THE BASELINE FOR GETTING IT “RIGHT”
BASELINE
What’s the baseline for getting it “right?” And by this I mean making good decisions—as in the most advantageous decisions possible—to generate and accelerate flow. Flow, meaning forward movement in the direction of your aspirations. Basically, getting what you want and to where you want to go as fluently as possible. Consider this, for instance, what is the basis of your decisions? Why do you choose one thing over another? The answer to these questions are your baseline; the driving force behind your reasoning. Because if you’re not aware of your baseline, that is, the foundation of your why (thought process), then chances are your choices are hit-and-miss. Sometimes you hit the mark and other times you are way off. Which in all likelihood is creating many unnecessary detours. To avoid this, you need a baseline; a protocol for getting it “right.”
PERSPECTIVE
First of all, getting it “right,” (aka choosing wisely), requires perspective. Because, for the most part, our circumstances reflect our past choices. Therefore, to improve our circumstances we need to improve the effectiveness of our decisions. And to do this we need to understand why we make the choices we do. Who is making these decisions and for what reason? In essence, we must understand the structure of our belief system. Therefore, changing our circumstances requires self-understanding, brutal honesty, and perspective. That means, looking deep within our own psyche, culture, and upbringing to see what beliefs we unconsciously regurgitate that are affecting our baseline. The point is to get to the truth—your truth. Because without knowing your truth, how can you be sure of what is right for you? Consider these questions: Who am I? What do I believe in and what is the origin of my beliefs? Why do I believe what I believe? Do these beliefs support or hinder where I want to go/be? In short, our worldview forms the basis of our thinking. Try and look at things from an alternative point of view and investigate the possibilities from that angle. Perspective is everything. It is the baseline for getting it “right” more often than not, along with adopting the following.
A HOLISTIC VIEW
By looking at life holistically; as one interconnected ecosystem, we can clearly see that one choice influences another. There’s a knock-on effect. Cause and effect is an undeniable Universal Principle. And because of this, our circumstances are not only the result of that one “critical” choice that was made. Rather, our circumstances reflect a mindset. Our mindset is responsible for the sum total of our choices, which make our circumstances. Thus, the day-to-day decisions we make at any given moment are directly responsible for our circumstances. Therefore, by taking a holistic view of life, one that encompasses the totality of existence, you will realise that getting it “right” is not about that one opportunity you passed on. It’s about gaining insight through self-awareness that gives you the knowledge to build your baseline, thus increasing your confidence by making more informed choices. Because you are not where you are now because of that one decision you made about x 2 years ago, for instance. You are here because your mindset led you to make a series of decisions that support that mindset. So, having a baseline, a protocol for getting it “right” is the solution for changing your life now, because now, is synonymous with the future.
SELF-AWARENESS
This begs the question: How can I craft a baseline that will serve as the substructure of my mindset? How do I get clear on what’s right for me, so I can make better decisions that will improve my life? And the answer is: Develop self-awareness. Understand your fears, motivations, biases, needs, desires etc. Also, be aware of the fact that every moment you are creating your life. Everything you expose yourself to, from people, places, things, etc., all contribute to forming your mindset. For this reason, be very selective about what you choose to expose yourself to. Realise that every decision is an opportunity that either supports or hinders the attainment of your desires. In practice, this means cultivating self-awareness and self-knowledge while taking responsibility for your actions. Start to take inventory of your personal patterning. See if you can track the decisions you made that got you to where you are (desired and undesired), and get to the core reason why you made those decisions, and what needs to change moving forward.
INSIGHT
Understanding the underlying reasons why we make certain decisions gives us three important qualities: insight, self-awareness, and perspective, from a psychological, physiological, and environmental standpoint. And, our frame of mind; our thoughts and beliefs, how the mind functions, as well as our environment, all greatly influence our ability for effective decision making. By having a baseline, you create a solid foundation from which your ability and capacity to make the “right” decisions, increases dramatically. Without a baseline, that is to say, insight into the who, what, when, where, why, and how, we are inherently behind the eight ball. Forever wondering “what went wrong?” And this leads to victim consciousness and blaming, which assumes a defeatist attitude, signifying one who refuses to take responsibility because of a belief in being powerless to change. This could not be further from the truth. Self-awareness leads to insight which leads to understanding and self-empowerment.
UNDERSTANDING
The ability for getting it “right” is the result of understanding the Self, how the mind works, and the influence the environment has on our thoughts and behaviours. But because decision making is primarily a psychological process, it’s imperative to understand that the mind consists of two distinct components; structure and content. The structural component governs the mechanics of the mind; how the mind functions. While content refers to the specific information the mind holds. This includes beliefs, knowledge, ideas, etc. Our thoughts and beliefs are responsible for our understanding, creating our baseline, and forming our mindset. To reiterate, if you want to change your circumstances, you must alter your perspective and mindset. While truth is impartial and universal, “right” and “wrong” are subjective theoretical constructs. This means that you need to decide for yourself what you believe and why. Because your ability to make effective decisions hinges on your understanding of yourself, the world and your relationship to it. In short, understanding means knowing who you are and what you value in the world, and why.
VALUES
This brings us to values. Self-awareness and self-understanding, along with having a solid set of values, is the foundation for building a solid baseline. Understanding who we are at our core by cultivating self-awareness and getting to know our True Self, as well as the world around us, forms our value and belief structure. Getting to the core essence of who we are by becoming clear on our values gives us valuable insight and perspective. Furthermore, our values serve as our inner compass, helping us to navigate life with integrity and dignity. When we operate from a solid foundation we are less likely to be persuaded and manipulated by the opinions of others, increasing our ability for right action. And as our experience expands our perspective deepens, and our confidence grows, and we are able to confidently and more accurately assess situations and make informed decisions on how best to proceed for our highest good. Thus, your values are the basis of your truth and success.
AUTHENTICITY
To clarify further, self-understanding and awareness means understanding our needs, wants, and desires from a deep level of authenticity, honesty, and truth. As opposed to adopting societal or egoic programming. An egoic mindset seeks external validation to satisfy unmet inner needs, which generally aim to satisfy the status quo; or what is deemed acceptable by one’s culture, society, and family values. Operating from this mindset creates confusion, chaos, desperation, and a constant struggle to chase what is ultimately an illusion. Which is why, clarifying what we value most and why from a place of authenticity empowers us to make better decisions because they are inline with our True Self and the Universal Principle simultaneously. In short, self-awareness is the basis of truth, which establishes authenticity, creating flow, synchronicity, and harmony in body, mind, and soul. Therefore, this is the baseline for establishing a truth mindset that reflects an inner state of clarity, integrity, and rightful action.
A PROTOCOL FOR GETTING IT “RIGHT”
i. Cultivate Self-Awareness | Stop, look, and listen to your inner voice, others, and your environment. What do you notice? What is being reflected back to you? Begin to be the witness of your habitual self. Do you notice any responses that you make out of habit or fear? What is vying for your attention right now? Note down significant prompts that are guiding you toward a specific person/place/thing. What might these signs be trying to tell you? What needs to change?
ii. Connect With Your True Self | What makes you feel most alive? How can you cultivate more of this? What makes you feel drained? How can you minimise this? Spend more time doing what motivates and expands your soul. Remember, like attracts like.
iii. Create Space | Create a conducive sacred space to connect with your True Self (higher-knowing / Source). Use this time and space for self-care and ritual. When we create space to connect with our inner guidance we gain valuable insight into our authentic Self and our next best move.
iv. Become Still | Cultivate more stillness in body, mind, and spirit by embracing silence and solitude. Where possible, immerse yourself in nature. Nothing compares to the healing, nurturing, grounding, and creative energy nature provides. How can you introduce more stillness, silence, and solitude into your life?
v. Release Attachment To Outcome | Having goals and desires is one thing, but becoming overly attached to the outcome of how these will manifest, creates unnecessary strain and pressure, while reducing spontaneity and flow. Opt to stay as fluid and open as possible to allow for new ideas and opportunities to present. Often what awaits us on the other side is greater than what we conceived in the first place. Steer clear of making your commitments conditional. If your heart’s not it, why do it? I’m not talking about the things we all need to do in life we would rather not, but need to for our well-being or practical reasons. But everything else. Is there an underlying agenda to your actions? What are your intentions? Get to the why?
vi. Act When You Feel A Full-Body YES | When making decisions, especially important ones, act when you feel an undeniable YES. Tune in and see if it “feels right.” If you’re not “feeling it,” don’t do it. Don’t let FOMO trick you into rushing in. This is the egoic mind trying to control you through fear. If you’re unsure or don’t have complete clarity, that’s fine. Start by taking small steps based on what you are clear about now. As long as you are being truthful with yourself, you will be heading in the right direction.
vii. Trust The Process | Hold a clear vision of what you want and ensure your decisions and actions are congruent with your desire. Desperation creates desperation and regret. Don’t feel like you need to push and hustle to get what you want. Aim for flow. Don’t be complacent, but respect due process and Divine timing as well.
