(This piece was first published earlier this week in the BHL Coaching newsletter. Newsletter archives and subscription details here)
During the first coaching session, a recent client stated clearly: “I’m arriving triggered.” She paused.
“And stressed.”
She exhaled and then shared with me how - after seven years of strong growth and creative work - the souring relationship with her business partner was now the reason her business was in its final chapter.
And what’s next was definitely not clear.
“I don’t know if I can really think about what’s next,” she confessed. “I don’t even know how to let go of all of this anger.”
”How’s that showing up right now?” I asked.
“My stomach hurts. My head hurts. I eat a lot. I sleep terribly.”
“What has letting go looked like in the past for you?”
”I don’t know,” she replied quickly.
And then she paused.
And continued, “Well…wait. Years ago when I was in the middle of another job transition where I also found myself consumed by a lot of anger. And it was really odd - I took up fishing then. Isn’t that strange?”
”What about fishing was important?”
”I don’t know. It helped me relax. But I think it was more than even relax… I enjoyed it. The outdoors are sacred for me.”
To be sure, the anger did not suddenly subside from there.
But she did start going to the river regularly over the next few weeks. Often with her husband. Sometimes alone. And she fished.
Eventually, I asked her where she was with her initial goal of ‘letting go.’
“Honestly, I feel a lot lighter. I’m sleeping great. I’m way more energized.”
She could not pinpoint any magical moment or conversation in her shift. But she did mention that she had kept with the fishing - and very much enjoyed rediscovering it.
If your business is falling apart,
a significant relationship now stirs on-going angst,
and your next chapter is quite unclear…
…how in the world is fishing the answer?!
Is it the space of quiet focus that provides space for unconscious mind to figure out a few things?
Is it the way nature’s deep interconnectedness helps us reconnect deeply to ourselves and our path?
Is it the smooth river rocks, quietly declaring the fact that even the hardest of situations (or hearts) can yet be changed?
Is it the river itself persistently declaring that the gift of new life keeps flowing - and perhaps all we need do is risk casting some line into it again?
To be sure, fishing in and of itself was not THE answer for this client. Value-clarity work, thoughtful strategy, courageous actions, and more contributed to her charting a path of both healing and fresh courage for her new work-and-chapter.
But the fishing was also not secondary.
In fishing, this client was embodying a centrally important truth for her season of life… she was casting fresh line in new waters for an unknown result.
Indeed, her whole being was practicing - over and over - the very thing her heart needed (and wanted) to practice around letting go. And the very thing her gifts needed (and wanted) to practice around a new career endeavor.
Fishing was both relaxation amid the challenge and practice for the challenge.
And…
A funny thing happened as she kept showing up to the river and embodying line-releasing truth.
Increasingly, she would report back to me about…
A new business opportunity.
A timely invitation.
A renewed connection.
A fresh spaciousness within.
Has it ever felt like the fish were jumping toward you and for you?
Like there’s an abundance you’re receiving that is quickly calling forth scaling and sharing and celebrating?
I see it time and again.
It happens when we follow a calling.
It happens when we (re)ground into a sacred space and re-anchor into our most sacred values.
It happens when we risk releasing actual line into the unknown for purposes in which we believe deeply.
—
What about you?
Amid all that you carry, all that perplexes, and all that overwhelms…
Might it be a season to fish?
Bobby, two fishing poles up!
Ray