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The lessons that shift your leadership are rarely the ones you plan for. They tend to arrive when the plan falls apart. Last Wednesday night, at 12 am, I crawled up the last three flights of stairs, dragging myself into my apartment.
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My pants are collecting a white, powdery substance as my knees scrape against the concrete floor. How did it come to this point? I had been pondering, finding meaning in the mystery for days. It was my first time off. No business, clients, family, or obligations. All the things that would fill my own cup in a long time. I had planned a trip, booked flights, arranged accommodation, and even convinced a friend to come with me. The Great Ocean Walk, stretching 104 kilometres from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles in Victoria, was our destination. Imagine Antarctic winter winds thrashing the coastline and rain that does not fall softly from the sky but needles down at a 45-degree angle. It is not for the faint-hearted. I embarked on this journey with the intention of doing my own Power Walkshop, to uncover my power and purpose, for myself. But as I started walking, it became evident that, despite my efforts to stop and savour the moments, this would not follow the Power Walkshop lessons. The walk had its own lessons instead.
Day One: The RainbowsDay one was filled with rainbows. One rainbow that arched from one side of the land to another, a double rainbow, a waterfall rainbow. So many that I lost count. It was like walking in a place where the ordinary rules did not apply, with no phone reception and nothing but the path ahead. Lesson one: The beauty of the rainbows reminded me that sometimes, the most significant experiences happen when we least expect them. But you need a little challenge with the rain, and support with the sun, to see them.
Day Two: The StormThings shifted to another level on the second day. The day was meant for 25 millilitres of rain and 42 kilometre winds, and the anticipation kept me up at night. The wind and rain seemed to echo my inner turmoil, and I found myself questioning my life: who am I, what am I doing, where am I going, and what is most important? As we walked in the inclement weather, we often found ourselves on the path between bushes. The wind howled around us and the rain came in sideways, but it did not land on us. Lesson two: I recognised that it was a symbol of being in the eye of the storm in the outside world, but internally, centred and calm. I can endure a great deal on the outside, but keep on walking.
Day Three: The Lesson in StoppingBy the third day, my body had said, enough. You must rest. I had a blister the size of Tasmania and as red as a ripe cherry, throbbing with each step. I could have pushed on through the pain like I had seen when walking the Camino in Spain. Many walked through their suffering and soldiered on. But I did not feel that was my lesson. Lesson three: Sometimes stopping is a form of success, and sometimes not finishing is the wisest decision. Sometimes, you have to say no to get what you need.
The Lessons the Solitude RevealedOn the third and fourth days, while my friend hiked on her own, I sat in solitude to find myself. I reflected on my word for the year, which was “Emerge.” I felt like I was doing well to emerge from my cocoon but I was uncertain about being exposed. My red, raw, and exposed wound was a sign that it was time to own it and be comfortable with whatever was said about me. As my foot would heal, any discomfort I might experience from emerging into the wider world would, in time, heal too. As I made my way up the stairs to my apartment, covered in the residue of the journey, I recognised something worth holding. If someone on the walk could not complete the hike, staying behind would bring its own lessons, ones that were precisely what they needed. Because it was in the struggle and the solitude that the moments of clarity arrived. It was in the appreciation of my life and the understanding that every step, no matter how demanding, was part of my path.
The lessons from this walk were not the ones I planned. They were the ones I needed. If your leadership has been in motion without pause and the lessons have not had space to land, book a 15-minute Strategy Call and explore what becomes visible when you stop long enough to see it.
To your brilliance, Tanya Cross Industry Leader Coach & The Coaches’ Coach BAppSoSc (Counselling) |
