Harnessing the Power of the Unknown: Move from Repeating the Past to Re-inventing the Future

by: Nandang S Nugraha | Total views: 59 | Word Count: 1272 | View PDF | Print View

 by: Connie Butler

The Unknown -
it is scary territory for many, something to be avoided for others and
shameful for those who feel they are supposed to know everything. What
is your relationship with the Unknown? Take a moment to ponder it
because your attitude towards and experience of this is what governs
your ability to create, to innovate and truly bring more of yourself
out into the world - in short to be successful. If you are going to
create something new in your life – in your career, your relationships
and your creative endeavors you will be walking into unknown territory.
Learning how to navigate this territory effectively and with power is
what makes the difference between having a full, rich experience of
life and work you enjoy, relishing the adventure of every day or living
in frustration wondering why the same thing keeps occurring repeatedly.

Many of us have been taught to be afraid of what we don’t
know. It’s threatening, “bad” things happen in the unknown, if you
don’t know the answer it means you are stupid. You have been taught
over and over again that remaining with what you know will ensure your
security and your success. But you can see repeatedly that this
attitude gives birth to bigotry, prevents you from taking informed
risks that could improve your life and often creates a life of boredom
and fatigue.

In truth each moment is a new one. It is your
habit of carrying the past forward that keeps you repeating the same
old patterns both in business and in your personal lives. This is not
to say that experience doesn’t develop discrimination. It does and
discrimination is a valuable tool for us. The question is when is it
blocking you? I can’t tell you how many times in working with clients
they say some variation of the following –

• Why even try a new approach, it will fail as it has in the past,

• Why risk a new relationship, it won’t work out anyway,

• Why reach for the next level of success and challenge myself I am fine here.

But
what I know is that if you are not moving into new territory, you are
not being as truly alive as is possible and your businesses are not as
creative and successful as they could be. You are holding yourself back
from what is possible in your life and in your profession. And because
of that you suffer personally and professionally. Unknown territory is
the birthplace of all possibility, all real support and is a very
exciting space in which to operate.

There are many
things that keep us from exploring new territory: fear, lack of
self-esteem or confidence, lack of support, and misuse of imagination
are a few. This misuse of imagination is one of the trickiest to
detect. Many people feel that imagination is the province of children
and artists. That of course is true but each of you uses your
imagination constantly; however, many of you don’t recognize you are
doing this. Every time you think you know what is going to happen you
are using your imagination. Are you using it against yourself or for
yourself and your goals? If you are imagining the repetition of the
past you are using it negatively and not allowing a brand new thought,
solution or step to emerge. When you walk into a business meeting and
your anxiety rises you are using your imagination “knowing” you won’t
close the deal – you are seeing the worst possible outcome. When you
won’t take a reasonable, calculated risk you are likely using negative
imagination to keep you in the sphere of the known. You imagine you
won’t be safe in unk! nown territory. But the Unknown is the territory
of possibility, creativity, your own real pathway and therefore
success. Who really knows what will happen next?

One of
the things that prevent you from experimenting with unknown territory
is that you believe you won’t be safe. Once again you use your
imagination against yourself and your goals rather than accessing the
resources that will support you in entering unknown territory. So how
can you move into new territory safely?

1. Navigation:
   One of the premises I hold in working with clients is that we each have
   our own innate intelligence, our own North Star by which to navigate.
   Have you ever had the experience of just “knowing” that something was
   right for you? That is the action of your own innate intelligence, your
   own North Star. The more you can develop your contact with that innate
   knowing, even feeling it in your body the more you have a sextant with
   which to navigate the unknown. This connection is learnable. Using it
   you are able to sense and know the right move without accessing
   negative imagination. You become more agile in making accurate
   decisions.

2. Innate Talent: identifying, following and
   developing your own innate talent will always move you into new
   territory and if you are true to it will always lead you into safe
   territory. Some people awaken their innate talent in their current jobs
   and discover new levels of success; others wrap entirely new businesses
   around that talent. In either case, new success and fulfillment result.

3. Intention:
   In order to navigate safely you need to have a sense of where you are
   going, once more not based solely on the past but flexibly moving
   towards possibility. Developing a clear intention here that is in
   alignment with your talents and your values creates natural
   stepping-stones in this unknown landscape. They feel right! Setting a
   clear intention allows you to envision where you are going and when new
   opportunities arise you can recognize them as a possible steeping
   stones. Your positive, informed imagination aids you in finding the
   right next step.

4. Guidance and Support: Because we often
   have to move against our patterning and learning in this movement
   towards the new, it is useful to have a mentor or guide to help you
   discern when you are straying off your navigated course and moving back
   towards the past. The right guidance at the right moment can offer new
   tools, prevent you from being myopic and open your vision to a whole
   new horizon. It can also accelerate your progress.

I
suggest that you spend at least a few moments in the busyness of your
life to question what your relationship with the Unknown is really
about. Do you relish it? Do you fear it? Do you ignore the richness
that could be there for you? Do you repeatedly use negative imagination
to hold you back to mistakenly “keep you safe”? Then take a look at
some of the tools I have suggested that can assure a safe passage for
you and honestly ask yourself how you are developing each of them. Who
can aid you in scouting new territory for your personal and
professional life? Develop those relationships- they are the invaluable
ones!

You can excel in life and in business as you keep dynamically moving forward into new territory.

Connie Butler

The
greatest danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and
falling short, but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark.
(Michelangelo Buonarroti)

I have just happened on a book
that describes much of my approach in working with people. It has been
heartening and inspiring for me to read his words. The book is Crossing
the Unknown Sea: Work as a Pilgrimage of Identity by David Whyte. Pick
it up I assure you it will enliven all that you do.

Copyright 2004 ConnieButler.biz All rights reserved.

About the Author

Connie Butler is a personal and professional coach working with individuals and groups to clarify their greatest vision and cultivate its successful realization – moving them past their growth frontier into new territory. She is available for personal or professional coaching, seminars and can be reached at 305-534-1119 or mailto:connie@conniebutler.biz. Ms. Butler is a published author and radio personality.

connie@conniebutler.biz

Rating: Not yet rated

Comments

Add Comment

Copy and Paste Article Code.

Remember: The article body, title, author bio and links may not be changed or removed. By publishing this article, you agree to all the terms in our Terms of Service.

More articles in this Category

1: Will a Personality Test Help You Find a Career?
2: How to set and achieve Goals
3: New Business Development
4: Remembering long lists
5: How to Deal With Difficult People