Clarity can be defined as: “the state or quality of being clear or transparent to the eye; pellucidity: the clarity of pure water; clearness or lucidity as to perception or understanding; freedom from indistinctness or ambiguity.
The clearer you are about where you intend to go, the easier your decisions are.
Mental Clarity arises when you train yourself to “see through the smoke.” Like anything else, this is a skill that requires practice. Before you can see through the smoke, you will have to first see the smoke.
Seeing the smoke just means that you can step back and see the thoughts trying to rush into your head. The next step is to see through the smoke. This happens when you continue to practice Mindfulness Meditation for some time.
Many studies have also found that those who practice Mindful Meditation are able to form deeper connections with others as they are less worried about themselves or their regrets, and are more focused on, and opened to what is in front of them.
Action Plan:
Now, while we are taking stock of how and where we are, take deep breaths while we’re considering it, that one deep breath leads to another deep breath, and no matter where we started, we’re better already.
Here is a simple 10-minute exercise for you to develop presence and start improving your Mental Clarity:
1. Start a timer for 10 minutes and sit upright (a chair or on the floor is fine).
2. Close your eyes and try to identify any sounds and smells in the room for a few minutes.
3. Now imagine scanning from your head to your toes and try to mentally check in with each body part.
4. Start counting your breaths at your normal breathing pace.
5. Once you reach 10 breaths, start over at 1 and breathe deeper.
6. After a few minutes, let your mind wander and do not judge.
7. When the timer goes off, slowly bring your focus back to yourself, the room around you, and then open your eyes.
8. Boom! Done.
Mindfulness Meditation will help you develop presence. Once you develop presence, you can get Mental Clarity, since you won’t be distracted by your thoughts or surroundings.
It feels awkward at first, but every skill requires investment. If you want to get good at doing pull ups, guess what, you have to do more pull ups. If you want to train your mind to resist distraction and remain focused on what is happening in the present, you have to practice it.
Quote of the Month:
“Seeking Clarity is seeking connection with the universe. To connect is to understand; to be clear is to be enlightened.” - Annie Zalezsak