I am noticing some common themes in the Good Guides podcast series. Seeking guidance is a natural and necessary part of life, especially during vulnerable seasons when individuals recognize their limitations. Many of our guests have expressed how they experienced growth through vulnerability. They shared how they sought informal mentors, learning from those around them rather than through structured conversations. But the common thread is always this: Acknowledge your areas of lack— it is the first step in finding the right guides, as humility and openness create the foundation for growth. False beliefs, such as the expectation to have all the answers, can hinder this process, but embracing, “I don’t know,” as a starting point fosters learning and connection.
Embrace Vulnerability
When you honestly embrace the vulnerability around areas of deficiency, this is where growth can happen. A good guide meets individuals where they are without shaming them, offering relational security and wisdom without over-functioning or shielding them from consequences. Whether as parents, mentors, or friends, being a trusted source of support means creating an environment where others feel safe to share their struggles and seek help. Building strong relationships requires clarity, healthy boundaries, and an ongoing commitment to self-awareness.But it is by modeling self-acceptance and authenticity, that we can become the type of guides we wish to attract in our lives.
And isn’t this who we all want to be? A safe place for people to land as they figure out the next steps?
Leave a Legacy
Choosing to be a guide who invests in the journey of others leaves a legacy. So, if you are entering the later stages of life, I hope you recognize your invaluable potential to leave your legacy. To guide others, to offer wisdom with humility that walks alongside, and to provide clarity and encouragement while fostering independence. We need you. Our next generation needs you. We need guides that are helping younger generations navigate challenges with confidence. Guides who can experience growth through vulnerability and pass those lessons on. And most importantly, the relationship between guides and seekers is about recognizing that no one is ever fully “finished” with both embracing the risk of learning and growing together.
Join us as we continue this season of Good Guides and hear our guests share their experiences around needing guides, as well as what it means to step into that role with courage, self-awareness, and a willingness to be present for others.
Cheering you on!
Learn more about finding guides, being a guide, and stepping into the life you were made for in my book The Life You’re Made For