Recently, I’ve been on a fitness kick, incorporating yoga, strength training, walking, and even some hula hooping into my routine. As someone who prefers outdoor activities to gym workouts, I’ve been exploring different ways to stay active while enjoying nature.
My sister Heather, who’s also been focused on well-being and fitness, joined me in an interesting adventure. We decided to climb the St. Augustine lighthouse – all 219 steps of it, reaching a height of 165 feet.
The experience was more than just a physical workout. Standing at the top, with the powerful wind and panoramic views of waters, landscapes, and buildings, I was struck by the profound purpose of lighthouses. These structures serve as beacons, guiding ships safely through potentially hazardous waters and helping them navigate to their destinations.
This realization led me to reflect on how we, as individuals, can act as beacons in our life and other’s lives. We have the ability to shine a light on challenges, offer guidance through difficult times, and illuminate paths forward. Moreover, like the phrase “beacon of hope” suggests, we can also highlight and celebrate the positive aspects of life.
For today’s Wise Walk, I’d like us to take a moment to consider this metaphor. Let’s explore some questions about how we embody the qualities of a lighthouse in our personal and professional lives.
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- In what areas of your life do you feel like a beacon?
- Do you shine a light to illuminate hazards and dangers?
- Are you shining a light to illuminate areas to celebrate?
- As you notice what becomes your tendency, how does that make you feel?
- What are you training your brain to do, and how does that resonate with you deep in your heart?
- Does being a beacon feel aligned to you?
- Where in your life are you pushing yourself too hard?
- Could you benefit from a beacon of reason or beacon of releasing expectations?
- What intentions are you setting and how are you making sure that you enjoy the win?
As we wrap up today’s episode, I hope you take some time to reflect on the beacons in your life. Consider what type of beacon you want to be for yourself and for those you love. Also, think about who around you acts as a beacon, safely guiding you through life’s ups, downs, and everything in between.
I’d love to hear what you took away from today’s episode. Go ahead and flash some beacon light my way! I look forward to our next wise walk.
In this episode:
[04:23] I share a story of a coaching client who was responsible for quality assurance. Always on the lookout for problems, and it weighed on others.
[05:06] If all you see is problems, then you help others see hazards and navigate around them.
[05:42] Train your brain to be a beacon of celebration or a beacon of warning.
[06:24] Both spectrums are equally valuable. There are times when we need to be a beacon of warning and awareness.
[07:22] We have the ability to be a beacon of hope and inspire someone that’s in despair.
[08:03] We have to pivot, evolve and change with life or the tides of life.
[09:47] There is also a beacon of reason that reminds us to slow down and celebrate what we did today.
[10:46] It’s important to be a beacon of reason and not burn out.
[12:00] The lighthouse has brought so many individuals to safe harbor, and you can feel the energy.
[12:43] We enjoyed the win without overdoing it.
[13:09] Sometimes it’s about releasing unrealistic deadlines or expectations.
Memorable Quotes:
- “We don’t have to be in a lighthouse in order to shine a light and bring awareness to challenges or difficult times or rocky waters.” – Mary Tess
- “We train our brain either to be a beacon to avoid disaster or a beacon to celebrate, to be a beacon of hope and light and reassurance, a beacon of comfort even.” – Mary Tess
- “There are times where we need to be a beacon of warning and awareness and make sure that we safely guide ourselves or others to safe harbor.” – Mary Tess
Links and Resources: