Finding Clarity When Life Feels Foggy
Ever notice how clarity never seems to arrive while you’re frantically searching for it?Like most valuable things, clarity doesn’t respond well to being chased. It emerges when we create the right conditions for it to appear.I’ve learned that clarity comes from a different approach entirely:
- Create space first. Clarity can’t enter a mind that’s already full. In yoga, this is why we begin practice with grounding, whether it’s a seated meditation, conscious breathwork, or even child’s pose. We’re creating a container for awareness before movement begins. Try starting your day with even 5 minutes of seated breath awareness to create this same clearing.
- Listen to your body, not just your thoughts. Our bodies often know what’s right long before our minds catch up. That tension in your shoulders when discussing a certain option? The expansive feeling in your chest when considering another path? In yoga philosophy, this is called developing witness consciousness, the ability to observe sensations without immediately reacting to them.
- Reduce the noise. Temporarily step back from excessive input: social media, podcasts, others’ opinions… that clouds your inner knowing. This is why meditation isn’t about forcing stillness, but about creating space between stimulus and response. Try box breathing when you need to cut through mental clutter quickly.
- Ask better questions. Rather than “What should I do?” try “What would feel like alignment?” or “What would I choose if no one else would know or judge my decision?” On your mat, this looks like asking “What does my body need today?” rather than “Which pose should I force myself into?”
- Take one small action. Clarity rarely arrives fully formed while sitting still. Often, it unfolds progressively through movement. This is the essence of vinyasa, mindful transitions that create flow. Start with the smallest step you can see, and the next step will reveal itself.
Remember, clarity isn’t something you find once and possess forever. It’s a practice of continually clearing away what obscures your vision: expectations, shoulds, fears, external pressure, to reveal what you already know.
