Choosing the Right Way during Uncertainty?

3 Life Lessons -How do you move in the right direction when you face uncertainty?

I knew right away when I showed up at 6:30 am to join 17 other coaches on a hike in beautiful Sedona that everyone would feel more confident about the hike considering my belly had grown much faster this time around in pregnancy 2 week 23. I was determined to go on the hike because this has been on my vision board for many years. Plus I had to prove nothing would stop me as long as I was feeling well. For many years the clay colored mountains and crystal blue skies were always images that I would tape to my office surroundings. It brought me peace and it was just beautiful. Now I had the opportunity to see it and I knew it would be a magical experience.  

" Sedona has long been known as a spiritual power center because the power that emanates from the vortexes produces some of the most remarkable energy on the planet. This energy is the reason Sedona is full of people that are "on the path", that is, people who have made a commitment to grow and become as much as they can spiritually. "

Little did I know I would be questioning my own path along the way.

Our amazing facilitator and leader Sheila discussed that we were going to set intentions, ask ourselves questions about what we may want to know, and let us know that we were going to hike in absolute wordlessness. A concept taught by Dr. Martha Beck in her new book-Finding Your Way in a Wild New World, you quite the verbal mind to allow your heart to hear messages of calmness and clarity. 

As I hike the trail and begin walking I already began hearing messages loud and clear about my true desires and how to take my next steps in life. These messages are not forced they are just something that come to you effortlessly.  At first it seems spooky until you realize the power of quieting the mind because you can hear your true desires speak loud and clear.

I realized as I began hiking that the group would move at a pace that could separate us but there was only 1 trail and it would be easy to find your way.

Right?

As I hiked on the trail I didn’t know what to expect – but I was going to enjoy myself with no expectation or attachment. I had no idea that the trail itself would be a metaphor for what I was experiencing in my life right now.

  

Each person hiked their own pace, and eventually I had people behind me but no one in front of me.

Lesson 1 Be the leader even when you feel like you have no one to follow.

As I kept walking through the trail there seemed to be more than

one way so I kept wanting to look behind me and ask 

“Are we going the right way? “

Lesson 2 Stop pretending that others know the right path for you only you know that.

The trail didn’t have huge city signs like “don’t enter” or “ This way only.” This is a natural preserved trail. Just to give you an idea, at one point I was standing in front of the trail with what looked like a flat surfaced rock only it was on a sharp incline near a small fence with thorn like wire. I soon realized that it didn’t appear like the right way at all but I kept walking anyway, following my intuition till it felt like what I would consider a normal trail again.

Lesson 3 Just because it doesn’t appear like the right way doesn’t mean it isn’t. 

 At times the path was a very clear walking trail and at times the path seemed rather confusing. Remember there are a blue clear sky, Clay Mountains around and natural colored bushes. You are free to walk towards the mountain away from the trail but at times like I said it didn’t appear like the way.

I realized after hiking the trail, not speaking at all, that my natural tendency was to ask if I was the going the right way.

How many times do we do this in our life? Ask others for the way?

This doesn’t look like the right way but it could be?

The trail was a metaphor for me.

“ What appears to be unknown may not feel like the way. You will feel scared or indifferent and have a tendency to stop or disregard the appearance of what the right way looks like.”

The trail had many metaphors of life such as:

·      Keep Moving Forward The path showed me obstacles that lead me to step over the big rocks or simply walk around. Keep moving forward in life even when faced with obstacles. Do not let your mind make up a story about why the obstacle is there. Keep moving forward even if you don't know. 

·      It’s ok to lean on others for support -The path showed me that at times I had to maneuver myself by reaching over and holding on to a small branch to make the next step on the trail. Ask for help it's not a default its a strength.

·      Stand with Conviction -The path had an area where you had to place your foot down strong when walking towards the edge –Like when we want to stand for something in life or need to ground ourselves when our foundation feels shaky. Stand for what you believe even when you are on the edge and no one agrees. 

I received many messages that day while on the hike and these life lessons were profound for me.

But this powerful metaphor of hiking the trail of life and wondering if you are going the right way will never leave me.

There are many ways to take in life and to experience during changes, strife, or challenges but keep in mind just because it doesn’t appear like the right way doesn’t mean it’s not.

Thank you Sheila for an awesome guided tour of Sedona and all of my coach friends that shared in the amazing experience that day. 

www.nedrios.com
Ned Rios is a writer, coach and speaker. She resides in Houston, Tx with her husband, son, baby on the way and Diego (family dog). She supports and guides individuals who want more meaning in life, business and careers. She teaches how to align your deep desires, with your contribution to the world and match it up with an amazing career or business. She will teach what to do with all of the uncertainty your mind will come up with so you can get on with the greatness of life.  

Holding on too long

Life is like a box of chocolates, if you procrastinate too long, others will end up having to inform you how good it was.

-MindPowerCoach

Procrastination is compelling-

you either want to do something or you don't

If you don't scratch it off and move on, if not find out what stops you from moving forward.

-Ned Rios

Why I want to Blog More and Stress Less

Why I want to Blog More and Stress Less?

Hi Fellow readers- I am entering a contest to win a spot in a program called Blog more Stress Less. Wish me luck! 

I would love to be in this class for the content and to learn from Laurie. I enjoy her authentic writing and feel she has much information and guidance to share. 

I would love to win the contest because I really feel like writing is a strategy that I want to use more often to attract my ideal clients. I feel that writing gives me the art of communication that allows people to connect with solutions to their troubles, pain or challenges in careers or business. I know that I am getting an internal tug to write more, especially at this time in my life. I have a 17 month old son and another one on the way and feel that getting better with writing more often and crafting better messages will help support my business in the best direction. It will also allow me time to do it on "off" hours yet still keep up with my business and kids. For me this class would fit nicely as a planning phase moving forward in my personal life and a fulfillment to my higher self. It would also put me at ease knowing (less stress) I have a strategy moving forward with more on my plate as a solopreuner running a successful business, household and connecting with a bigger contribution to the world.

As a highly extroverted person it is has taken me a while to go into a state of being introverted and applying wordlessness. (less verbal thought) As I get quite with myself the voice says to read and write more often. More importantly, it feels good for me and I am ready to follow that.

I believe the program would help me by giving me the jumpstart, catalyst I need to learn how to blog more often rather than once a month. For some reason, my topics and messages to share gets crafted and put together so slowly. I would love to learn how to have more output of articles and reach more of my people.

I will use my blog to build my business by connecting with more readers. I seem to articulate thoughts well on paper but it seems like I need to be a bit more specific with the people I am trying to reach.

Most importantly, I am looking for some feedback to help support me while I make writing one of 2 strategies I will use moving forward.

Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of the class.

I look forward to hearing back.

Ned Rios

10 ways to shift your Mindset in a New Job Market

10 ways to shift your mindset in a new job market
1. Mindful thinking means more than just reading about it –connecting your heart and mind isn’t Pollyanna stuff –it's powerful and necessary.
2. Slow is the new fast -use turtle steps not baby steps. In a fast and furious world learning new skill sets, starting projects and building lasting results will matter with slow accurate steps. Try not to judge your pace.
3. It’s ok to wing it-not everything has to be a “how to” or “preplanned” to be successful -lean on your intuition for guidance.  
4. Changing your mind in goal planning is considered an advantage to knowing yourself and being clear of what you want. 
5. Pushing emotions away only means that they will show up in an important meeting, you may lash out to the people you love, or pushing them down  to deal with later – kind of like a beach ball that won't stay down –learn to release emotions instead of suppress them. 
6. As big as social media will be-social skills will be scarce-continue to build your interpersonal skills and relationship building skills.
7. Focus on your successes not failures for motivation.
8. Tunnel vision is not a best practice –learn the practice of stepping out of the box to visualize a solution and stay open minded. 
9. Getting help doesn’t mean you are weak –it is valuable for your truth and can lead to a better vision or perspective.
10. Fulfillment is the key to happiness. Choose wisely, if you are wrong just choose again.