Exploring Inner Space
Cassandra Goodman
Activating Human Brilliance at Work | Coach | Facilitator | Consultant | Thinking Environment? Trainer | Self-Fidelity Pioneer | Published Author | True Power Podcast Host |
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
Viktor E. Frankl
The world has been captivated over the last week by the landing of the Perseverance rover on Mars. This landing is the heart of NASA’s $2.7 billion Mars 2020 mission. Elon Musk’s is also working to establish a human colony on Mars. The featured quote from Elon on home page the SpaceX website says “I can’t think of anything more exciting than going out there and being among the stars”.
Well with respect to Elon, I can think of something way more exciting. Saving life on our home planet.
When I saw the images of the dry, dusty desolate landscape on Mars I experienced an unexpected surge of sadness. Will my great grandchildren be forced to call this place home? Even the harshest environments on Earth look like paradise in comparison to Mars.
For the first time in human history our home planet is teetering on the edge of a catastrophic tipping point. No phase of humanity has ever encountered the scale, severity and urgency of the problems we are facing today. Yet, most of us are too caught up in the minutia of the daily grind to even consider the enormity and urgency of the problem – let along feel compelled to become part of the solution. We scurry around, tiny busy specks on a melting, flooding blue marble that is hurtling through space.
In his recently released book Life on Our Planet David Attenborough gets right to the heart of the matter:
“The natural world is fading. The evidence is all around. It has happened during my lifetime. I have seen it with my own eyes. It will lead to our destruction. (…) We have come as far as we have because we are the cleverest creates to have ever lived on earth. But if we are to continue to exist, we will require more than intelligence. We will require wisdom.”
So, what exactly will it take to save our home planet? How can we tap into our inner wisdom?
Well, it requires us to find the courage to explore our own inner space. That space that Victor Frankl found the courage to explore inside himself in the most horrendous of circumstances in Auschwitz.
If more of our world leaders and business leaders could muster up the courage to search inside themselves and explore their inner space, we would not need to be spending billions of dollars each year trying to colonise outer space.
By finding the courage to explore our inner space, we could find the answers to questions such as these…
- How might I change my personal sources of fuel from the toxic propellants of of unhealthy striving, proving, ranking, acquiring and competing to win at any cost?
- How might I learn how to reconnect with my true nature – and learn how to embody a way of being that sheds this hardened, defensive, protective exterior?
- How might I begin to harness the vast potential of my inner wisdom, my compassion, my creativity and my inter-connectedness as alternative, sustainable sources of personal power?
Our survival depends on many, many more leaders across the world putting on their big girl and big boy pants – and soon.
We must find the courage to explore our inner space.
Only through the exploration of our inner space can we begin to grow into the fullness of our individual and collective potential. Only through the exploration of our inner space can we restore our faith in our goodness, our uniqueness and our wisdom. And, as we restore our faith in ourselves - we restore our faith in each other.
Sometimes new coaching clients share with me that, before working with me, they were afraid to explore their inner space because they are unsure about what they might learn about themselves – and fearful of where their self-discovery may lead them. If you feel this same way, I invite you to reflect on the following questions:
What is the cost of living the rest of my life not ever really knowing myself, never really understanding what makes me unique, never listening to the whisperings of my heart?
How would life be different if could truly be a friend to myself when I feel overwhelmed, am struggling or in pain?
What new possibilities must unfold in my life if I deeply trusted in my innate goodness, warm-heartedness, connectedness, inner wisdom and enough-ness?
What if none of the voices in my head represent the essence of who I really am?
How will I feel at the end of my life, if I have lived my life trying to make everyone else happy?
Many of my clients come to me because they realise that they have no space in their busy over-scheduled lives to do the work of exploring their inner space. Committing to creating regular time to explore our own inner space is our first and most critical step. No one else can take this first small step for us. We must be the ones to reclaim our time and our energy.
If more leaders committed to taking this one first small step, there is no doubt in my mind that it would be a catalyst for a giant leap for humankind.
Whether you carve out regular time to do this inner-exploration work with an experienced coach, a therapist or a trustee mentor – you just have to make it happen. One could argue that this work is the most important and urgent work that exists on our planet at this time.
The small (yet mighty) self-fidelity practice I invite you to play with is to ask yourself the following questions, get quiet and listen deeply to sense a response:
What is getting in the way of me exploring my own inner space?
What support do I need to find the courage to look within?
What is my next best step?
We get lost in the weather of our minds. Yet above the thick cloud, clear sky always awaits. We get pushed around by constant winds. Yet we can all learn how to find shelter. We are held down by an invisible heaviness. Yet we can gently let go of this burden. We all contain a powerful lifeforce. And by learning how to feed it, we are revitalised. Remembering the truth of who we are, we lift.
www.self-fidelity.com
If you are ready to start exploring your inner space, reach out to learn more about my coaching packages and leadership programs. You can reach me at [email protected]
“Cassie is a master at creating and holding space for her clients. This is so rare today in our full and busy lives. This space created an opportunity for me to focus on who I am and who I want to be in my life – both personally and professionally. I often marveled at Cassie’s ability to cultivate this space for me to work through things in such a gentle yet focused way. This space is always free of ego, striving, hustle or expectation. It is truly a space for you to discover your best self.”
Jasmine Malki, Head of People & Development, Grattan Institute