Today, I want to share a discovery that I feel is profoundly important for us all in these challenging times. It was a fascinating encounter from a recent session that unfolded with Eve (pseudonym)—an exploration that opened doors to a profound realm of existential wisdom.

I'm sure you've had moments in life where external challenges seem to overshadow the inner clarity you inherently possess. Well, Eve's story is a testament to how understanding our internal metaphoric landscape can be the key to reorienting us back to our deeper, wiser knowing.

Picture this: Eve, a trailblazer in an innovative leadership program, found herself grappling with a colleague issue. The colleague, let's call her Mary, appeared indifferent to Eve's groundbreaking work, seemingly swayed by institutional cost-cutting agendas. Before diving into the external dynamics, we took a moment to navigate Eve's inner world using the Social Panorama Model—a gem in applied social science gifted to us by Dr. Lucas Derks, a visionary Dutch psychologist.

We took a moment to become present, settling her mind with even breathing. Inviting her to close her eyes, I gently guided her to turn her awareness inward, encouraging her to explore the contours of her inner space.

As settled deeper within, I prompted her to visualise the mental space she had allocated to each of her two female colleagues, asking her to keenly observe the spatial relationships:

• Did they feel close or far away in her mind's eye?
• Were their images situated at similar or distinct locations from each other?
• What was the height of the imagined figures in relation to her—did they stand higher or lower?

We paid attention to the size of the images, questioning whether they appeared life-sized, smaller, or larger than life. Further, we explored the direction they faced—towards her or away from her.

This mindful exploration allowed her to illuminate the subtle dynamics of her internal landscape, providing clarity on the spatial intricacies that defined her relationships with her colleagues.

And this is what she discovers in her inner world: Eve envisioned two colleagues, let's call them Mary and Martha, towering over her in her mind's eye. Mary was at 10 o'clock, Martha at 2 o'clock, both looking away, leaving Eve feeling dwarfed and powerless. That's when the light bulb flicked on! Eve tapped into the truth of her identity—an archetype revelation of the guide and magician within. This profound remembering of WHO she knows herself to be marked a pivotal moment in this story.

Now, I'm sure you've experienced situations where external circumstances seemed insurmountable until you remembered who you truly are, right? It's like discovering your inner compass—the guide and magician—and realising you're not powerless. The magic unfolded as Eve's metaphoric landscape transformed.

Mary and Martha stood on an equal footing, turned toward Eve, and, lo and behold, her understanding of the external interactions began to shift. She gained immediate and deep insights about her capacity to effect the outcomes and how to work alongside and support her colleagues in their challenges.

Of course that is a much more empowering way to feel in the situation BUT here is what is astounding; without altering her external behavior consciously, Eve witnessed things change radically in the dynamic. Eve gained unsolicited apologies from Mary and queries from other colleagues on intricate leadership matters. It's a striking illustration of how knowing ourselves—our values, missions, and archetypal truths—can tap into the wellspring of existential wisdom within.

Recognising your inner identity, understanding your mission, and standing tall in your values aren't just abstract concepts—they're the keys to unlocking the wisdom that resides within each of us.

This illuminating experience raises the question: How does knowing WHO we are and embracing our values and missions connect to unlocking the existential wisdom within us?