Do you wonder if you are good enough?
The pattern and the trap of this is that we are working from the outside in, looking for external validation to feel OK about ourselves. It just doesn’t work that way. We might enjoy some reprieve from the anxiety of thinking “I’m not enough”, but it will swiftly return because we are constantly looking for confirmation that we are OK from the outside. But it is not an outside job. The job is done from the inside.
This is how it worked for me.
How are you when you experience rejection?
When you do something that might lead to rejection, how do you behave? Do you hold back and not put in your all?
When you take action, are you actually looking for acknowledgement from others? What happens if you don’t get it? How do you respond if the feedback is critical?
Seeking acknowledgment from others is a trap. If you do that, you are outsourcing your power. At best, there is only temporary relief from the fear and worry of wondering “Am I good enough?” The feeling of relief comes from outside your self-from other people.
There is NO freedom in that.
There is an investment in your life, whether it is the work you do, building relationships with family, friends and colleagues or life projects. There is the time, energy and focus. And then there is a depth to your investment that takes time to drop into and therefore takes time to step out of.
What if with a simple shift of your body, you could have 100% confidence in your leadership ability and decision making? Leadership is an inherent quality in all living things. In the language of archetypes, that inherent quality is Sovereign. All living things have the inherent ability to stand in their sovereignty. You can access your sovereignty by the way you stand and hold yourself. By bringing attention to the alignment, sensations and feelings in the body, you can embrace your Sovereign leadership.
Have you ever needed resolve to follow through on something in service of a larger goal? Or fiercely defended a person, belief, purpose or value that is dear to you and under threat? Have you taken decisive action, even in the face of opposition or disinterest in service of integrity? Are you ever bravely vulnerable in your relationships and share something with a partner or friend where there is the risk they will laugh at, or ridicule, you? Do you open yourself to risk of failure? If you have done any of these, you would have recruited the Warrior archetype.
Conversely, if you haven’t, would it serve you to cultivate Warrior, so that you are better able to honour these qualities in yourself?
Lover is the archetype of love, tolerance, compassion and empathy. Lover shows us the beauty of connection, humanity and our capacity to care for ourselves, each other and the world. Through intimacy, Lover shows us how we are all the same. Sometimes, the hurts of life are too much. Lover cannot always keep the heart open. There are times connection is too hard. When this happens, we close down and withdraw.
And it is right to do so. Sometimes, turning inward allows the reflection, synthesis and transformation required to open again with more strength. The broken heart requires tenderness, care and nurturing to heal.
What gifts can you offer the world and how will you share those gifts? How would you like to share your contribution? What legacy would you love to leave to subsequent generations?
The Hero’s Journey is a quest born from endless questioning “There must be more to life than this?” By stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing your dragons, you discover the gifts of your greatness and wholeness. Once more connected to this inner source, you step into your power and authority, empowering you to give your gifts fully and leave a meaningful legacy and contribution to the world.
The archetypes are a map and model of personal growth. They point to your qualities and greatness and the pitfalls you might encounter that hold you small, in limitation and fear. And they offer a way out of that fear and into choice, freedom and expansion.
Are you a life coach? Or a person looking for life coaching? Either way, archetypes are an excellent model to work with to access the deep potential available within the coaching session and within you as an individual- both coach and client.
How can the archetypes support you in your leadership? There is self-leadership and leadership of others, as well as collaboration- leadership with others. Archetypes can inspire you to great leadership in all these areas as an individual, and as a parent, partner and work colleague.
At The Embodiment Conference, listen to David talk about archetypes and an embodied system for inner leadership and self-empowerment.