You Can’t Have the A’s Without the Q’s

Maybe you’ve reached a place in life and you find yourself on a journey, or a path, or a quest. Whatever you name it, you’re looking for something. No worries; it happens to many of us as we mature (some accuse us of aging, but let’s call it maturing, or gathering wisdom!).

Do you know what you’re looking for? Maybe it’s more money, more well-being, greater peace of mind, more time, better sleep, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

There is a plethora of resource material out there (check out Google if you haven’t already 😉 ) to help you improve your life – find strategies on Facebook, LinkedIn, yoga class, your therapist. It can be downright overwhelming; am I right? I feel the overwhelm just writing that sentence.

What if what you’re looking for feels more ethereal, foggy, like sand through your fingers? You just want answers! You search here and there, under rocks, on mountain tops, at retreats, over breakfast at the diner, while sipping coffee at the café, while staring intently – pen in hand – at the blank page in your journal. For the love of everything that is holy – JUST GIVE ME ANSWERS!

Hey answers! Come out, come out, wherever you are! Please; seriously. C’mon now. I’m serious.

For the past few years, I feel like I’ve been going a bit bonkers. My mind has been spinning; going from one book to the next, from one website to the next, considering one online class and then another. I was searching for answers. I need answers, people!

However, one morning, getting ready for work, it dawned on me:

I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT MY QUESTIONS ARE!

What a revelation! Finally, I can find some focus. So, let me interrupt your search for a brief moment to ask you: Have you defined your Questions?

Stop everything and ask yourself right now “What do I want to know? Reeeeally want to know?” You must get clear on your Q’s before being able to focus on finding the A’s. You can’t simply ask Siri (sorry about that).

A brief word of advice before you begin getting clear on your Q’s: I suspect these questions probably don’t have multiple choice answers. When you find the A to one of the Q’s that is uniquely yours, there may be only one answer that feels right, at least for this time in your life. You may find yourself asking the same Q in a few years; that’s okay, that’s a good thing (we can always change directions later on).

Pardon me while I give a bit more advice:

Be still.

Listen.

Be patient.

Be intentional.

Surrender.

Let go.

Stop grasping.

Trust the Universe.

Speaking of the Universe, you must have found by now that as you’ve been searching for your A’s, things come to you: books, speakers, online classes, bloggers, words from spiritual leaders… The Universe puts them in your way. I know, it’s a radical idea for some of us; I’ve just come to believe this, myself. It comes as I learn to surrender.

Most recently what the Universe put in my way was the book “All the Joy You Can Stand” by Debrena Jackson Gandy. Relax, this is not a marketing message – if you want to check it out, go ahead, if not, that’s fine (I don’t get compensation for sharing this with you).

The name of the book makes this powerhouse seem to be simply about strategies to find and have more joy in your life – it’s a devious trick! Don’t judge this book by it’s cover (or it’s title). The “101 Sacred Power Principles for Making Joy Real in Your Life” are potent practices, not to be taken lightly.

The sneaky thing about this book is that it’s not simply about how to incorporate the “things” that bring joy into your busy life, it’s about clearing space, making room, and freeing up energy so you experience joy in all its forms and nuances.

This little book has opened up my mind to specific practices that will provide the space I need to ask the Q’s, and try them on for size, so to speak.

I scribbled, scrawled, and jotted notes in my journal as I read through each Principle. Not every one of them spoke to me, but some were truly mighty concepts. I am looking forward to journaling more and exploring what “Discover your sacred self,” “Tell the truth,” “Master manifestation,” “Lifecycles and seasons,” “Let go,” and “Exile guilt” all mean for me (there are 95 more principles to explore in the book).

So, how do these principles help me define my Q’s? They all point right back, and quite directly, to me and my existence: am I living the life I desire? That right there may be the only Q I need at this point. The A to that Q may be yes, it may be no. If it’s no, then I’ve been given my next Q: how can I live the life I desire?

By practicing powerful principles in my life, I will learn to generate the space, clarity, energy, and the focus I need to define more of my Q’s and find more of my A’s.

What is the Universe putting in your way?

What space-creating principles do you need to explore?

A coach can help you make the changes you seek to change, to assist you in clarifying your Q’s and creating judgment-free space where you can think creatively and explore new ideas.  Contact me at InnerVision TLC if you’d like to learn more about coaching.

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