Have you ever felt like you just can’t think or see things clearly? You may be struggling to make a decision or choose what your next right step is. Or maybe you’re struggling to identify what the root of a problem is or why you can’t seem to get unstuck.
I can’t tell you how many people reach out to me because they lack clarity when it comes to their life purpose or mission.
There are many things you can do when you’re feeling like life is blurry, but today I want to explore one specific way to seek clarity: by making space for it.
I learned this strategy inadvertently.
It happened during one of the first 5-day fasts I hosted. The first couple of days during the fast I was only concerned with what I could eat and when. I meticulously checked my sample meal plan to calculate how many calories I could have next and at what time. I felt all the feelings one feels when they’re hungry — cranky, annoyed — the works.
Then I started analyzing my relationship with hunger. Was I really hungry, or was I bored, anxious, or wanting to avoid other uncomfortable emotions? Did I need a distraction from my work, or a way to self-soothe?
Somewhere between the fourth and fifth day, something magical happened. My circumstances had not changed (meaning I had not yet gone back to my regular eating routine) but my emotions changed completely.
I started to feel joy, bliss, and clarity.
I noticed that I had been using food to stuff a what felt like a hole in the pit of my stomach. The hole can be confused with hunger but it’s often an abyss of negative emotions we want to cover up. (FYI, people think you don’t do this when you eat healthy, but you can still stuff the hole with healthy foods).
When I could not longer fill the hole with food, it found a way to close on its own.
Sometimes we have to get out of our own way and let life our inner-self do its thing. Eliminating constant eating helped medo just that.
Although this was my personal experience, research corroborates that after your body clears itself of toxins, your brain has access to a cleaner bloodstream, resulting in clearer thoughts, better memory, and increased sharpness of your other senses. It’s also been found that after 5-10 days of fasting, our bodies release endogenous endorphins, which is also known as the “feel good molecule.”
If it’s been a minute since you’ve experienced mental sharpness, clarity, or blissful joy — maybe you, too, should make some space for this. You may feel scared to be uncomfortable. I hear you. But it’s a lot easier when you’re not going at it alone. That’s why having a community to help carry you through the process can be a game changer.
If you want to make some space for clarity, I invite you to fast with me and see what you can unlock in your mind, body, and soul.
Another powerful way you can make space for clarity is by listening. In Alan Stein’s book, Sustain Your Game, he talks about the power meditation had in his life. Taking a few minutes to sit in silence and listen to your inner knowing can help you focus, regulate your emotions, and improve your life.
But also listening to people like Alan Stein is powerful because you learn ways to improve your habits, think differently, and take action. Join our Zoom Call on Friday October 21st and listen for all the nuggets of wisdom he’ll send your way!
But also listening to people like Alan Stein is powerful because you learn ways to improve your habits, think differently, and take action. Join our Zoom Call on Friday October 21st and listen for all the nuggets of wisdom he’ll send your way!
Cheers to making space for clarity! Oh, and thanks for letting be a tiny voice in your head encouraging you to live your healthiest, happiest, and most meaningful life.
