Clarity Through Chaos

Few experiences rival moments of inspiration -- where clouded in a state of confusion and uncertainty, a moment of awe-inspiring clarity emerges. In a flash a divine light shines directly on your head with an “ahhhhhhhhhhh” chanting sound echoing through the room. You’ve got it. The answer. The solution. A brilliant idea that changes everything. Then, before you can say “Impossible Journeys,” the moment vanishes. Back to everyday living.

Unfortunately, epiphanies, or moments of pristine clarity, discovery or illumination, don’t come around often. In fact, sometimes it feels like the planets all have to be aligned and gravity must reverse itself in order to find a single moment of true clarity.

Chaos theory maintains that life, in its intricate detail, is essentially chaotic and without order. When we back away from details we find patterns. Meaning: Beneath our random behaviors and actions exists a treasure chest of patterns for producing specific results -- a few of which might yield an epiphany.

As a writer I find myself thirsting for epiphanies. I use to sit at my computer late into the night, waiting in anticipation for that big breakthrough idea or prolonged state of “flow,” allowing me to produce something unique, something brilliant, something meaningful. Patience, it turns out, was never one of my strongest attributes.

Here are a few simple yet powerful strategies to help you “manufacture” an epiphany:

First, create a state of discovery. Think about a time when you had a moment of clarity and curiosity. Where were you? What were you doing? How were you breathing? What was on your mind? Duplicate the physical and mental state of a past inspirational moment -- find your pattern. If you have trouble doing this, think about when you’re generally most creative and then answer the above questions. (Examples: late at night, early mornings, in the shower, driving in the car)

Second, play epiphany-provoking music. What music moves you to think creatively, to explore and to dream? Some of my favorites include Johann Pachelbel’s Canon in D, the overture to the Robin Hood soundtrack (John Williams), Great Governing Dynamics from “A Beautiful Mind” soundtrack (James Horner), and Pure Shores from “The Beach” soundtrack (All Saints).

Third, give into the moment. Breathe. Let go of all your worries, concerns, inhibitions, and problems -- at least temporarily. Trust in something bigger than yourself. You can conjure up a brilliant idea. You will find the answer. But first you must wipe your mental slate clean of all the tumultuous chaos that weaves its way through your daily life.

We tend to make life more complicated then it need be. Many of us live in a state of confusion and uncertainty derived from our fears of success and failure. Arguably, sparks of inspirations are made possible because of the flavor and texture of life’s chaotic nature. Epiphanies flow freely, when we learn to let go, find our patterns and embrace the Simple.

Find clarity through chaos and discover electrifying epiphanies along your adventure.

Happy Journeys!
Scott Jeffrey

Give Rattlesnakes the Right of Way

I recently decided to go on an adventure of my own. In reading the online trail guide to Minnewaska State Park Preserve in the Hudson Valley (New York), I actually read a bulletin that said: “Watch for Snakes. Minnewaska has a population of snakes of many varieties including Rattlers. If you encounter a snake, give it the right of way.”

While walking on one of the magnificent and diverse trails around Lake Minnewaska, I found myself repeatedly thinking about that profound warning. “If you encounter a snake, give it the right of way.” Without having read that bulletin, would someone actually have pondered jumping in front of a poisonous Rattlesnake? Or worse yet, perhaps they might have considered stepping on the snake, just to see what might happen.

As ridiculous as this sounds, most people provoke poisonous snakes everyday in the form of slivering negative thoughts that make their way into the conscious mind. When we construct a negative thought, or borrow one from an outside source like the media or another person, we are presented with an important choice: Do we suffocate that negative thought energy rendering it powerless? Or do we feed it and help it grow?

Many of us are conditioned to feed negative thoughts on a daily basis. We think about something unpleasant that we don’t want to happen or that did happen, and we replay the memory/thought over and over again. And each time we replay this bad “movie,” we relive it in our minds and throughout our entire bodies. For example, did you ever worry about being unable to cover your rent? Or perhaps you had a really horrible meal in a “fine” restaurant and felt THEY should pay YOU to eat there? Or maybe someone said something you felt was inconsiderate, inappropriate, or downright rude? Ever find yourself mentally rehashing the event later on that day or even several days later?

We step on Rattlers all the time. And each time we do, we detract positive energy away from our life experience.

Through positive Intention, or what we choose to put our thoughtful energy toward, we shape and mold our environment and our destiny. Developing Intention is very often a subconscious process, mostly because we are fundamentally unaware of this greatly untapped force in the human spirit. Those who learn to consciously align their Intention with their desires are rewarded with avalanches of prosperity and life fulfillment.

You don’t need to completely eliminate negative thinking -- sometimes it serves a useful purpose in preparation and protection. Just don’t allow those thoughts to grow or to take control of your overall mindset. Keep your mind so full of positive Intention that poisonous thoughts simply have no place to grow. By consciously directing your Intention your ideas will begin to evolve and develop, dramatically increasing the quality of life for yourself and those around you.

Beware of Rattlers -- and give them the right of way. Direct your thoughts through positive Intention and create a truly remarkable adventure.

Happy Journeys!
Scott Jeffrey