Preparing for Change

by Jay Liebenguth

As people are getting ready to learn how to Create More Balance in their lives we asked one of our subject matter experts, Daniel Wallach, to help us understand some techniques to help us prepare for growth.

“Many people are trying to see the direction of their lives in moments of great activity. That’s like trying to find something in a pond when the bottom silt is all stirred up. No amount of 'clearing activity' will help you accomplish your goal of seeing more clearly,” says Daniel. You need to have patience and be still.

He suggests we work on “centering” in our daily practice. By eliminating all of the distractions, we’re able to put more focus and energy into an intentional life, whether it's growth, clarity or balance. The effort also shows a willingness to make an effort to move molecules. Find that quiet 15 minutes or so every day to sit quietly with yourself, turning off distractions and being aware and mindful of where you are and where you’re heading.

All of this helps to set the direction of our lives, much in the same way that a rocket's trajectory is impacted by where it's aimed.

Daniel says that surrendering and letting go are equally important to the process. He uses the analogy of paddling a kayak in a river. “Going with the flow is much more productive than trying to actively control where you're going the whole time. It’s a tremendous waste of energy. Guiding is better than directing. You have some control, but you're not restricting your progress.”

He goes on to say that when you're in that efforting place you're actually constricting your energy and, more importantly, your intuition. “The most important thing to do is relax. Balance is really a way to optimize our life’s productivity and realization of that which is our deepest desire.”

The crazy thing is that when you're in the flow, you don't even do most of the work, you're aligning with it. Continuing the kayaking metaphor, "when you are riding the current, you are effortlessly moving down the stream. It’s the natural way. If you're the type of person who likes more control, you're not going to enjoy the sensation as much. And, you will choose to actively work against it.”

Those that will get the most benefit of being in the flow are those who relax into it and enjoy the ride.

Here are three things Daniel says will prepare for growth in your life:

Number 1: Relax – Go with the Flow. Let your intention be free of the how(s), when(s) and how often(s). Realize that everything has a time and a place and it all serves you. Listen and be at peace.

Number 2: Make space – Bringing home a new puppy or a pool table will take up space and you’ll need to make room. Same with a new habit. Clear time from your overbooked schedule, open up room in your head and heart and be ready to discard old beliefs and habits that no longer serve you.

Number 3: Clarify your priorities - intentions can shift and evolve. Re-visit them often. They may have become bigger, or seemingly less important or maybe a trajectory needs to be realigned.

Daniel Wallach has spent a good part of his career selflessly serving others. Most recently organizing ideas and people at Greensburg GreenTown, a non-profit established after the devastating tornado hit the small Kansas community. Daniel, the GreenTown Staff and a team of volunteers set about informing citizens about rebuilding “sustainably” and in the process, garnered international attention and donations for their efforts.

Daniel’s thoughts on Abundance are part of Balance to Succeed’s Creating Balance 101 curriculum and you can look forward to a lot more of his wisdom in Week 7.