Have you ever noticed how we often look outside ourselves for direction? We scroll through social media for inspiration, ask friends for advice about major life decisions, or search for experts to tell us the "right" way to live. While there's nothing wrong with seeking wisdom from others, I resonate deeply with the message delivered in the book the "The Lion Tracker's Guide to Life" by Boyd Varty. The most reliable compass we have is already within us.
Think about the last time you had a gut feeling about something. Maybe it was a job opportunity that looked perfect on paper but felt wrong in your bones. Or perhaps it was a moment when you knew, without rational explanation, that you needed to take a certain path for your life. How often have you looked back and wished you'd trusted that inner knowing?
The art of tracking, as I'm learning, isn't just about following animals through the bush. It's about developing a sensitivity to signs and signals – both in our environment and within ourselves. Just as a tracker reads subtle marks in the sand, we can learn to read the subtle markers of our own truth: the quickening of excitement when we're on the right path, the heavy feeling of resistance when we're forcing something that isn't aligned, the quiet whisper of intuition that says "go here."
But here's the challenge: in our noise-filled world, tuning into this inner guidance system isn't always easy. We've been conditioned to distrust our instincts, to prioritize logic over feeling, to follow prescribed paths of “experts” rather than forge our own. As the book reminds us, "No wild animal has ever participated in a should." Yet we humans burden ourselves with countless "shoulds" that drown out our natural wisdom.
Self-trust, like tracking, is a skill that can be developed. It starts with paying attention. Instead of immediately reaching for external validation, we can pause and ask ourselves: How does this feel in my body? What do I know about this beneath the surface of thought? What subtle “tracks” is life leaving for me to follow?
The journey of self-trust isn't always comfortable. Sometimes it means standing alone in your truth when others don't understand. Sometimes it means taking steps without seeing the whole path. But as any tracker will tell you, uncertainty is where the real adventure begins.
In the coming weeks, I invite you to experiment with being your own tracker. Notice the subtle ways your inner wisdom communicates. Pay attention to what brings you alive and what drains your energy. Trust that, like the trackers in the African bush, you have an innate ability to read the signs that matter most to your life’s journey. Lean in to the signals, those small but clear indications of where life is inviting you to go.
Book Recommendation & Inspiration
The Lion Trackers Guide to Life by Boyd Varty
Imagine walking through the African bush alongside master trackers who can read stories in the sand, interpret whispers in the wind, and follow the invisible trails of lions through the wilderness. Now imagine if those same tracking skills could help you navigate your life's journey, rediscover your purpose, and reconnect with your truest self.
This is exactly what "The Lion Tracker's Guide to Life" offers – a remarkable journey that transforms ancient tracking wisdom into a powerful metaphor for living authentically in our modern world. Through the eyes of Boyd and master tracker Renias, we learn that tracking isn't just about following animals; it's about awakening our innate ability to read the subtle signs that life constantly presents us.
Get your copy at your favorite bookshop.
I love this SO SO much Georgee!! Wow. Specially like this: "The journey of self-trust isn't always comfortable. Sometimes it means standing alone in your truth when others don't understand. Sometimes it means taking steps without seeing the whole path. But as any tracker will tell you, uncertainty is where the real adventure begins." Just got the book on my Kindle!