This past weekend I set the intention to get clarity on a big decision that has been occupying my thoughts. The lease at my apartment is up on Halloween and I need to let my landlord know by the end of this month if I am staying or moving. There wasn’t a lot on my work schedule Saturday or Sunday and I purposely did not make plans with friends. I wanted to give myself the opportunity to be still without a lot of activities and distractions. One thing that ended up working in my favor was my choice to start a ten day cleanse last week. Since most social gatherings involve food, getting together with friends was not as tempting. That also meant my “go to” distraction – PIZZA – was not an option! My friend Carrie pointed out that the timing of this cleanse was no accident. Not only would I be clearing my physical body but also my mind. That hadn’t occurred to me, but it felt very true. I absolutely needed to clear my mind of those conflicting voices that were preventing me from hearing the still small voice of Spirit.
In the days leading up to the weekend I had spoken with other friends and prayer partners about this decision. They all shared great insights and offered wonderful questions for self inquiry. On Saturday, after completing lots of little projects that had been on my “to do” list for a while, I decided it was time to create the space to be still and listen. Since Mother Ocean is only three and a half miles from my apartment, I decided to go sit by her, breath the salt air, and watch the waves roll in. Late afternoon into early evening is my favorite time to be at the beach. Most people have gone home and the sea and sky turn magnificent colors as the sun gets closer and closer to the horizon. Being near the ocean is definitely a power place for me. I know that no matter what is going on in my life, Mother Ocean will gladly take my worries and carry them away in her waves. That evening I wanted her to carry away all of my fearful thoughts about the future so I could hear what my heart truly wanted.
This may seem obvious, but in order to listen you have to stop talking. When I noticed my monkey mind chattering again, I simply brought my focus back to the soothing sound of the waves. At one point I laid down on my back to look up at the sky. It was full of clouds in a layered pattern of wispy shapes and sizes. There was very little blue sky showing through. I noticed some of the clouds were on different levels and traveling in opposite directions. This fascinated me. How could the air be moving in two different directions at once? As the shapes drifted over one another I played the children’s game of looking for objects in the clouds. I guess it’s true you find what you are looking for because I saw lots of angels. I sure felt like I needed one.
It was during that time of listening to the waves and watching the clouds that I remembered some of the things my friends had shared. I didn’t have to figure out the rest of my life today. The only thing I needed to decide was whether or not I was going to stay in my apartment a while longer. I also remembered something I tell my coaching clients all the time. If it’s not a definite “yes” then it’s probably a “no” or at least a “not yet.” I certainly was not feeling a definite yes that it was time to move, so that was my answer. It was so simple, and it was right there in my heart all the time. I just needed to be still and listen. Now that I had clarity, it was time to go home and write an email to my landlord asking for an extension of my lease before I started second guessing my decision. I looked up at the sky one last time and couldn’t believe my eyes. All of the clouds were gone! Directly above me was nothing but clear blue sky. What a beautiful outward reflection of the clarity I finally felt inside.
Are you wrestling with a big decision? Do you need to quiet your monkey mind to get clarity? I invite you to take some time out in nature and create some space to listen to your heart. If you need assistance, it would be my great honor to be your prayer partner and Life Coach. I offer four, six, and eight week Life Coaching packages to help you through any challenging situation that is taking away your peace. Family Constellations is another great way to find peace. Join me for an upcoming workshop or schedule a private session in person, by phone, or via Skype. Please look around my website for more information about all of these great opportunities that will help you to experience more peace in your life.
Until next time, may your clouds turn to clarity before making any big decision.