One Client’s Journey With Her Shadow - A Poem.

What can I possibly say when such an inspiring professional who joined one of my group coaching cohorts this year sends me something like this? I’m moved beyond words.

The idea that the coaching programme I’ve put together has birthed something so beautiful, so creative, and so profoundly meaningful not only for her, but for so many of us who can relate after doing such deep coaching work with the ‘Shadow’, is frankly humbling. And as a Type 2 on the Enneagram, we all know I need that sometimes!

Archana, fondly known as Arch to me and the others in her cohort, is a force for good in this world, an inspiration to all of us on the call with her each month, and apparently a gifted poet! She’s a loving mother who checks in with herself constantly to make sure she’s having the impact that matters most to her and others in this world. She also happens to be the author of a stunning book about leadership and authenticity, The Through Line, which you can learn about by clicking here. Oh… she’s also a Chief Operations & Technology Officer for an impressive investment firm in London.

What a bright light for the world to see, thank you for sharing this stunning poem with us, Arch.

So enough of what I have to say, here are Archana Mohan’s words about her shadow work with me this year. Thank you for this gift, Arch <3

My Beautiful Child

In haste, my love, fifty years have flown,
Each moment a step to the truth you’ve always known.

Cherish your spirit,  tender, bright, and near
Let it soften, let it change, dissolving every fear.
At times you may falter, wings not yet spread,
Or strive beyond measure, heart heavy with dread.
You may feel “not enough,” trembling, unsure,
Falling through shadows you’ve weathered before.
You may watch from afar, uncertain where to start,
But remember, each sky holds blue at its heart.

Open your eyes wide, dare again to believe,
Lose yourself in joy, the gift life longs to weave.
Do not hide your light. Let it shine, let it be seen.
Even when others wound you, stay open, serene.
Look deeper, reset, seek to understand,
The treasure you seek lies already in your hand.
For you are the one you’ve been searching for, true,
Whole from the start, with nothing to prove.

You’ll stitch your memories, thread love through the years,
Feel family’s warmth, its laughter and tears.
One day love’s glance will capture your soul,
A light so enduring, a story untold.
You may resist its beauty, its lessons, its song,
Yet all of you, every part, has belonged all along.

The race for “enough” will not bring you peace,
Expectations will rise, and never quite cease.
But magic is hidden in surrender’s sweet call:
It’s never about having, but learning through the fall.

Grief, struggle, uncertainty. They, too, will pass,
Braids of life weaving, both fragile and vast.
Your field of dreams will shimmer with promise above,
Each sky painted new with a different kind of love.

 I see your quiet power, your innocence inside,
Your light, your intuition, your truest guide.
When tempted to dim it, as “too raw” or “too small,”
That’s when you must trust it most of all.
You have the tools, though you may forget,
Though voices may tell you they’re shadows at best.
The world may try shaping you, pressing you into its mold,
But your worth is unmeasured, radiant as gold.

Life is not about gathering what you lack,
But remembering yourself, finding your way back.
You are not broken. No piece is apart.
You are whole, you are loved, you are heard from the start.

So, gift yourself kindness, as freely as you give,
Learn to listen to feelings, and fully, deeply live.
Fear, loneliness, exhaustion. They’ll all play their part,
Not warnings to flee, but signposts to the heart.
They remind you you’re standing where thresholds gleam,
Invited to step through, to live out your dream.
Doors will open, though silent at first,
Let hope be your compass, let love quench your thirst.
Becoming yourself is a sacred, enduring art,
A song still composing, each note from your heart.
Like the music you cherish, scattered yet true,
Your melody waits. It is rising through you.
So, dance to its rhythm, rejoice in its sound,
Let it lift you, let it be your ground.

For this is the wisdom I most want to impart:
To know the world deeply, you must first know your heart.

With all my love.