There’s a way in which things can move along on their own in life and you can be swept along with them.  Sometimes you’re coasting that river, other times it may feel like you’re clinging to a rock in that river, or you feel you’re drowning.

While it’s true that some situations can take unexpected turns, you can have more flow in your life where you wisely direct your course where you’d like it to go and create smooth interactions in the process.  Being able to do this depends a great deal on your informed and intuitive choices.

When you’re not sure about these choices, wouldn’t getting positive and knowledgeable support to help you with them be beneficial?

Imagine It  A true supporter can listen to your dream and picture it with you.  They can help you tease out the details of your idea through a question and feedback process, assisting you to have a more complete and realistic picture of what you want.  If you’re not clear on your values and goals related to this dream, they can help you to find what you love about it and use that passion.  Often a true supporter helps you to see when your head is leading the action and realign with your heart to keep your vision alive.

Take Initiative  You may be a great idea person, but not know well how to develop your idea or convert it to a plan of action.  An experienced supporter helps you take initiative on whatever part of your process you need to get going on.  Just when you’re thinking of taking a break, they’ll help you feel re-energized and empowered to confidently move ahead and take the next step – unless a break is warranted.

Missing Unexpected Opportunities  One thing you look to someone else for, and particularly a hired professional who has a particular eye on your progress, is to help you not miss out on opportunities.  While you are focused on what’s in front of you and taking care of business, your support person is looking at you and your situation from different angles and may catch just the right piece of information, a contact person, or other valuable resource to send your way.  They can help you recognize these leads and build on them.

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Video from KarmaTube

At a crossroads in deciding to change our family structure and get a puppy (a two month decision process), I wasn’t expecting breakdowns to occur within days of bringing her home to threaten the beauty of our initial experience together.  So it was a challenge not to have that happen.

This past week has been a technical week of “hell.”  Both computers broke and new ones had to be bought, all data transferred, and these updated system changes have to be worked out or learned for some time yet.  I also had to purchase a new office phone, a new cell phone, and an entire new CMS (dynamic/interactive site) had to be redesigned for the broken one connected to my website.  My blog broke for four days, the Internet went down, and my new juicer and the wall switch itself no longer work!  This was ending up in costly fixes, but more importantly, numerous and lengthy phone calls and days of eaten up work time was required to set it all straight.

I’ve been distracted, and therefore not able to fully focus on my initial time with Tula, acclimating her to our home and, of course, the trying process of potty training her.  (See her pic only in the August 8th blog posting.)

I know that handling the unpredictable side of things is about learning to thrive well during these lesson periods, where you can learn to be balanced in the midst of them. (That’s also one of the reasons I named our little female Coton, “Tula” because this means “balance” in Sanskrit.)  But honestly, on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the least effective behavior in handling a crisis or down phase, I’d say I arrived at an 8 sometimes, while often I was at a 5 and a few times, at a 2 or 3.

But I can say I’m learning a few other lessons besides remaining calm during these unpredictable occurrences…

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I often have a lot going on, as I’m sure you do.  It’s not easy to get away and do something for someone else, take time away from my projects, my work or even my downtime.  But I can’t afford not to be generous with others.  It’s empowering for those I’m assisting and it’s important to periodically take the focus off my own achievement goals.  

Every time I’m there for another person, especially when doing so is inconvenient to my schedule, it puts me in their shoes for awhile.  In nudges me out of my world view and helps me gain a fresh perspective, which sometimes includes the recognition that any struggles in my life may not be as significant as I think they are. 

Being generous is recognizing another, validating someone, acknowledging your personal and work partners, being friendly – even to a stranger – and replying in an upbeat way for no particular reason.  Simply offering a kind expression in passing, such as, “enjoy your day!” can make a world of difference to someone and change their outlook.  You know this, because you’ve been the recipient of this kindness as I have.  So it’s great if you can make this a practice to remember to do in your daily interactions with others.  

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Whenever I work with my clients, I encourage them to use the full power of their own insights and inner guidance in making important choices, not just rely on their thinking capabilities.  So often we try to reason, weigh decisions, make strategic plans, set goals and we feel we’ve given it our best.  I recommend you also feel what is your heart’s desire, pray, ask your inner counsel for guidance using clear questions, and get quiet long enough to hear the answers to these questions.

It’s something I continually need to be reminded of, that practicing a combination of these two approaches to problem-solving works!

In the last few months I have been exploring bringing a dog into the comfortable family unit of Joe and I.  It was with delayed amusement that I noticed myself making this decision with alot of thought and concern.  I worried about whether I would be able to manage the combined responsibilities of a puppy, my coaching business responsiblities, and our family travel times.  I even said “no” about accepting the dog I had been hoping for.  Then two friends reminded me that I had to be still and listen more to my heart and less to my head.  They also reminded me that I was resourceful and that I had done enough research to get started and would certainly be able to find out what I needed as I went along.  

I made a decision to welcome “Tula” to our home on August 7th.  (see her photo in today’s Change-maker’s ezine - or sign up for our monthly ezine free at Creating At Will’s website).

Just this week I was further reminded of how simple it can be to ask for and receive your inner answers.  A client told me she was sitting at a car smog shop waiting for her car to be done, and decided to take a few minutes to quiet herself.

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