420: Guiding One Another Up, Out and Beyond

The central work of our lives over the last 15 years or so has been as practicing integral development coaches, and as teachers of this way of guiding and supporting others. In this conversation we explore what it is to be a ‘coach’ in this way, to use our humanity, intelligence, hearts and life force to grow wings and then to help other people grow wings of their own.

It’s such a rewarding, life-giving endeavour, and it teaches us ever more about being a person and taking care of others. Join us for an exploration of what ‘guiding people up and out’ might be, with inspiration from a lovely and inspiring poem by Ellie Steel.

This week’s conversation is hosted, as always, by Lizzie Winn and Justin Wise of Thirdspace.

Episode Overview
00:00 Introduction
03:03 Exploring Aliveness: A Central Theme
05:54 Navigating by Aliveness: Insights and Reflections
09:10 The Distinction Between Aliveness and Happiness
11:59 Embracing the Full Spectrum of Human Experience
14:52 Creatures of Creation: Our Relationship with Life
17:55 Intimacy with Existence: The Heart of Aliveness
20:56 The Cost of Control: Reconnecting with Aliveness
27:13 The Dance of Control and Aliveness
30:01 Curiosity as a Pathway to Freedom
33:04 The Nature of Care and Connection

Here’s our source for this week:

Wings
(for Miss)

Under her wings I live and grow and against
and with the feathers soft and
strong that open over
the heads of all who
reach up guiding
up
and
out
until the wings
flutter away and we
who are not in need grow
wings for ourselves and open
them up to those without wings

Ellie Steel
From She Will Soar: Bright, Brave Poems about Freedom by Women
(link on Bookstore)

Photo by Torianna Marasco on Unsplash

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Join Us Live in 2026

Foundations of Coaching, Feb 9-10 2026, Online
Our two day introduction to the deep and wonderful way of working with people that we call 'Integral Development Coaching'.
www.wearethirdspace.org/foundations-of-coaching

Turning Towards Life Live Season 2, from March 2026
Our Turning Towards Life live programme of community, learning and reflection runs in six month seasons, in person on Zoom once a month. We're very excited about it. A chance to expand beyond the bounds of a podcast into forming a community of learning and practice.
You can find out more and join us here: www.turningtowards.life/live

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About Turning Towards Life
Turning Towards Life, a week-by-week conversation inviting us deeply into our lives, is a live 30 minute conversation hosted by Justin Wise and Lizzie Winn of Thirdspace.  Find us on FaceBook to join in the lively conversation on this episode. You can find videos of every episode, and more about the project on the Turning Towards Life website, and you can also watch and listen on Instagram, YouTube, and as a podcast on Apple, Amazon Music and Spotify.

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Keywords:
coaching, wings metaphor, againstness relationship, growth facilitation, multidirectional holding, self-generating capacity, coaching philosophy, lineage importance, power dynamics, tender development, mutual growth, generative listening, creative holding, leaping ahead, integral development, community practice, dignified support, holding system, personal transformation, growth orientation, generosity practice, wingless to winged

People:
Ellie Steel (poet who wrote "Wings")
Martin Heidegger (philosopher referenced by Lizzie when discussing the concept of "jumping ahead" or "leaping ahead")
Cast of the TV Show 'Shrinking'