The Hidden
"Do you see the door ahead of you, Amanda? Are you willing to go closer, to look beyond it? Tell me, what is it that you see?"
As I assisted a group of young coaches in their training I had no idea, I would be the one leaving with such a profound revelation.
As I closed my eyes, drew a deep breath, and surrendered to the moment, an image of a vibrantly colored circus tent appeared in my visualisation exercise. My body trembled as the mantra of "I am greatness" echoed relentlessly in my mind.
Peeling back the tent canvas, I wove my way through retreating crowds, my senses heightened to the unfolding chaos. A freezing stillness enveloped my body, time held its breath, and the rivers of my eyes surged down my cheeks.
I had stepped into hell, surrounded by the living dead. This realm overflowed with rejection, judgment, and suffering.
IN THE CENTER STAGE OF THE CIRCUS OF MY SABOTEURS, I CONFRONTED THE OVERWHELMING VISIONS OF THE DARK SIDE OF GREATNESS THAT WERE STIFLING MY GROWTH.
Here I stood, consciously present to the hardest thing to "be with" in life and the thing I desired most—GREATNESS!
RELEASING LIMITING BELIEFS
Upon reflection, it's no surprise that those who seek coaching are often disconnected from their own greatness. We attract reflections of what we yearn for in ourselves and others. Look around—be inspired by those who surround you. They mirror what your soul wants you to know lives deep inside you.
Just last week, amidst a coaching session, the theme of greatness once again beckoned. It persisted like a stone in my shoe, demanding attention.
My client, a towering woman—vibrant, funny, articulate, and incredibly talented—was hiding. Life had taught her to play to realism over idealism, to shy away from appearing too much of everything. She hid from being too bold, too boastful, too emotional, too vulnerable. The list of shadows she retreated from seemed endless. What surfaced was only a fraction of her inner leader's potential. In that session, the greatness in me rose to summon forth the greatness in her.
OWNING "GREATNESS" NEED NOT BE LADEN WITH SHAME. IT’S ABOUT BREAKING OPEN OUR HEARTS AND INVITING OTHERS TO DO THE SAME.
In ancient communities, decisions revolved around heart, vulnerability, and spiritual growth. There was no compartmentalisation between personal and professional selves.
Stories, wisdom, and knowledge were shared without division. Children were taught to connect with spirit and earth, and support flowed towards the weakest, knowing their greatness would one day fill the community.
Today, it feels like the world is breaking down, where our "greatest achievements" might also be our downfall. Global leaders, communities, and connections haven't materialised as envisioned. How much of this is because we've willingly hidden, following the ideals of those who haven't opened their hearts?
As we embark on the next journey, it seems essential to journey back to the greatness within our hearts—for ourselves, others, and the planet. It's time to raise our ideals, transcend the fears of rejection and judgment, and beckon forth the true leaders who have been in hiding. The shadows before the dawn are upon us, and the journey home has begun.