Live Lights On!

Getting Your Groove On

Dive into the journey river and flow!  Wow, that was easy to say.  Is it always easy to do?  We suspect our entrepreneurial clientele may all have stories demonstrating it is not.  Getting a business off the ground or even to the next level needs a modicum of movement.  Both veteran entrepreneurs and newbies alike have experienced a lull in momentum.  However, true acceleration, where everything coalesces building speed towards the vision, begins with a first step.  When many steps are taken, you’ve found your groove.  Current business trends are so many in number and so important to follow, that a business owner can get overwhelmed and lose their groove.  Get it back again!

Groove Out to One Melody At A Time Alex had a few coaching sessions with Gary as her new business took shape to launch. “Gary was so full of suggestions and good ideas,“ Alex explains, “that after every session with him, I would have a full page of notes.”  She felt so overwhelmed by all she needed to do, that Alex did exactly nothing.  “Finally, I realized even the smallest step was progress towards somewhere,” she continues, “I’m great at writing and making brochures, so that’s where I started.”  Grooving can begin modestly.  Pick one project and follow it through.  Pretty soon you’ll find a comfort level where confidence is built and the next steps will flow more easily.

Ask For Help Once Alex got her brochures done, she knew the website needed completion next.  Knowing nothing about web design, Alex approached her boyfriend.  “He’s an internet genius and was happy to help,” Alex smiles, “He was so supportive and patiently explained everything I needed to know.”  Eventually, Alex finished her website, and updated her brochures to reflect the new address.  Our friends, family, and colleagues are happy to help us with endeavors we feel passionate about.  If you need help, ask for it.

Delegate Movement Lisa’s marketing company exploded, becoming much more than she could comfortably handle on her own.  She found two part-time employees and began dolling out the responsibilities.  Now she gives specialized attention to clients in targeted areas helping both them grow along with her business.  Recognize when it’s time to hire out.

Sacred Selfishness

There’s a reason airlines warn parents to securely attach their oxygen mask before a child’s during an in-flight emergency.  When the oxygen mask falls from the ceiling, airlines know the parent will be more productive and helpful when his oxygen needs are met first.  Then it’s easier to help the child and maintain calm while the oxygen use runs its course.  Luckily, the oxygen masks are rarely needed, but the main idea is helpful on a daily basis.  Take care of yourself first, then others may benefit.

Our personal energy fields are great indicators of where we are.  Passion, above the line thinking, and staying positive are all aspects propelling us towards our vision.  When our personal energy field is drained, it is difficult to maintain.  Sacred Selfishness is a means of pushing the “pause” button; taking a well needed and well deserved break.  It’s a time to gather more of “you” into your space.

Renew, refocus, and revitalize by spoiling yourself.  Here are some great ways to practice Sacred Selfishness:

Massage The physical body takes it all in.  Mental and spiritual stresses transform into physical cues.  Massage offers release.

Gift Yourself Been waiting for a special time to buy yourself that new scarf?  Now’s the time!  Feeling refreshed can be as easy as refreshing the items around you.  A manicure can do wonders and so can new shoes.

Time It’s so precious and we fill it up so quickly.  Schedule yourself a lunch free from duty.  Send the kids to grandma’s so you can read a book Friday night.  Planning time to be with you, allows your own thoughts, ideas, and passions to bubble up.   Free time is a reminder of who we are and what we’re doing here.

Synchronicity; Remembering Thoughts

Here we are with attention on the vision, armed with hope, faith, and trust, as we’ve let go of expectation.  The road is paved and synchronicity on its way.  As we wait for magic to unfold, let’s turn to one last thought.  Yes, thought.

Unwavering Thought Now is not the time to change your mind with every little whim.  Fine tuning should be completed.  Know you’ve designed and offered up a great vision.  Avoid being wishy-washy as it sends out mixed messages and confuses the synchronistic process.

Certain Thought Doubt and shaky confidence may creep up.  Look at your vision board or read your mantra.  Know.  Be certain.  Chase out doubtful thoughts.

Positive Thought Always open yourself to daydreams.  As long as these thoughts have you successfully achieving your vision, then spend hours spacing out!

Remaining steadfast to our thoughts amplifies their power.  As we learned with above the line language, words have vibration.  We measure that vibration in megahertz.   Keep high vibration words and phrases in close proximity: written in your date book, hanging from the bottom of your monitor, plastered on your bathroom mirror, and hidden on cabinet doors when you reach for the coffee mugs.  Literally surround yourself with positive reinforcements and your thoughts will hold space for synchronicity to support your vision.

Synchronicity; Letting Go of Expectation

Once our intention takes root, we can’t help but think of all possibilities lying ahead of us.  In our gusto to move it forward, we sometimes don’t see the proverbial forest for the trees.  Synchronicity knows no boundaries.  It can show up anywhere at anytime looking like anything.  When we put expectations on how things will show up, we close off a whole list of opportunities.   Let synchronicity find you however it sees fit.

Claire had been trying to sell her car for months without so much as a look.  Yes, it was brand new, luxury, and in mint condition, but she priced it below Blue Book, so she wasn’t sure what the hold up was.  As she washed it for the umpteenth time, a late model, ratty looking Buick pulled up to the curb.  A couple looking slightly newer than their car hopped out.   “The guy kept asking me all these random questions about my car,” Claire says, “I don’t know which blockbuster movie uses this car as a helicopter and he couldn’t stop talking about it.”  Tired and exhausted from the whole selling process, Claire wasn’t up for conversation.  She explains, “They were nice enough kids, but when they started acting interested in buying it, I knew it would be a waste of my time.”

By now you probably know where this story goes.  Yes, that rough looking young couple were in the market to buy a fancy car and no, they didn’t end up buying it from Claire.  “They were right there telling me they were interested, but I expected them to look older and richer,” she continues, “how did I know he recently designed and sold the rights to a new Xbox game?”

Let go of how, when, where, and who.  Just know.  Synchronicity doesn’t hold judgment or look at stereotypes in the same manner humans do.  Therefore, it can show up in the unlikeliest of circumstances.  Be open and receptive, even when in doubt.

What’s Different? Unfolding The Dream.

Those who’ve experienced the Clarity International’s Get Clarity for Life and Work walk away receptive and ready for the next steps in their journey.  With the creation of vision boards, participants set strong intentions of where they’d like to go both professionally and personally.  Vision boards solidify the intention with a personal and artistic reminder of the ultimate goal.  Understanding action statements, bridge plans, above the line thinking, and the check-in process supports participants as they gear up in search of a successful ride down the river towards success.  What happens after the workshop is nothing short of magical.  Because of the intense preparation clients receive during Get Clarity, both eyes and hearts are wide open – a perfect combination for synchronicity to show up.  In fact, synchronicity blossoms as the journey river flows.

Synchronicity may be the most challenging part of the process. When occurrences, meetings, and events line up in perfect order to bring about an intended change, you have experienced synchronicity. Identified by Carl Jung in the 1920s as an “acausal connecting principle”, or meaningful coincidence, synchronicity has since taken on a philosophical meaning all its own.  By magical standards, its mysterious ability to grant hope as despair encroaches, attracts faithful believers.  Scientific communities liken it to causality with meaning.  At Clarity, we just ask one simple question, “What’s different?”

When an intention grows roots via the vision board, the universe can’t help but to nurture. Noticing these nurturing synchronistic events unfold takes an adjustment of attention.  By asking what’s different, you train your attention to notice even the littlest, seemingly unimportant happenstances.  These coincidences are what synchronicity is all about.

Perla recalls her business’ synchronistic start, “In 2002 I figured it was time to take the full hour my lunch break afforded.  And that’s when I found it.”  Located near the burrito restaurant Perla frequented was a small boutique, Pistachio.  Specializing in unique locally crafted art, jewelry, and accessories, Pistachio found its niche by offering a wide variety of artistic products.  “I always saw it and meant to stop by but never did.  Finally on my day off, I parked two blocks down from Pistachio with only one goal in mind, walk straight there and buy something.”   As she stepped out of the car, Perla didn’t know Pistachio closed a week earlier.  “I made a special trip just for jewelry, so I wondered why I stopped in front of the card store.  I couldn’t pull myself away from the window.”  Nothing on her calendar necessitated a card purchase and nothing in the front window interested her.  Yet, Perla felt good about opening the door and walking through it.  “I stood outside the entrance and silently argued with myself.  Ultimately, I couldn’t convince myself to keep walking.  As excited as I was to check out Pistachio, some quiet little part of me insisted I enter the card shop.  So I listened and obeyed.”   A friendly exchange of words with the shop owner lead to a short conversation. Perla was informed Pistachio closed to relocate in a larger space.  “The card shop owner knew exactly where it moved and wished me well as I left having bought nothing from her.”  Perla made a beeline to the new location, where once again, she found herself conversing with Pistachio’s owner, Cheryl.  “Cheryl and I were kindred spirits both having tremendous zeal for art and accessories.  Even that first interaction, we finished each other’s sentences.”  Cheryl knew passion and talent when she saw it.  After a few visits she brought Perla on as an independent consultant and product recruiter.  With Perla’s help, Pistachio has grown even more, attracting an eclectic variety of product and services.  “Business is thriving and so am I,” Perla proclaims with an unmistakable smile of content.

Synchronicity fiddled with Perla’s intuition leading her to a dream job.   She gleams, “I always envisioned myself being an art consultant.  A consultant on artistic jewelry is just the icing on the cake.  I live a dream.”  Perla’s dream came to fruition easily as she utilized high noticing skills.  These skills nurture synchronistic communication.  Putting aside her rational, analytical mind that told her to move on without stopping for cards, Perla paid attention to that little feeling. Sometimes synchronistic events make no sense, which is where high noticing comes into play.  When we pay attention to all surroundings, both outer and inner, we awaken to synchronistic possibilities.   Whispering its quiet communication, destiny nudges us via all our senses.

Hearing What conversations, distant radio programs, and background noise do you overhear.  Keep your attention tuned into that background noise.

Visual What colors, words, designs, and patterns do you notice?  Look for repeated ideas.

Taste When that sweet mango melts in your mouth, does your mind flash another flavor or food at the same time?  Inspirations show up all the time in many ways.

Feelings Pure intuition comes through a quiet feeling devoid of opinion and judgment.  If the mind is quiet and there is no attachment to outcome, pay attention to those little thoughts that bubble up.

We walk closely next to clients after the Clarity workshop ends offering support through six individual coaching sessions. It’s a joy to see all of our clients sprout new ideas and cross bridge plans on their different journeys.   Through these sessions, we do our best to impart the importance of high noticing and finding out what’s different, both of which turn attention towards synchronistic events.   As much as we encourage and support client dreams, it is with their own open eyes where they find success.  Senses and mind open to synchronicity makes that dream happen faster.

Intention: Statements of Action

In the river towards our vision, the journey will require many action steps.  These steps arise from statements made in present time that will ultimately serve your vision. Action statements reaffirm your intention and make it grow stronger.  In addition they:

1. Allows for Celebrations As you sail one more inch closer to your goal,  making new action steps along the way allow for a reason to celebrate and show gratitude.  It’s progress and progress feels good.  Making statements and taking steps break up that seemingly long path.

2. Reminder of Intention and Purpose Keep your eye on that proverbial ball!  Being present helps you follow the journey game.  Are you in the present moment with your vision’s intention and purpose?  Having a current statement of action will get back in the game if you’ve strayed.

3. Refocus and Review Action statements have a built in review process.  Taking an action is a big step using time and energy.   Forming a statement before taking big steps allows you to refocus on your vision.  Review where you’ve been and refocus on where you’re going.

Synchronicity: Where’s Your Attention?

Humans are impressionable.  Without diligence, we can become prey to the unwanted, negative thinking patterns we call below the line.  Taking an informal poll of news headlines, we find the majority of news worthy items filled with fear, depression, violence, and upheaval.   Add to that your Aunt Ruth who calls with weekly updates on all her physical aches and pains.  Patty in the next office finds fault with everything and everyone, ranting and raving to you throughout the day about it.  Bombardment takes its toll and pulls us away from focusing on what’s important especially when we’re doing our best to stay open to synchronicity.  Training our attention on the good takes practice and a few environmental adjustments.  Refocus your attention to your vision, while you stay tuned into synchronistic clues.  Try fine-tuning some lifestyle practices so you can stay above the line and open to communication.

A Television Fast Although it’s a natural curiosity that keeps us abreast of local and worldly events, special attention to overload is prudent.  Try turning off your television for a few days at a time to get relief from all the death, violence, financial gloom, and angry politics.

Amp Up Nature There’s nothing more serene and calming than a walk through nature.  Camp for a weekend if you’re really adventurous, or plant a garden if you can’t get away.  Even a few simple houseplants place in every room of your home will do wonders for your state of mind.

Meditate Meditation comes in many shapes and sizes.  Traditional mind clearing, ohm chanting floor meditation works for some.  If your mind has a mind of its own and no way it’s going to quiet down, many places now offer guided imaginative techniques allowing your mind to be part of the active meditation.

Peaceful Surroundings Feng Shui took off years ago and its design principles seem to work.  Clear your home and work space of clutter opting for containers and storage devices to keep it organized.  Take out décor that creates confusion or uneasiness, then replace it with items that make you happy.

Synchronicity; Hope, Faith, Trust

Think of all the successes your life has come to know, then follow the steps backwards to the beginning.  Likely, you’ll find the path sprinkled with generous amounts of synchronicity.  Coincidence, happenstance, accident, or even mistakes all associate with the unfolding of destiny we call synchronicity.  When reviewed from the end, it’s easy to see how little glitches actually propelled us forward towards our intended vision.  Intentions can be set through vision boards, journaling, verbalizing, or simple repetitive thoughts.  Once intention is in place, we wait for the journey to begin.  Synchronicity supports our journey by communicating helpful next steps.  Sometimes it may seem like a daunting waiting game, where doubt spindles its sticky hands around our dream.  Keeping up the hope and trusting the process is easier said then done.  Doubt clouds our attention to detail keeping synchronistic events out of reach.  Try these tricks to remain steadfast and faithful your vision will blossom to your attention with synchronicity.

Daily Vision Board Homage Go back to the initial hope felt when creating your vision board.  Look at it at least two times a day keeping your intention in the forefront.   Find yourself filled with giddiness as anticipation of the certain synchronistic scavenger hunt begins.  Faith in the process simply means chasing doubt and fear from your mind.

You’re On A Scavenger Hunt Make a game of finding clues that lead you to each step.  Staying in the mental and emotional state of amusement and fun speeds up the process.  Fear and doubt creates stagnation.

Sticky Note Reminders Bathroom mirror, kitchen cabinet, car visor, computer screen, and date books are all prime real estate in which to remind yourself of action statements.  Place encouraging words around the house, car, and workplace to prioritize your vision and keep its strength vibrating.

Intend High Noticing Intention follows the “ask and ye shall receive” rule and there is no limit on how much you can ask for.   Simply intend to notice all synchronistic events as they unfold and you will.  Train your high noticing skills by asking, “What’s different?” often, even if only to yourself.

Setting intention and solidifying it with a vision board is a productive step.  Now, sit back with hope, faith, and trust dancing in your thoughts, then viola, synchronicity appears.  You get what you ask for, but you may have to look for it.

Setting Intention

Human beings are amazing.  It is within our creative realm to build stable bridges across miles of water one day, only to exit Earth’s atmosphere for a quick trip to the moon the next day.  The human capacity to dream big and follow through is outstanding and yet, so easy. Big dreams begin with one intention.  Every human walking the earth in this instant is capable of bigness. It is one, little intention which roots and grows exponentially under our direction.   Intention is our declaration, “This is what I want and this is what I aim to get!”  When life experience is so intricately woven to intention, it makes sense to understand the dynamics while we harness the power.

Intention in its most rigid definition implies having a purpose or plan in mind, most likely in the guise of a goal, objective, or desired outcome.  Intention in its loosest definition implies having an idea.  An idea is much more laid back and often times sneaks in the back door without our knowing.  Think about how many great ideas you have during one day.  Are all of them feasible?  Are all of them helpful?  From time to time, we all get odd ideas that can easily be discarded as fantasy or crazy.   Would the world really benefit from square tires that bounce on their corners as we jump through traffic in Tiggerlike fashion?  Maybe not.  So, it’s a good thing some ideas take up a few seconds of our mind only to disappear forever. This is the tricky dynamic to intentions; consciously setting them versus unconsciously.  We really want to pay attention to our thoughts.  Are we consciously creating our ideas into intention or unconsciously?  The more attention we feed an idea, the more it grows.  Attention is the mechanism running our intentions.  Our thoughts give attention.  Therefore, it is wise to monitor thought habits, to notice which ideas get our most attention, then manage them with careful consideration.

Get Clarity encourages clients to move forward with intention.  We call this progressive movement a bridge plan.  It merely means thinking ahead.  Entrepreneurs make bridge planning a lifestyle. Being in a continual state of bridge planning allows visions to shift as success benchmarks are met or as intentions come to fruition.    Finding yourself on a new bridge with a new plan, must mean progress towards a vision was made.  Successful entrepreneurs never stop envisioning possibilities and therefore, never stop setting intentions.  Their bridges are ever expanding.  They are masters at generating ideas with the knowledge that these ideas are intentions, which in turn become reality.  Successful entrepreneurs continually shape the next step in their business.

Intentions can be as simple as “I am” statements or affirmations.   “I am successful.”  “I am prosperous.”  “I am creative.”  Train your brain to generate thoughts that support where you want to go.  Affirmations are declarations of who you are.  Even when you don’t quite feel it or see it in reality, stand firm in your resolve.  Affirmations set intention by managing self-talk.

If intention is simply an idea receiving lots of attention, it makes sense to manage the process wisely.  Monitor every repetitive thought with careful consideration knowing it contributes to your bridge plan.  Better yet, be proactive.  Repeat affirmations that support your intention.  Meanwhile, it never hurts to celebrate and show gratitude every step of the way.

Intention: Life Is A Continuous Bridge Plan

As forward thinking entrepreneurs, we understand having a bridge plan means taking steps towards our vision.  Bridges serve as ushers delivering us closer to our ultimate goal.   And the possibility for crossing many bridges on the journey to our vision is great.  Consider the following pointers:

Choices Bring Us New Bridges: Bridge plans may pop up with only a moment’s notice in the form of a choice.  When Tara received a bigger tax return then she was expecting, she immediately hopped online to buy a ticket to South America.  Tara’s online seed business was well on its way to success, and Tara reasoned an exotic trip could bring her find exotic seeds.  However, without the much needed brochures to market her business, new seeds wouldn’t do much good.  Tara’s choice point lead her to a bridge.  Here she developed a new plan towards her vision,  ultimately deciding to invest her money into marketing.

Bridge Plans Cut the Overgrowth:  On our journey bumps come along.  Bridge plans can serve as a way to remove any bumps or overgrowth making our path sludge like.  When Dan decided to leave his position as an engineer to pursue his dream of opening a sushi restaurant, his boss asked if he would stay for one more assignment.  To sweeten the deal, Dan was offered a nice sized bonus.  Although Dan had his heart set on leaving, he knew this bonus would pay off all his remaining debt, making his restaurant endeavor a financial breeze.  Extending the deadline of his employment turned into a bridge plan.  In the end it made the most financial sense clearing a path to financial freedom.

Bridge Plan Are Not Blocks; We may fall into a pattern of self-criticism and negativity, if the time it takes to complete our journey doesn’t come fast enough.  Tara and Dan could have looked at their situations as blocks.  Tara needed new seeds and didn’t get them.  Dan had to stay at his job a little longer.  Neither of these views are productive in the grand scheme of their journey maps.  See bridge plans for what they are; steps that progress you to your vision.