I stumbled upon a refreshing editorial in the latest issue (No. 185) of Philosophie Magazine.
This narration of a baby’s first steps, full of mischief and surprising bifurcations of independence, particularly resonated with me for a number of reasons.
Among those is the fact that I was recently touched by some important decisions made by 2 young people in their twenties who are close to me. Decisions that resemble the kind of independent tangents you sometimes see people take on an apparent whim. Tangents that expose you, make you vulnerable… but at the same time – and this is their paradox – have considerable saving potential.
Yes, the need for independence is deeply rooted in human nature. Yes, it’s imperative to follow that desire, to make our own decisions, shape our own destiny and live by our own values, particularly in a society where societal norms, external expectations, digital dictates and data prison can be suffocating.
But there are two interesting components to these moments of “decision” and fork in the road towards greater independence that the editorial doesn’t mention: trust and intuition. Both being closely linked to experience and the need for independence.
It’s in fact on intuition and its link with independence, more specifically, that this paper led me to question myself. That intuition that we so often hold back. This intuition, the inner compass that can guide our decisions and give valid direction to our actions, even when the available information is incomplete or contradictory, enables us to navigate with confidence through uncertainty. It allows individuals to rely on their own judgements rather than those imposed by society or authority figures. It offers a personal and unique perspective that can often lead to innovative and creative solutions or situations.
At the same time, the independence towards which we all veer, at one time or another in our personal or professional lives, nourishes this intuition, because it offers a space where this very intuition can be expressed more freely: when we are not constrained by external influences, it becomes easier to listen to our inner voice and to trust it. This creates a virtuous circle in which intuition reinforces independence, and vice versa.
It’s impossible not to link all this to the several-month certified coach training cycle that I’m currently completing: yes, I do believe that it’s part of the coach’s role to (re)connect coachees to their intuition, in order to bring out the interaction of this virtuous duo: “independence” and “intuition”.
I now also accompany you in your need for coaching.
And still headhunter of his state, of course 🙂
I can be contacted directly via the form below, or via my contact details in my LinkedIn profile.
