Clarity. Determination. Fulfillment.
These are my three words. They just emerged in the heat of my Moksha practise, from the depths of my being. I wasn’t looking for anything actually. But yet the words popped in to mind, clear as day, as if I had sought out an intention to rock my world for 2014. As I wrote in ‘A New Year‘, I am not one to set resolutions at the rollover from one year to the next. But somehow, this feels different. Perhaps the seeds of desire from another have soaked into my consciousness, and from there they have manifested as three guiding words? Mental and verbal cues that bring me back to conscious action. A visual framework of sorts that represents three major focuses that I want to evolve in my life.
Words of Focus
1. Clarity:
I’ve been feeling extremely muddled and cluttered the last few months. Mental disarray to the extreme. Focus in thought, word and action has not been my strong point. Clarity in intention is vitally important, and has been lacking. Sifting through my disarray means that I need a roadmap of sorts, to guide me through the chaos of my unhealthy patterns. For me, prioritizing and being accountable to a person or schedule is a big first step. I’m really good at sticking with a course of action that requires a daily commitment. I’ve successfully accomplished several yoga and smoothie challenges over the past year. But I didn’t have anyone to answer to, beyond my own desire to maintain a 30 day habit. I have Maneesh Sethi to thank for my current impetus: “Hack The Habit Program”, which I stumbled upon more on a whim than with a plan. And before I knew it, I had two accountability partners, one in Singapore and the other in South Africa. 30 days of answerability. The concept – create a daily habit that is enforced through daily accountability checkins. My daily task must be cued by an already established pattern or routine ~ i.e. after brushing my teeth every morning, I will do my 4 sets of plank holds. What happens if I fail to accomplish my desired task? A monetary stake is established for every day that I miss. At $50 a pop, the motivation to carry forth with my task is high.
I hope that with digging deep in my daily motivations, I can expand on my accomplishments and pave a pathway of clarity throughout my daily life.
2. Determination:
A seemingly simple word that establishes firmness of purpose and resolve. A commitment to my greater self, of establishing what it is that I want (clarity) and dedicating my all. I know that depending on others can be scary and messy, but depending on myself can at times be simultaneously empowering and terrifying. What if I fail? How do I bounce back without allowing my vision to dwindle away, disguised by the clutter of defeat and distraction? By seeking out tools to guide me through the process of resolve, I might find that staying the course is easier than that without a plan. Meditation is a wonderful place to start. Starting small, committing to watching the breath, allowing for distraction to flow through rather than build story: this is my first step to building success on the path to determination. Creating an actual written daily plan of action, such as Donald Miller’s Storyline Productivity Schedule is helping me be productive. An aid to overcoming procrastination by setting forth an action plan. Focusing and prioritizing what’s truly important in my day to day life is vital. By establishing my current state of being, and accessing where I am going / where I want to be, I can navigate both the path to clarity and resolve, in tandem.
3. Fulfillment:
The power of Gratitude is mind-blowing. Appreciation for all things {from the most basic elements of the cosmos to the most complex of thoughts and emotions}, I believe, will help me in the process of finding more clarity in life. By envisioning and understanding things differently (creating an alternative paradigm of thought and action), I am beginning the process of wanting and desiring from a place of transformation. Stepping outside of my comfort zone, and being open to the challenges and opportunities of daily living, allows for a flow of grace that is juicy & balanced, wondrous and accepting, guiding my innermost truest self to complete fulfillment in all that I do.
“We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude.”
~ Thomas S. Monson
The biggest challenge through this entire process? Knowing myself, honouring my needs and being kind to all those around me (including myself ~ especially when I stumble and falter).
