Being unsure about where you stand, how you
feel, what you want and need, and going through life thinking,
“Well, um, uh, I think, maybe, I’m not sure……” is a major
contributor to self-created stress. There are enough inherent obstacles
in life without this uncertainty, and we need the power of our
convictions to navigate through them.
When you’re clear on the inside, it gives you
the backbone to stand by tough decisions (especially when they don’t
please the people around you), set boundaries with others, say no to
what you really don’t want, and make difficult but necessary changes
in your life. How many people do you know who have a job or relationship
they know is over, but they’re still staying because they don’t have
clarity on the situation?
Ways to gain more clarity:
Stop looking for clarity outside of yourself and turning to other
people to give you answers and validation.
Trust that the answers are already in you if you just
listen. Know that you have a voice inside of you that is always
right and wants to be heard. Sometimes, what the voice says is not
what we want to hear, because it may mean that change is coming. It
may not be the easiest route to take, but it is the truest route,
our highest route. If we don’t listen to this inner voice, a part
of us just wilts away. Become very still so you can hear what your
inner voice is trying to tell you. For more information on how to
quiet the busy mind, see the January 2002 newsletter.
Start journaling. Writing things out is a powerful tool to tap into
your inner wisdom and one of the best ways to get clear. Ask
yourself questions and honestly express your responses. For most
folks, the best time to journal is in the morning or late at night.
Having a record that you can recall can help you identify any
patterns and repetitive expressions that need your attention. It can
also act as a good baseline that you can look back at and gauge your
growth over time.
Write out lists. Simply take a piece of paper and draw a line down
the middle. On one side, write down all of the positives about the
situation on which you need clarity. On the other side, write down
all of the negatives. Other headings can be the reasons why it’s
good for you to stay in a particular situation and the reasons why
it would be best for you to leave. This is a simple concept, but
you’d be amazed how long we sweat over a situation before we take
out a pen and piece of paper and just do it.
With the all the complications in life, we tend
to dilute ourselves and look for increasingly complex solutions to our
problems. I encourage you to keep it simple and look within. If you
don’t know what you want or where you’re going, nobody else will.
Who but you is going to know?
About the Author
Kevin
Stacey helps companies and professionals achieve maximum productivity
and effectiveness through stress management and time management
training. He is available to speak on these topics.
For more information visit http://www.TrainRightInc.com
or call 1-800-603-7168.
