I hadn't heard of leatherback sea turtles a few days ago.
But after reading an article about this majestic animal, I’m claiming them as one of the most extraordinary species on earth.
Each year, these turtles take an epic 10,000 mile trip.
They swim from California & Washington to Indonesia & the East Pacific. All so they can give birth.
Which makes me wonder…
How do these turtles navigate such daunting distances? And what do they do if they get lost?
Turns out they use some remarkable strategies.
Researchers think the turtles tap into the temperature and currents of the water they’re travelling in…
They have an excellent sense of smell which allows them to find nesting beaches…
Their eyes can detect polarised light, which helps them to orient using the sun…
They can track their location using the earth’s magnetic fields...
They can monitor their position in the ocean using the stars…
And they can draw on their memories of previous trips.
Impressive stuff.
And to my mind there’s a few things we, as humans, can learn from this. Especially when it comes to navigating our way through life.
First, the turtles don’t rely on one method. They use every tool in their
toolbox.
And sometimes I think we forget just how many resources are available to us.
I know I do.
Not just external resources like our networks or technology or opportunities to learn.
But internal resources too. Like our emotions, intuition, judgment, experience, skills, imagination, creativity, and memory.
All of which can help us move forward.
Second, it’s not just conditions which help the turtles navigate.
It’s also changes in conditions.
A turtle will notice if it’s
basking in tropical waters. But it will also notice if the water is getting cooler as it swims. And it will know what this change means in the context of its journey.
The same is true for us.
Doesn’t matter if it’s a change in our bank balance…
Our emotional or physical states…
Or our energy levels.
It’s not just how we’re doing but the changes in how we’re doing which can help guide us.
And the last is probably the most important…
And it’s this:
If a sea turtle gets lost, it doesn’t stop. It keeps moving.
It knows that standing still (or treading water) isn’t the way to figure out where to go next.
Almost by
definition.
If you want to find your way, you have to keep moving. You can’t use your resources and environment to guide you if you don’t.
So if you’re feeling a little lost and you want to get back on track, here are three questions to ask:
Are you tapping into all your resources?
Are you paying attention to changes in your environment?
And are you still moving, or have you stopped?
All things to consider.
And if you’d like some 1 on 1 support with any of this, use the link below to set up a free call with me.
That’s it for today.
- Tom
p.s. Whenever you're ready, here are the ways you can connect with me