But what is clarity? Sure, you can decide “once and for all” that it’s time to finally pursue that dream or passion. Or, you can make a resolution that “this year is the one” for whatever it might be you’ve been putting off, shelving as a hobby, or dabbling with for most of your life.

That’s all well and good. And isolating the idea, placing it in front of you as a singular focus is important. But, how long will it last? Are there emotions, feelings or other inclinations immediately brought to the surface simply by stating this intention? For most everyone, this is the instant side-effect of stepping forward in faith, confidence, and giving the universe the ultimatum of your newfound clarity.

This, too, is how we inhibit and defeat our potential, without any extra effort – and without being conscious of it. The mind and ego are in constant battle to keep you “safe” (which essentially means stalled, blocked, or small and unsure), so when you’re intent on this clarity, it’s important to realize that your old friends and lifetime companions, defined as “beliefs”, will have something to say about it. So, immediately, you have new choices to make, and your resolve may need a stronger foundation upon which to base the next step in your journey.

True and complete clarity is possible only if you allow the simplicity of what it is you desire to be all that is given any energy of thought or consideration. It requires that you empty your creative space entirely of conflicting requests, so that the purity of your singular focused intention will have plenty of magnetic potential to manifest as quickly as possible.

This, of course, is generally easier said than done. It really depends on how you’ve lived your life thus far and how much mental or spiritual “baggage” might be impeding your ongoing efforts to simply be and approach your journey with ease, grace, lightness and joy. Notice what rises to the surface. Be with it and perhaps take the time to finally address the underlying energy that keeps it anchored in your body, mind, or spirit. Isn’t it time to let it go?

If you live in a consumer-driven, or materialistic culture (as we do in the West) then the effects are even more dramatic. There is an overriding conditioning that handicaps much of your mental and spiritual clarity by default, and your first steps must be to unwind that blindfold, enabling you to ease up the constricted mind, body, and spirit. It’s important to reclaim the power you’ve given away to objects, circumstances, or other influences in your life…

Thus, clarity can be achieved! Then, witness how easily people, places, and events manifest to aid you, urge you, and entice you to expand, explore, and dive into what it is you truly desire to experience in this lifetime.

Steve Pavlina has an excellent blog post about this topic: 11 Ways to Gain Clarity

Using the power of intention is most effective when you have a singular focus, uninterrupted by conflicting thoughts or beliefs.

Quantum physics suggests that there are infinite possibilities (potential outcomes) attached to your every thought. So again, it is through purposeful clarity that one manifests into their reality what they truly desire. Regardless, you’re either consciously, or unconsciously creating, and co-creating, all of the time.

All of this applies to the individual (even down to the individual cell within you) as well as the community, and the collective.

The trouble with resistance, is that it comes in many forms, often under the guise of a better intention (ie. you’re desiring more prosperity, yet there is negativity within you toward the idea of money; you want a compatible life partner, but you have unresolved resentment toward your parents, or close relationships in general). Also, if you’re constantly influenced and stimulated by forces all around you, it can further cloud your natural ability to attract into your life that which would best serve you, in any given moment. We tend to fall into a lower gear, or vibration, and live on a day-to-day, and/or reactionary basis; life happens to you, instead of for you. Regardless, whatever does show up, you invited, and it will serve you, if for nothing else, but to help clarify what you’d rather experience or have.

The challenge then is to hold off on any judgment toward what has presented itself, and unemotionally observe it instead, for what it really is – being that resistance can be hiding behind unrelated, or deeper issues. What now represents your life experience is the outward expression of the multitude of your amassed thoughts, beliefs, and actions. However, seeing it from a more detached point of view can again reclaim for you the infinite power of choice.

And, even that may stir up another form of resistance…

Moving to Nelson, BC in June was unexpected. Well, not entirely true. I knew I’d be moving in June, but was unclear exactly of the destination, and hadn’t physically prepared for it. In the end, I had to uproot and move within a few days. Regardless, once I was here, and started raving about how it was such a serene abode and landscape – in stark contrast to where I was living before – I still didn’t clue in. Not, at least, until a few friends said “Hey man, that’s good news – exactly what you wanted!” Hmm… What?

Seems we don’t always pay attention to our requests, and their eventual manifestation in our lives (oh, what’s the “law” called now). At least, I wasn’t doing so in this case. It forced me to step back and observe what had transpired in my thoughts, had begun months previous, and landed me here when it did. The physical location (as far as maps go) wasn’t what I was imagining, but everything about this place was pretty much bang on, including my view out the studio window.

Intriguing. And, I did it to myself again, just this week.

Even within the first few days in this small town, I knew I’d be moving again soon, and October jumped out effortlessly from my brain. Splat! All over my mental calendar. Fine, as it would give my sister time to heal up a broken leg, me to do some healing myself, and to figure out the next step: to move, or to stay the winter. The latter was an automatic “uh, no.” And not surprisingly, an opportunity “popped up” for – nearly word for word – a cottage in a small town similar to this, but by the ocean. Honestly, it caught me off guard, even though a part of me should have known better. It was precisely what I’d planted in the soil only 3 or so months previous, and at the exact time it’d be required.

Intriguing. And, I wasn’t prepared… Had to pass on this one, and not surprisingly, it was no longer available within a day or so. Learn, learn, learn.

Today’s lesson to everyone: if you’re going to start trusting the process, and allowing whatever you need to appear when it needs to, then start actually trusting the process. Don’t insult your higher self by saying “oh, wait, um…”

I’d spent the last few hours wandering the Seawalk/Seawall, getting in a good dose of ideas and insights from a few podcast interviews.

I happened across a fish & chips vendor. Hadn’t tried that in a long while. The owner (I’m assuming) was working away. Bit of a surly chap, but proud of his product.

“This your first time?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Oh, you’re gonna like it. It’s a nice, light batter.”

And it was. We continued the conversation for a bit, upon noticing a customer bring back a few bottles of vinegar. He commented on the fact that somebody stole two of his salt and pepper shakers. I examined one and noticed an interesting design, like a small glass mug. He said that he gets them for a buck each at the dollar store. So, not a major loss. But the principle of course is key. “They’d steal your teeth if you gave ‘em a chance.”

I don’t know what that means.

I suggested that they are of a neat design and maybe he should sell them himself, for a buck-fifty each, since clearly somebody else thought them interesting enough to take them home, with the added bonus of salt and pepper. He chuckled with a “yeah… might be a good idea,” and wandered into the back to check on my food, grunting a command to his young employee (his son most likely) on his way.

Now, it’s not necessarily a million-dollar idea, but I’m trying to make a point.

When you’re stuck in a cloud of routine, filtering everything that comes at you – limited by that which you’ve allowed yourself to become thus far – you may be missing opportunities that show up, and then walk right on by. There’s nothing wrong with that of course, as everything does happen in accordance with the “right time” for you, on your journey. So don’t worry. The universe has no reason to deny you anything you want in life. That’s all your doing…

Keep in mind that you’re always attracting gifts, challenges, lessons, teachers, and students into your life, because it’s in your nature to expand and grow, whether you acknowledge, accept and implement it or not. Keep ignoring something, especially when it’s only YOU that is wanting to grow past it, and it’ll just keep on nagging and reappearing for you.

Remain open to possibilities. You have a singular perspective, and while it’s always most important to trust your own feelings on an issue, it may not be in your best interest to develop a “No!” knee-jerk response to the ideas introduced from without.

Image: “Idea’s Interrupted” by Capture Queen