Savannah Taylor: Lessons of the Labyrinth and Tapping Into Your Inner Wisdom
I am pleased to be able to share a guest post from my friend Savannah Taylor from my Co-Active Leadership Program Tribe. One of Savannah’s themes is about labyrinths, which I also love: I was surprised by how the labyrinth I walked sparked ideas about what matters in my life. Another theme is what I say in “Co-Active Coaching as a Tool for Maximizing Utility—Getting Where You Want in Life”: “ideally, everyone would have a coach, or more than one for different areas of their lives.” Here is Savannah:
Most of my life, (up until last summer when I got divorced and started my entire life over), I've made a habit of looking outside of myself for answers. I constantly gave my power away and sought permission from others to live my life the way I wanted. After making the life changing decision to get divorced and start a new chapter on my own, I began the process of unlearning all of the habits where I was giving my power away, staying small and quiet, and being "acceptable." The path has been unpredictable, with so many twists and turns, but ultimately I knew deep down inside that there was a version of my life with so much more joy, ease, and alignment than what I had been living. I was ready to discover who I really was and I wasn't going to give up until I found her.
Each day, each week, has been a beautiful unfolding of discovering more of myself. The more I lean into loving and accepting who I am and what I bring to the world, the more trust I've built in my inner knowing. This knowing is a still and quiet voice that is dependable and true. It will guide you to your authentic life of fulfillment and purpose if you get quiet enough to listen.
Almost 1 year later, I have cultivated a level of self-acceptance I couldn't have dreamed of. I have discovered the woman I was made to be and consciously created a life by my design. My relationship with my inner wisdom is growing stronger every day and it has led me to the most incredible friendships and opportunities I could have ever imagined.
Most days after working, I take time to walk down to the lake by my house to soak in the goodness of the peaceful water, the fresh air, and get present with myself and nature as the sun gets lower and more golden in the sky. After spending some intentional time there on the old wooden dock, I continue on my normal walking path for more exercise before heading back home.
There are two routes to get back home. I can choose to walk the route back along the water, which is my usual favorite, or I can go through downtown Kirkland and a residential area. I almost always walk back along the water, because it just gives me so much life at the end of the day, but something told me to go the residential route this one day. I decided to listen to my quiet inner nudge. As I headed back home, I stumbled upon this labyrinth. I've been on this particular route several times before and never noticed it. It is in PLAIN SIGHT right next to the sidewalk, with no obstructions. This made me stop and think, "What else is in plain sight that I haven't noticed?"
Not sure what a labyrinth is? Here's a snippet from the internet to give you an idea:
A labyrinth is a complex and circuitous path that leads from a beginning point to a center (and back out again). One of the two types is a Meander, with a single, undivided path and no choices to make other than traveling onward through the winding pattern to an assured goal. The meandering pattern may tease the traveler by leading inward, then suddenly outward, but eventually it arrives surely at the goal. A labyrinth may have served to help one find their spiritual path by purposefully removing one from the common understanding of linear time and direction between two points. As one traveled through the labyrinth, one would become increasingly lost in reference to the world outside and, possibly, would unexpectedly discover one’s true path in life.
Before I stepped into the labyrinth, I stopped at the entrance and considered what intention or question I wanted to meditate on as I walked the path. I ended up asking, "What is my next step?" As I walked the meandering path of the labyrinth, considering my question, these are the lessons that revealed themselves to me through the experience:
Stay on the path and keep putting one foot in front of the other and you will reach your goal (even when the path seems to be taking you further away from it)
Even though you can't tell how you get "there" you WILL GET THERE
The journey requires TRUST that you will indeed find your way and get "there"
When you start to enjoy the process and the journey, you get "there" before you know it
Your path and your pace is yours, comparison and judgement aren't helpful or necessary
These lessons were exactly what I needed to hear in the moment as I was contemplating how to move forward with next steps in my business and life. And though this didn't give me any specific action steps, it reminded me of how I needed to BE as I moved forward. I walked this labyrinth a couple weeks ago and as I've stepped into more TRUST that I just need to keep putting one foot in front of the other and enjoying the process, I have realized so many creative solutions, next steps, and A-HA moments. It was exactly what I needed. Sometimes it's so easy to feel stuck or lost, but you ALWAYS have the answers inside you. If you have a hard time hearing your inner wisdom, hire a coach that can help you tune in and facilitate it's uncovering.
Savannah Taylor is a sweet and sassy powerhouse of courage and vulnerability, kindness and compassion. In her presence, you will feel like you are ENOUGH, supported, and championed to the highest version of yourself. She is the Founder of the ME FIRST: Self-Care for Leaders community and a Co-Active Adventure Coach. She utilizes exploration and shared experiences in nature to empower Leaders to expand their limits of what's possible. From 1:1 local nature walks (near Seattle) to multi-day retreats of sailing, hiking, scuba diving, and obstacle courses, she guides you to expand through discovery and wonder as you connect to yourself and others outdoors.
Savannah grew up in Seattle with a family that was not “outdoorsy.” After spending 3 years in Hawaii in her late 20's, she began hiking, sailing, and challenging her fear of water by snorkeling and getting scuba certified. Through her journey of exploration and pushing her physical and mental limits, she discovered the power of expansion through nature and adventure coaching. Savannah is on a mission to empower you to trust your inner knowing and cultivate self-acceptance while challenging the self-imposed limits you’ve set for your life. Our greatest work is to uncover our own alignment, joy, and values and build our life around them. Making the world a better place starts inside you.
Book a sample coaching session with Savannah here:
https://savannahtaylorcoachingcalendar.as.me/?appointmentType=5241465
Visit her website:
www.savannahtaylorcoaching.com
Join the Community, ME FIRST: Self-Care for Leaders:
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