What if I were to tell you that almost everything most of us do in life is a waste of time? Would you agree or would you rather try to argue? Before you answer or get into an argument, ask yourself a question: what is it that I tolerate in my life or regularly do that does neither inspire nor move me forward? Be honest. Make a list. Now ask yourself: why do I do that?

The truth is most people spend days doing things that do not inspire them at all. They go through the motions. They are like a piece of wood floating down the river. Sometimes, they get stuck behind a rock, sometimes they get stuck in some random pile of branches, or worse, some garbage leftovers from other humans; other times they get picked up by the current and experience some flow, before they hit the rock again. They never know where they are really going and what the purpose of their journey is. They simply allow for their life to happen instead of making it happen. They tolerate all that without ever questioning the very process, and they watch their lives pass through like a fog passes over the hills. And yet, they all have just one life. How come they allow for it to go to waste?   

Well… let’s just have a look at your list, the one I asked you to make. How many non-essential, non-inspiring, distracting, promoting laziness and lack of any action activities have you listed? Social media, Netflix, texting and talking on the phone without any particular purpose, compulsive shopping, cleaning, surfing on the internet, are just a few obvious examples. We are all guilty of them and we even openly admit it. But let’s be real. They are not the only sins we have, not even the big ones. The real problem lies in avoidance. This little creature is a silent murderer of life, it is the reason why we are stuck in a relationship we do not want, in a job that we do not love, or in any place for that matter, that we know deep down in our hearts that needs change, but we refuse to take action and make that change happen.

CLARITY…

Why? Why do we do that?  The answer happens to be quite simple if not shocking in its simplicity: we lack CLARITY. In other words, we have no clue what we want, and instead of getting clarity, which requires some kind of conscious effort, we go through the motions and waste our life on random things, events, and people.

So, what is clarity? It is a concept of knowing exactly what we want and desire, the very idea that we have it all figured out, a conviction that we know, to a tiny detail, what we want. Without clarity we are lost. Lost in all those non-essentials that keep us very busy but take us to nowhere. They create an illusion, a mirage of life that we have managed to convince ourselves, is real. So, we get even busier with the stuff that does not matter, makes no impact, and means nothing. We even rush through our days creating this impression of having a purpose and a goal. And maybe we do have a goal but how compatible is it with our desires and dreams? Do we live a life of purpose, one that brings us closer to our ideal vision of what we really want?

Yes, these are the questions. Questions that burn for answers. They require us to look inside and give them a serious thought. Yet, we prefer not to think or reflect, because thinking sounds like a threat to a convenient status quo, and humans are the creatures of habit. Even if it means we sacrifice our souls, we stick to what we know, what is familiar and requires no effort.

Now, here is a trick. We all have those fabulous traits of character, useful skills and impressive knowledge. We have personalities that make us likeable and desirable. Some of us are geniuses, others are so well mannered and educated. Yes, humans are amazing and have an enormous potential. However, if we have no clarity, no vision, no purpose, we are nothing but imprisoned in our own genius and smartness and completely disabled. We exist but we do not live. We sleep.

Now, please hear me, hear me well people, because it is time to wake up from a dream. Our strengths, our greatest skills, traits and knowledge are all great but they are not going to save us from the misery of an unfulfilled life if we have no clear direction. Nothing is able to get us out from a place of lack of success and uninspired action but a conscious and specific goal or set of goals that make our every day and our choices purposeful and clear. Only then, can we become “our own people”. People who make choices and decisions, who know what they desire and who go after their dreams and wants; People who take responsibility for everything in their life because they choose to do so and because long ago they understood that this approach is the only approach if you want to have, and fully enjoy your very own personal power;

Clear and inspired action has a direction. It is supported by intention, an idea, sometimes a whole vision. It creates a flow in our lives and makes us feel alive, committed and eventually, successful. It makes us also realize that all those activities that literally waste our time are not worth our attention and effort. It pushes us towards conscious choices, helps us see things for what they are and blows avoidance away. Yes, even avoidance stands no chance with clarity and its power.

So, get clear. Get clear about each and every aspect of your life. Identify your life’s categories and write down your vision and all your goals for each. Be specific, be courageous, do not set any limitations on what it is that you want to do. Limitations are just thoughts living in our heads, whispering into our ears. Change them so they become limitless and empowering. Start creating a life on your own terms. Create your future, be proactive, do not wait for life to happen to you. Be inspired and be a creator. Tap into your potential and your power. There is nothing better than living and enjoying a life that is a conscious creation. Make decisions, be a doer, a go getter. Take charge. Design. Create. Be a grown up and make your own decisions. But remember, get clarity. This should be your first step.