“Be here now.” or “Go for it!”?

I remember working with a designer who told me, “I’m warning you, you’re going to hate the first version of whatever I do. And that’s okay, it will get better!” And it did. I wish I still had the before and after to show you.

When we started working on the information page about our Community, which we’re very soon going to offer on a pay-from-the-heart basis, it looked horrible. So bad that we decided to junk it and start over. Now, it’s coming together!

One of my kids was having a melt-down at just the wrong time (whenever is it the right time?). Honestly, I was not proud of my reaction. Thankfully, I realized that my reaction was escalating the situation, and, what’s more, I was reacting because I was believing that what was happening right then was how it was always going to be.

But… after a few breaths and re-centering, the situation got better. He was just hungry. Smiles and hugs just a couple minutes after the snack arrived.

On one hand, spiritual precepts often tell you to be in the moment, just be present. On the other hand, business wisdom tells you to have goals, intentions and strategies. Paradox? How do you exist with both?

Sufispeak: The Decree and the Generosity

The Sufis have a saying: “Be patient with the Decree and be expectant of the Generosity.” Which, paraphrased, means accept what is and yet hope for, yearn for, what your heart truly desires.

This is an easy concept to speak, and a hard one to live. To just accept what is can be a collapse, where you curl up into the fetal position, resigned that it will always be this way. Yet to yearn for it to get better, without making space for what is, is missing an important step.

Getting to true acceptance, that is, softening and truly making space for what is, is the key that allows the situation to unfold. Because it’s through the muck that you’ll find the jewels that are laying at your feet.

Although facing this dynamic again and again can be challenging, it gets easier with practice. So let’s take a few minutes and practice.

Practicing both/and

First, find a situation in your life that you are saying “No” to.

Then ask your heart to make space for it exactly how it is right now. It may be painful, or challenging. Let the pain be there, and still see if you can surrender and make space for it exactly as it is now.

But don’t collapse into the story that it will always be this way! Just embrace that this is where you are standing now. Let your shoulders relax, breathe, open to what is right now. How does that feel?

There may be grief or sadness underneath. Make space for that too. Just say yes to whatever you find.

Second, find the yearning.

When you do feel a bit more space allow yourself to be curious about what might be on the other side of this. That yearning for the Divine Generosity of what’s coming. You won’t know exactly what it will look like, but let it begin to bloom in your heart.

Take a few minutes with this. Yearning can feel great and be very nourishing.

Final step practice: See if you can shift back and forth between the acceptance and the yearning, and attain some fluidity between those states.

That fluidity is the answer to strategy versus being present. You need both states, and both states are spiritual and practical. To be able to shift through them as needed is powerful indeed.

Now, having spent some time with both acceptance and yearning (in Sufispeak: the Decree and the Generosity), how does your business, or your life, look to you? And how is it for you to shift between those two?

p.s. The Community

One of the things that helps us be really present and engaged with our businesses is consistent spiritual practice of some sort. I’m not alone in finding this hard to do on my own. And this is why we’ve created so many resources to support our clients and Community members, including weekly guided calls and 6x/year Virtual Retreats, among other things.

Our latest version of the Community is not quite ready to open, but if all goes well by next week we should be offering you a sample of what’s there, and you’ll be able to step in and receive consistent nourishment and support at Pay-From-The-Heart pricing.

Stay tuned!

Need In-depth Help?

Community may sound nice, and you may be in a place of needing even more help to really make your business work! I invite you to consider three things:

If you’re in start-up, or your income is painfully low, take a look at the Foundations1: Clients and Money program. It’s helping people heal their relationship with their business, understand what it takes to bring clients in and get paid, and significantly increase their revenue!

And it’s priced for someone in this situation. Take a look: Foundations1: Clients and Money.

If your business is inconsistent, some months are good, and some months not at all, then take a look at Foundations2: Expand Your Reach. You may be in a place where healing some deeper issues, like maybe a fear of being seen in the world, will allow you to move forward. Then you’ll be set to build some simple systems around growing your audience that will allow you to easily fill your schedule and your programs.

Is this for you?: Foundations2: Expand Your Reach.

Unsure what you need? Take our Readiness Assessment, and see where your business is.

Click here: Readiness Assessment.

With love and appreciation,

Mark