The Manifestation Question

Many of us tend to speed through life completing tasks, checking boxes and doing what we think we are “supposed” to do as responsible and productive members of society. A solid and commendable plan for what will hopefully be a happy life. That concept leads me to a very simple question.

Why are so many people unhappy?

Based on both my own personal experience as well as that of others shared through the years, I really began to dig into this mystery. How can anyone possibly end up dissatisfied with their lives when they have followed the path that we have always been told will lead us to love, joy and contentment? Logically, it just doesn’t make any sense.

When my clients come to me feeling overwhelmed or out of balance in their lives, but can’t seem to pinpoint the source of their discontent, I ask them what I like to call The Manifest Question.

What do you envision for your life, and how does that compare to what has actually manifested?

I know it doesn’t sound like rocket science, but it is important to understand how easy it can be to lose track of your life when you are so preoccupied with living it. Piece by piece and day by day, you can slowly lose sight of dreams, passions and goals that you once vowed to build your life around. Without even being aware of it, one day you wake up only to realize that you have been living someone else’s life, doing someone else’s job or working on someone else’s relationships.

Taking the time to really look at the current state of your life is not for the faint of heart. It can get downright ugly and frightening. You may be faced with decades of decisions that have led you so far from where you really want to be, you can’t fathom ever being able to find your way to the life you want, let alone having the courage and energy to make the journey. However, if you are truly ready to make the changes required to create the life of fulfillment you envisioned for yourself, you will be surprised by your capacity to find the strength and motivation to make it happen.

So how can you get back on track? Well, my answer is to HACK your way out of it. Not a life hack - sadly there are no shortcuts to making meaningful change. HACK stands for Honesty, Awareness, Commitment and Kindness – four key elements you need to make a change and adhere to it long-term.

• Honesty – Be honest with yourself about where you are right now, where you want to be and what you will have to do in order to get there. It also means being honest about the obstacles, both internal and external, that could stand in your way.
• Awareness – Lack of awareness is probably what led you to this point, so it is important that you remain mindful of no only your actions, but your feelings as well. Stay in tune with your overarching goal and remain vigilant in curtailing old habits and ways of thinking that can distract you from moving forward.
• Commitment – Make clear and attainable commitments to yourself and be accountable for completing them. Your commitments are what will begin to help you manifest the life that you envision.
• Kindness – Be kind to yourself. Even with all the inspiration in the world, change is not easy. There will be periods of frustration and difficulty, and during those times remember to be as encouraging with yourself as you would be with someone else that you love. Continue to challenge yourself, but don’t forget to appreciate what you have already accomplished.

The Manifest Question can have a powerful impact, so prepare for it to turn life upside down for a while. However, a bit of chaos will be worth it if at the end you have created the life of inspiration that you desire for yourself.

Learn more at Thrive Coaching Solutions

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This article originally appeared on Mission: Thrive