Distracting Diversion or Mission-Driven?
The first question to answer when wrestling with whether or not to pursue an intriguing idea.
“Knowing our personal mission further enhances the flow of mysterious coincidences as we are guided toward our destinies. First we have a question, then dreams, daydreams, and intuitions lead us toward the answers, which usually are synchronistically provided by the wisdom of another human being."
—James Redfield
Have you ever found yourself wrestling with a decision you thought would be easy, but felt much harder than you expected?
That’s where I found myself at the end of last week and through the early part of this week. A seemingly innocuous question led to more consternation than it should have. It convoluted my logic and confused my usually well-formed process of evaluating the available options.
Ultimately it led me to do something I seldom do — reaching out to just about everyone in my inner circle to seek their counsel. Typically I am one-and-done when it comes to reaching out, carefully selecting the person who can best address the situation and securing their input revealing the path.
From DepositPhotos.com
Not this time. The first conversation raised more questions. Not exactly what I was expecting or wanting. The second recycled questions already considered and put a slightly different spin on a couple. Both helpful, but neither moved me toward the resolution of my dilemma. Both were helpful in affirming or rejecting arguments I made, but neither provided the kind of clarity I was seeking.
Then came call #3, then call #4…still no clarity on the path...until call #5.
Asking the right question at the right moment
An odd thing about my reaching out to trusted colleagues — it is a bit of a flip of the script for me as often the reaching out is directed my way. The process feels very different and rather uncomfortable when I am on the other side.
But what is most interesting is how often the comment or question that unlocks everything is one I would routinely ask of someone who reached out to me. Yet I have not asked it of myself.
In this case, the question I had skipped over in my private processing (and in the previous conversations) was one that should be asked first when considering undertaking any action …
Does doing what you are considering align with your mission?
Yes, the question assumes you have defined your personal mission (and if you have not, I encourage you to make it a top priority to create one pronto). I have defined mine and I use it frequently to make choices. But sometimes a situation perplexes me enough I forget to consider whether it serves my mission.
So when call #5 led to that question being asked it was one of those ‘aha’ moments. You know the ones where lights flash, bells ring, and angels sing. Instant clarity with zero doubt regarding the path you should take.
Though the details of my situation don’t matter, the process and the path do. They affirm the last line of the opening quote of this post — answers, which usually are synchronistically provided by the wisdom of another human being. Wisdom often packaged in the form of the right question at the right time!
Today’s Action Advice
Who are the five people you would call when wrestling with a decision and searching for clarity? Make a list and keep it handy, and push past whatever keeps you from calling those people when you need some outside perspective. The process works every time, even if you end up on call five, six, or seven before it reveals itself to you. Because all of those calls are part of the process and each one moves you closer to being able to accept the insight you need.
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P.S. What is your mission? Click here to email me your personal mission and let me know how I can help you achieve it.