Day 232: Looking For Clarity

There are times when you are just seeking clarity. You've traveled along a path for a certain period of time and reached a point where maybe you don't know why you started or you're not sure what to do next or maybe you're just stuck in a bit of a rut. At one point or another, we have all reached this confusing and sometimes painful place.

No matter why you're seeking clarity, we come to this place and we're stuck. That's the reason we're seeking clarity, but it gets worse because often we don't know where to find it. We're stuck and so we seek clarity, but we don't know where to find it so we're stuck in finding that clarity. It's a vicious cycle that can eat away at you for extensive periods of time.

It's happened to me, it's happening to me, and I know it will happen again. I've come to a place in my journey where I know I need to progress in new ways and expand my business, but I'm stuck because I don't know how. This position is never comfortable and I'm sure you've experienced it as well. It happens to the best of us.

As I'm going through this and coming it from a position of being on the inside of the problem, I would like to share with you a few suggestions of how to combat the lack of clarity. Some ways I've tried, some I have yet to try, but here are a few ways to seek clarity when it feels like it's a thousand miles away from you.

When it comes to not knowing why you started, sometimes it's a really good idea to go back to your beginning. Something at some point in time started you down this path you're walking, what was it? Often times we lose sight of the thing that inspired us to move forward, we grow up and find new inspiring things and forget the original motivation. I encourage you to go back to that original motivation in some form or fashion. If a location or a person was the original motivation, revisit them and try and approach them in the same mindset you were in back then.

For me, an artist inspired me to pursue photography and if I were to revisit the original motivation behind me starting a career in the arts I would go back to their work. But not just their work, their work that specifically inspired me which in this case would be art they created from 2013 to the beginning of their own career. Revisiting your original inspiration can really bring you clarity for why you started in the first place. Not necessarily why you're doing it now, but why you made the choice to pursue that particular idea above all others.

When it comes to not knowing where you want to be, I'm honestly still figuring this one out. But the best thing I can say is think big. Take a day, or even just an hour or so, to really brainstorm any and all possibilities. Think big. Go back to the mindset of a child, when you could do or be absolutely anything. Don't limit yourself to the possibilities of what could come or ideas that pop into your head. When you brainstorm, you have to welcome every thought there is no excluding.

A huge detriment to growing up is often the loss of imagination. We get bound by what could be and what's possible. We think of an idea and instantly shut it down because we think it won't work or because we come up with some lame excuse to avoid being uncomfortable. This is as much of a reminder for me as it is for you. Stop letting yourself get in your way of your best ideas. Think big, write it all down and don't judge your ideas. Once you have an incredibly long list that might be compiled over days, then you can go through them again and pick the ones you're most interested in.

Seeking clarity can be a confusing stretch of road to walk, but it is possible to get to the other side. It usually just takes a bit of digging and determination and a whole lot of trial and error. If you keep at it long enough, the clarity will come and you will be on your way again. Wishing you the best.

Until Next Time,
Lillian Merritt