The Roar Within

The intensity of the sound pulses throughout my body. A communication so clear and so true that my soul recognizes the power, the declaration... the claim of life as if to remind me to claim my own. I see him through the binoculars, so far away and yet so close. He is around me, within me... he is me, as I "hear" him roar...

I am not giving up!

I am ALIVE!

I WILL return... stronger and more powerful than before!

Many years ago on a philanthropic trip to Zambia we took a detour to see some wildlife. I was still reeling from my mom's sudden death a few years earlier. Her death challenged me to live my life before I died, but I still didn't know what that meant. I was buried under the "to-dos", going through the motions of life, suffocating slowly.

The guides were all retrained hunting guides, smart, experienced and passionate about the new ways their skills were being used. No fences existed, yet the animals knew where they were "safe" from man. The animals tolerated us as long as we stayed in the vehicle. The head guide shared that they do not intervene with their lives. They watch. They learn. And they share.

The backstory of the lion is unusual as he was one of four brothers who were co-leading a pride. Two brothers had split off in the last year and had taken part of the pride with them, which left this lion and one brother co-leading the remaining part of the pride... until now.

The evening we heard his roar had followed a big fight between the brothers who were no longer willing to share leadership. The guides had heard the fighting as the lions fought over who would be the sole victor.

Because this lion was so badly hurt, his brother and the rest of the pride were a few miles away, leaving him injured and alone.The guides wanted to see what had transpired as the day slipped into night. "Who wants to join us?" I didn't hesitate. I knew I was meant to go.

My breathing stops as every ounce of my being yearns to hear more from him. His roar speaks directly to me and I pass the binoculars to someone else, my hands shaking so much I can't focus. I close my eyes and feel his spirit. On the edge of death. The guide points out the injuries and I listen, feeling every rip, every gash, each lick he made over the wounds. I could feel his pain. I could also feel his unwavering determination. Every roar is as powerful and as intense as the first one. The rawness reminds me of the scream that shook my body days after kissing my mom's dead body and saying goodbye.

The guide explains quietly that this lion is telling his pride not to forget him, that he is alive and he will return. I already know this. I feel it. He is relentless and I can't get enough. His powerful and vulnerable roar is awakening a part of me that had been asleep for years. I can feel my grief, my pain, and my numbness receding, replaced by a powerful urge to claim my own life, to roar my own roar. I can't be a mere spectator of life anymore, boxed in by others' expectations and numbed by grief. Like the lion, I am alive and I will return, stronger and more powerful than before.

I didn't recognize the meaning of this awakening until many years later. This lion reminded me of my own intensity, my desire to BE all of who I am and to fight for what matters. It's an evolving journey and the lessons I absorbed are reminders to me and to the clients I serve. As leaders in our lives and in our work, we are meant to stretch and grow and regularly check in with how aligned our words and our actions are with who we are within.

I am forever grateful to this animal guide for reawakening my soul, my desire to live and my desire to show up in all of who I am. His declaration of life is a reminder in many ways to expand and thrive every day. Here are a few ways I still practice these lessons and these are lessons I nurture and challenge my clients to embody as they grow professionally and personally:

1. Embrace Adversity: Just like the lion in the story, adversity shapes you into a stronger, more resilient person if you embrace it. This doesn't mean you create adversity. But when it is in your path, leverage challenging experiences to learn, grow, and emerge stronger, ready to face whatever life throws at you next.
2. Claim Your Space: This is a big one for me. Society taught me early on to stay small and quiet. No more. It isn't always comfortable, but strive to claim your space personally and professionally. You are worthy.
3. Resonate Passion: Stay connected to what really matters in life. Any moment we might die so I want to LIVE in the time I have. Passion is part of my fuel for living and serving. I know my WHY. Do you know yours?
4. Be Actively Engaged in Your Life: Instead of passively going through the motions, choose to be active. I nurture my passion and fuel my intensity. After my mom's death, she came to me in a dream and told me to start living. Like this lion, I intend be fully present and engaged, even in a challenging moment. Where can you be a more active participant in your life?
5. Be Clear About What Matters: The lion's roar was not just a cry of survival, but also a clear declaration of his intention to return. Actively work to stay aligned with your purpose. Don't let others tell you what you should or should not do. This is my life. This is your life. How do you want to spend it?
6. Set Intentions: Be the author of your story. Don't be a bystander or let other people or circumstances push you into living a reactive life. Be intentional. The lion communicated his intent clearly through his roars, letting his pride know he was alive and would return. Set intentions and clearly communicate so that you are living your one precious life. Then, you can serve at your highest level.

Those who work with me know how passionate I am about living a life on purpose and showing up as authentically as possible. They also know I live what I teach. It's who I am.

I'm Laura Ciel and I empower leaders and their teams to thrive, in an often chaotic world, while making a positive impact. If you're interested in learning more about private or team training and coaching, check our website or DM me on LinkedIn so we can discuss your particular needs.