In a fast-paced world, where everyone tells you that you have to work hard, fight for it, crush it… I just want to tell you that none of it is true. While some careers may need a bit of that, if you are trying to get somewhere in your life, pushing, pushing, pushing isn’t always the answer. Actually, it’s not the answer in just about every area of your life. We need to allow ourselves time and space to listen to our instincts, and our guidance. If you are spending all your time pushing forward in a direction you aren’t meant to go, the Universe WILL push you backwards. If you really aren’t paying attention, it may be in a very abrupt and life-changing way.
Be in the Moment
You have to pay attention. And I don’t just mean to the people around you. The Universe gives you signs all the time, or gut feelings on something. It can be as simple as a feeling that you need to run to the grocery store for something and there you run into an old colleague who has a great business idea they share with you that is perfectly in line with what you want to do with your career. Nothing happens by accident. But you need to have the awareness in every moment to pick up on the guidance you are given.
We spend a heck of a lot of time on our phones, talking, texting, scrolling social media. Mind you, you can get guidance and messages there too – but you are mostly just engaging your brain during those times and not getting quiet and intuitive about things. You need to have periods of time that you turn it off and tune in to yourself and what’s going on around you.
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” – Ferris Bueller
Be Here Now
I’ve never understood the people who walk their dogs talking on their cell phones. Not only are you missing out on time with the most loving and fun creature in the world (your dog), but you are completely tuned out to that precious time out in nature, and nature can be incredibly clarifying and healing. You should spend time outside taking in the beauty, breathing deeply, and enjoying time with your dog and yourself. Happiness comes in the peaceful moments, so stop filling the peaceful moments with noise and distractions.
Even driving along in the car by yourself can be a wonderful peaceful moment filled with clarity. While you need to focus on your driving, you need to stop worrying about the pace of it all – you don’t need to rush. Take it slow, take it easy. Observe, get quiet, turn off the radio for sure. Enjoy it as the peaceful time that it can be. Even if other drivers around you are rushing and crazy, find your peace in all of it. I have gained incredibly clarity on things sometimes as I drive silently down the street in my car.
Take a Break
There have been times in my life when I am pushing myself really hard, and guilting myself when I’m not working on my passion projects. But what the Universe directs me to in those times is always what I needed. Totally worth the ‘break’. Whether it’s reading a book, getting outside, taking my dogs to a park, or time with friends – it always fills my soul in a way I didn’t even realize I needed. Only then can we continue on our journey. We have to fill ourselves up. And often when we do, we gain clarity on things as well.
It’s in those quiet hours of the morning when I’m half-awake and still lying in bed that I seem to get some of my clearest guidance on what to do next. Whether it’s a clarifying vision of what I’m working on, or even little ‘movies’ in my head of me speaking about something I’m working on in the future. It always lights me up and inspires me. And often it gives me clarity on a concept or idea that hadn’t fully formed yet for me.
Find Space from the Chatter
I truly believe that guidance and inspiration can come from anywhere at any time, and you need to pay attention. It could be a random idea that pops into your head in the shower, or a feeling you get when you see someone at the store. But you need to pay attention. And that’s why we can’t be constantly chattering on our phones or even in our own heads. It’s like turning on music and blasting it loud as you also try to hear someone speaking to you, quietly, from the other end of the room. It’s not going to work.
I’m not saying you have to live your life in silence. I’m a big believer that music is a great source of inspiration and even messages itself. And communicating with others in your life is also important. However, you do need to find moments of quiet – of silence really. To slow down, get quiet, and be open to whatever comes to you. And of course, to slow down enough in your day to day life to actually pay attention to what messages and information you are being shown.
Allowing Yourself to be Guided
Why should you do all this? Because we can get off track sometimes. Everything happens in divine timing – or when it’s meant to. If you are pushing too hard and the timing is wrong, or the path you are on isn’t the right one for you – the Universe will have to stop you if you don’t stop and pay attention yourself.
I’ve had that happen in many ways, from a business of mine failing, to losing my job, breaking my foot, the guy I was dating leaving me, or my house having a multitude of issues forcing me to move. At the time it feels like the world is crumbling around you, but what you don’t realize is that you weren’t paying attention to the signs, so the Universe is forcing you to make the needed change. You got off track, didn’t see where you were being directed, or were just in denial of your gut feelings.
Regardless, you need to appreciate that better things are coming for you. That you are always watched over and cared for and sent in the right direction – but you have to slow down and pay attention. Follow the signs and your gut. Things can only get better and go in an awesome direction if you do.
You may also enjoy reading Why You Feel so Lost in Your Life and Following Divine Guidance
A book you might like is Know Your Why: Finding and Fulfilling Your Calling in Life by Ken Costa
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