change, transformation, upheaval and trauma that make our world what it is.

On the final day of this experience, which I can only describe as simply wonderful, we discussed Plato's Allegory of the Cave. A story that has been debated and analysed by leaders the world over for more than 2,500 years and is as relevant today as it was in the days when Socrates relayed it to his brother all those years ago.

On the final day of our colloquium, a challenge was issued to us; to take our learnings and share them with the world. To take shine a light on one thing for others that they might better understand it and in turn we understand ourselves a little better in the process.

I count myself lucky in that I have had the story of the Prisoner escaping from the depths of that ancient cave in my ear since I was a child.

The ancient landscape was fertile ground for my bedtime stories and so it has extra meaning for me. A deeper sense of truth that resonates with me more today than it did when I was younger.

We have all played the role of the Returning Prisoner, armed with knew knowledge and enlightenment only to be met with ridicule and at times disdain. We have all held that knowledge close to our hearts and our souls, only to be met with ignorance and apathy.

This very simple ancient story has taught me many things that I believe to be true.

It teaches me that we must all find a way to free ourselves from the single story we are told; that we must challenge the shapes, shadows and figures which invisible entities place in front of us each and every day of our lives.

It tells me that we must stand up and speak our truth to power.

That we must not fear returning to the cave with new ideas and knowledge which will make the world progress towards a place that is better.

Towards some place that is good.

Towards some place where those that are told a single story and unfortunately believe it, are free to learn for themselves.

The story of the cave tells me that we must all walk towards the sunlight because the sunlight in the story is where knowledge, ingenuity and creativity reside.

It is a place of wisdom, healing and beauty.

Somewhere on a hilltop in the mountains of Delphi in modern-day Greece sits an ancient temple built around the same time this story of the cave was told. The temple was built in honour of the God Apollo; the god of the sun, healing, knowledge, beauty and prophecy.

On the top of this temple of the sun are inscribed two words.

Two words which I'm sure touched the soul of that free Prisoner thousands of years ago, as they stood in the sunlight. Two words which were so compelling they simply had to be shared with those who were yet to be free.

Those two words inscribed on that ancient temple, still standing today are the making of every good leader throughout history.

Know Thyself.