Richard Field was working as a safari guide in a remote corner of Africa when he was attacked by an angry lion. He was knocked to the ground, mauled and bitten on the back of the head. His life was saved by the quick thinking of his guests.

In ‘Embracing the Lion’, Richard shares his remarkable story, including the moment he felt the lion’s teeth bite down hard and he experienced ‘The Gap’ – a space between life and death, where only the things you haven’t done in your life flash before your eyes.

He talks about how he initially blamed the lion, but it was only through taking personal responsibility for the incident that he was able to go back to Africa and live out his lifelong dream as a safari guide.

For 15 years he ran, pushing the experience away and attempting to pretend it didn’t happen. But you can’t outrun a lion.

He finally decided to embrace the lion – to pull the experience in close, and own it as an integral part of his life story. This decision turned an incredibly traumatic experience into something profoundly positive.

‘Lions’ come in all shapes and sizes.

In this honest and compelling story, Richard shares the key steps needed to embrace your own lion, whether it be a major trauma or an everyday challenge. These steps give you the tools to face present moment adversity as well as past difficulties, and come out richer for the experience.

No one gets through life unscathed. Ultimately though, the lions in our lives are the very things that can help us become the people we would like to be. Consciously making a decision to embrace your ‘lion’ will change your life forever.

Richard’s keynote leaves his audiences inspired and able to face and embrace the lions in their lives.

Core themes: Resilience, personal responsibility, embracing change, dealing with negative experiences, facing uncomfortable situations, unlocking latent potential, personal development, cultural change.

Duration: 30-60 minutes. It can also be extended into a half day workshop.