No matter what kind of shift you are experiencing in your life, there comes a point where you release the story of what’s happened to you, and you begin to pivot toward a new vision for your life.
This can be a tricky time. You crave clarity – now! You want to be certain where you are headed, how long it is going to take to happen, and what you can do to get moving.
You may be tempted to grab the first solution you see to get your life back on track. Resist that urge. The first idea you find may not be the best idea.
Although you can’t force clarity to appear at your command, you can set yourself up to notice new clarity when it appears.
Steps you can take to create clarity:
- Being in the limbo of not knowing is uncomfortable and unsettling. And yet, the fastest way to clarity is to surrender to not knowing in this moment. By being right where you are, you let go of your hold on the story that got you where you are today, and you naturally release your quest to nail down the new answer. Although making this choice feels strange in the face of your desire to figure things out sooner rather than later, it is this decision to surrender to not knowing right now that opens the door for future discoveries and insights.
- If you are overwhelmed by a sense of confusion, focus on the details of your life that you do know. By making this mental shift, you minimize the amount of time you spend swirling in a fog of confusion. Turning your energy away from what you don’t want gives you the opportunity to claim the details that are currently clear to you. As more and more nuances come into clarity, the true parameters of your situation come into focus naturally. Often people will let out a big sigh when they shift their focus to what they do know.
- You can’t force clarity to appear. As much as you’d like to make it happen, clarity emerges on its own timeline. Your job is to focus on creating an environment that is conducive to noticing new ideas when they appear. Practice creating spaciousness in your life by creating moments of being still, meditating, or being mindful. Open your heart and mind to the possibility of new opportunities. Enhance your ability to notice subtle signs of new insights. To strengthen this opportunity, make sure you surround yourself with new ideas and perspectives. Read new books, blogs, and articles, listen to podcasts, connect with new people, and take advantage of new experiences that cross your path. You never know when or where a spark of inspiration will reveal itself to you.
- New sparks of insight may appear all at once or in a series of new thoughts. Don’t jump into action with your first idea. Make note of that first idea, and then notice what else comes to you. Often the best vision will weave together the threads of several ideas you’ve already had. Keeping a list of your ideas can help you connect the dots between the clues you already have in front of you. As this new multifaceted idea comes into focus, you’ll be ready and eager to move forward.
- As you explore the possibilities associated with new ideas, follow the clues to see where they take you. Experiment with aspects of your idea to give yourself a real-life sense of how this new idea will feel if you follow this thread. If something feels off or strange, gather more information or rethink your idea. Don’t worry if this process takes a few tries. It’s normal to meander a bit as you discover the best way to move forward in your situation.Clarity isn’t just a mental exercise. When you have a powerful aha moment and land on an idea that feels right to you, you’ll feel it in the way you breathe, in the relief that you feel, the sense of confidence you experience, and the deep sense of commitment you have to your vision. As you implement this new direction with enthusiasm, give yourself permission to tweak the details as you gain new clarity along the way.
