Gaining Clarity by asking what you don't want

I was just reminded about clarity. It’s easy to know what we don’t want. Discontent and longings bring those to our minds constantly. When we are in “a mood” it’s safe to say there is something going on that we don’t want. We sit, we stew, we try to figure out what this is all about, and when someone asks, “What’s going on?” the famous answer is, “Nothing,” or, if you’re a more in touch person, you may answer with, “I don’t know.” A lot of help that is right?!

But we forget to ask the question, “What is it that I don’t want right now?” This simple question can lead us to great clarity and even greater growth. Decide what you don’t want so you can then decide what you do want. Put meditative time into this. Stewing is as unproductive as trying to milk a bull.

Set an intention to gain clarity, then ask your questions out loud one at a time.

You’ll be amazed at the answers that will “pop” into your mind. Sift, sort, and process through these answers to then determine what needs to happen next.

Turn your “don’t wants” into “do wants.” “I don’t want my dog to jump up on people” is changed to, “I want my dog to sit and stay when approached by people.” Notice how the second statement has a clear plan of action that comes with it? “I don’t want to live paycheck to paycheck anymore,” changes to “I want more money than I can spend.” Now you have a place to start from.