What is a Good Life? #166
Living Your Own Version Of Success with Kaylyn Lehmann
Hello and welcome to What is a Good Life? A project exploring the big questions around how we live, who we are and what actually matters.
This week, I’m reflecting on my conversation with Kaylyn Lehmann, Co-founder and Executive Coach at Simplified Coach and a specialist in neuroscience leadership and character strengths. If you are in the middle of uncertainty that you are struggling to navigate - this conversation will offer much to consider and support.
If this project resonates with you, thank you for being here – and if you’d like to support it, consider a paid subscription, sharing, or subscribing.
Take care, Mark
1. My Weekly Reflection
Over the last decade, Kaylyn realised what had been missing from her own good life.
She had always been driven and clear on what mattered – family, physical and mental health, purposeful work. But there was a period where, in trying to do all of this diligently, she found herself overwhelmed.
Around that time, she came across something in a magazine. It suggested that if we tried to do everything the experts recommend in a single day, and actually timed it all out – we’d need 28 hours.
This led to something shifting for her. It brought her back to how much she loves play. Whether it’s games, learning to ski later in life, canyoning, or white water rafting.
“All of those things that just dip back into who you were when you were eight years old on your bike, pedalling across town thinking you could go as far as you needed to go.”
The other thing she began to notice was how much awe she wants in a good life.
“Awe fills you up, right? And it grounds you at the same time. I don’t know if there’s a life after this life. I don’t have answers to any of those big questions, but I also don’t care in those moments of awe.”
That might be watching a sunrise or sunset, or noticing the presence of wild animals where she lives in Park City, Utah.
“Awe makes me feel whole.”
And she’s convinced it’s not rare.
Wandering through a city, looking at what we humans have built, noticing the faces of the people around you.
“You can find awe anywhere if you just stop and really look around.”
……………………….
Hearing this put me back into a moment last year with my daughter.
We are sitting in a noisy and busy playground. Sand sprays up from running children’s feet. Screams, shouts, and laughter from excited games.
A butterfly lands on some steps beside my daughter and lets us get really close – until we touch its wings, and off it fluttered.
I then stick out my arm, almost like a falcon handler, and make a clicking sound with my tongue against the roof of my mouth. After doing a few loops around the playground, the butterfly lands on my hand.
I have no idea why I do this.
It just sits there for a few moments, unbothered. The only thing that moves it is my daughter’s insistence to transfer it to her outstretched hand.
Off it flies once more, returns to my hand, and again just sits there, unhurried. We repeat this dance four times.
I am part giddy, part calm.
To my surprise, when I look around, other kids and parents are watching. Many now hold out their arms and hands as if this was just something we all do with butterflies.
At some point, the butterfly loses interest and flies off for good, and we move onto the swing.
It’s never happened since.
My daughter keeps it alive by assuming this just happens with every butterfly we have met since.
“Click, click” and her hand outstretches.
2. This Week’s Questions
When is the last time you felt a sense of awe?
What in your week would you consider play?
Work With Me
Good Life Coaching — a space of presence for individuals navigating questions of direction, meaning, and what needs attention now.
Senior Leadership Facilitation - Helping your team have the conversations that connect and move the business.
Thanks for reading What is a Good Life?
3. Weekly Clip From The Podcast
4. Full Episode - Living Your Own Version Of Success with Kaylyn Lehmann - What is a Good Life? #166
Listen to or watch the full conversation with Kaylyn Lehmann below.
About Me
I am a writer, facilitator, and podcast host, based in Berlin, via Dublin, Ireland. I started this project in 2021, for which I’ve now interviewed over 300 people. I’m not looking to prescribe universal answers, more that the guests’ lines of inquiry, musings, experiences, and curiosities spark your own inquiry into what the question means to you. I am also trying to share more genuine expressions of the human experience and more meaningful conversations.