What Has the Arc of My Life Felt Like These Past Few Years?

Reflective exploration of life transitions, leadership wisdom, and personal change, inviting leaders to pause, notice patterns, and trust what evolves

What has the arc of my life felt like the last few years?

It was my birthday recently, and being mid-decade, I found myself reflecting on the shape of the years behind me.

My life and work have shifted considerably since 2021. I realised how easy it would be not to notice those shifts at all if I didn’t consciously pause amidst the flurry of every day life.

Five years ago I turned 50 in full lockdown. I was deeply loved and generously spoiled by friends, but all from a distance which was radically different from how I’d imagined that milestone in my life.

This year looked very different on the surface: meals out, an art class, friends coming to stay. But it also helped me notice something deeper.

My life has changed radically. I had a vision and I've moved towards it.

I’ve moved from city living to the countryside, and it feels more me. I now live in a small village I didn’t even know existed in 2021. I’ve made a few new friends, started new interests, and found a sense of ease with where I am, without needing to decide that this is forever.

I remember feeling nervous about moving as a single adult at 50. What I notice now is growing contentment. And an ability to be with what is, without forcing certainty, something I see as a leadership practice too.

Alongside the new connections, I’ve also been remembering a few people I no longer see. When we shape the lives we want, not everyone comes with us. Sometimes that’s painful; sometimes it’s simply the shifting of seasons. I spent some time noticing who is no longer actively present in my system, and offering gratitude for what they gave when our lives were connected. Endings have wisdom too.

My work has shifted as well.

Over these 5 years I’ve worked with hundreds of individuals, gathered knowledge and learning like a magpie, and sat with what I’ve collected to notice what truly aligns. Over the last year in particular, this has begun to distil.

My focus now is on supporting leaders to work with their own wisdom, understanding the body and its many forms of intelligence and helping people rely less on guidance from others. It's a way of leading I've been developing my whole life and now I want to help leaders to get there quicker. I believe these ways of understanding and directing ourselves, our gifts and our agency is what will make the difference to leaders and teams now.

Because waves are a certainty. In life and in leadership and we need the resources to ride them.

I’m deeply grateful to friends and my community for such a connected week, for the surprises, laughter, and time shared.

And if you’ve read this far, an invitation:

If you look back a few years…
🤔 What strikes you now?
🚧 What has ended?
🌅 What has begun?
🙏 And what wisdom is quietly asking for your attention?

This reflection sits at the heart of my Leading from Your Wisdom work, supporting leaders to notice patterns, trust themselves more deeply, and lead with presence through uncertainty.

Happy weekend 💕

Categories: : Embodied leadership, Executive coaching, Leadership development, Leadership systems and relationships, Leadership under pressure, LeadFromWisdom, Self trust and awareness, Sustainable leadership