Written by: Mahara Wayman, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Regardless of where you are today in your life or career, the ability to clearly see situations and opportunities is an essential step to creating the life you want.
Following that clarity with courage and conviction is sure to bring you success.
Clarity is key to creating a happy life and the first component in my trifecta for success. Unfortunately, we often rely on emotions and assumptions to make decisions, which keeps us stuck in the same position instead of moving on with our goals. Making assumptions, primarily when based on emotion, can lead to misery and staying put in your growth. Instead, try asking great questions when you find yourself in sticky situations. Who remembers Dragnet, "Just the facts, Mamm?". It's a great sentiment, but it can be challenging to look for facts when your stomach turns, or your head feels like it's about to explode from anger.
Before you rant and rave to understand a situation (either in your head or out loud), try these simple steps:
Breathe in slowly and deeply as there is magic in focused breathing.
Ask questions; start with the 5 W's who, what, where, when, why and then go deeper if necessary.
Speak to those in the know instead of those repeating gossip, innuendo or assumptions.
Assumptions rarely equal clarity, but we make them every day, sometimes blissfully unaware that the assumptions are incorrect. There are times when this can lead to devastating effects:
We have unexpected arguments that leave us drained and unhappy.
We agree to things we don't believe in or want to do and feel bad for doing so.
We end up on a path that doesn't serve us and instead feels heavy and uncomfortable.
On the other hand, developing your ability to see your life with crystal clarity can give you:
A lighter spirit as you make choices from a clear perspective avoiding unnecessary arguments.
The strength to make decisions that support your core values and leave you feeling empowered and happy.
Support to forge a path that reflects your true self and feels terrific.
Renowned motivational speaker and coach Tony Robbins said, "The quality of your life is a direct reflection of the quality of the questions you are asking yourself." Creating the life you want is an art form that begins with clarity.
The second component to my trifecta for success is courage.
Courage is a form of personal currency that pays dividends in the face of adversity.
The challenge is that we often overlook the opportunity to choose it or don't recognize it when we do. Everyday life presents us with many chances to be courageous. Sometimes it starts with getting out of bed with a determined smile instead of a scowl, while other times, it presents itself as the chance to be kind instead of snarly. Often, it reveals itself as the opportunity to speak from your heart instead of your mind.
Today you can choose to honour your opportunities to be the courageous warrior you were born to be. You can smile despite the aches, forgive despite the heartache and speak up despite the fear. It takes courage to feel vulnerable and act anyway.
How do you define courage? Is it facing every fear you have, or perhaps it's simply putting one foot in front of the other when all you want to do is lie down? Maybe it's speaking up in a meeting or learning to say "no"?
Courage comes in many forms and means different things to different people. It's the stuff of legends and the subplot of our most beloved stories and movies. The underdog digs deep for the courage to fight her way out of a bad situation. The hero finds the courage to battle evil for the good of humanity. You get the idea.
Merriam-Webster defines courage as: "mental or moral strength to venture, persevere and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty."
One way to help you define courage for yourself is to look at your life and think back on all the ways you have already demonstrated courage. Grab a piece of paper and let your mind wander to all the times you acted despite feeling uncomfortable or downright scared. Don't worry about the results, as courage is about taking action regardless of the outcome. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how courageous you have already been in your life. Once you have clarity and recognize your innate courage, it's much easier to have conviction, the last component in this success trifecta.
Conviction is the fuel that drives intention and creates a pathway to success.
Your conviction, or lack thereof, tells a story. Language is a powerful component of that story. The words you choose to explain yourself verbally, in your writing or in your head when by yourself play into the story that the world hears.
Some words are more potent than others, especially when setting goals.
Here are a couple of examples:
I THINK I would like to get 10% more sales this year by increasing my marketing budget to include Instagram. VS
This year, I WILL get 10% more in sales by expanding my marketing budget to include Instagram.
I WANT to hire an assistant to manage my Social Media channels. VS
I AM hiring an assistant to manage my Social Media channels.
Can you hear the difference a word makes? The first version lands in the realm of a dream, "I want," and "wouldn't it be nice if?" The second is a declaration that has an action attached to it. So if you find yourself stating goals in anything that lacks conviction, stop and rephrase the sentence, so it has the "Umph" to match your desire. You will be amazed at the difference, not only in your belief but in the belief others have of you.
Another component of conviction is the power in your feelings about that belief. Are you simply reading words from a notebook, or are you feeling something deep in your gut? Are you speaking out of habit, or do you KNOW this action is right for you? Does thinking about that goal make you smile or shudder? Perhaps your heart rate increases just a tiny bit. Whether you feel excited or terrified, describe those feelings in great detail. Feel them, and don't be afraid of them, as that is where your power lies. Don't hold back; include as many adjectives as you can. Even scary feelings can be the impetus for change.
Next, sit in those feelings, connect them to your goal, and align them to your actions.
For example, if your goal is to double your annual revenue in 2022, and thinking about that has you both excited and nervous at the same time, create a plan that will help you to retain that excitement and will lead to success. If you have to connect with 50 new customers a month, then map out the time and methods to do that vs crossing your fingers behind your back.
Congratulations! You now understand the importance of clarity, courage and conviction in your daily life, your trifecta for success. Use this knowledge to help you move away from the story you are stuck in and towards the story you desire.
Clarity is one component in my ReDesign, ReAlign & ReCreate program. If you need more clarity in your life, book a complimentary clarity call with me and see if my program is for you.
I would love to help you develop your success trifecta.
If this article resonated with you and you would like more content like this, please connect with me via Instagram, Facebook, Website, Linkedin.
Mahara Wayman, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Mahara began her coaching career working for a global health and wellness company, helping thousands transform their lives. Recently she decided to pursue her passion for helping women and started her company, Mindfulness With Mahara. She couples her years of experience with powerful techniques and her innate curiosity to help women find happiness in their lives and move from the story they have been stuck in to live the story they love.
She connects with women around the world every month with her free Clarity S.O.S workshop and her 1:1 + group coaching program, ReDesign, ReAlign & ReCreate Program: A 6-month transformative program that will give women the tools they need to move from a place of unhappiness and yearning in transition to peace and purpose.
