The Fine Art of Alignment
September 2003



Consequences of Mis-Alignment
Being out of alignment in our lives creates strong symptoms. We may feel unhappy, frustrated, impatient, worried, confused, angry, discouraged, apathetic, or bored. Resultantly, we smoke, eat, or drink too much, exercise too little or isolate ourselves.

Be it working a monotonous job, or obtaining an undesired college degree, or running a predestined but unimpassioned family business, many of us are out of alignment with ourselves. We hide our true selves and unique talents, as well as the things we consider too wild, strange or silly to share with the world.

Doing the Work
The learning path to alignment can be challenging and takes as long as it takes. Good news! The answers are already within you. All you need is to reclaim your strength, turn inward, get honest, and practice loving who you are and who you are becoming.

Start by taking the time to know and understand yourself. If you are unclear about your goals, values, aspirations—who you are—having authentic, loving, healthy relationships may be difficult. Having a successful, thriving business will be a stretch. If you are unwilling to develop and share your gifts and talents, to what degree might you actualize your true potential?

The Secret Self
“Playing it safe” may seem easier, but it actually creates complications and leaves you with that subtle “something is missing but I can’t put my finger on it” feeling. Result? Mood swings, a sense of longing, relationship and job hopping, searching.

The “somethings” missing are the unexpressed parts of yourself- your gifts, interests, etc. Authentic expression equals fewer struggles, less complication. Which is easier, “being” or “pretending”?

Into Flow
Powerful. Flow, to me, is the absence of struggle, an ease of movement, where things seem to fall into place. This is where the “doing the work” comes in handy. Slow down.

For me, I sat down quietly for 10 or more minutes (meditation) daily, and did yoga 4 or 5 times a week. Suddenly things happened. Innumerable and supportive things. I felt calmer, clearer, focused. Journaling provided new ideas and insights. I realized I wanted to emphasize intuition and spirituality in my life and work. Once I made the decision to honor that part of myself, things clicked.

How to Begin
A List: List what brings you joy, what you enjoyed doing, reading or pretending as a child; consider the times you were your happiest and examine what you were doing; list the things you have always wanted to do but were afraid to try. Once you have made your list, select a theme. Start small. Examples are: creativity, spirituality, community, health, fitness, laughter.

Sample Actions: Sign up for an art class, journal, join a book club, invite a friend to go on a hike with you, register for a triathlon, begin a meditation practice, schedule daily walks, join a networking group, take a salsa lesson or an astrology class, seek out an organization that discusses politics… whatever! Get out there and see what it is like to place yourself in an environment that celebrates this unexpressed part of you.

Plan Around It: Take out a calendar and for the next 6 weeks, schedule something weekly that moves you toward your alignment. For the highly motivated, nightly before bed decide what single step you will take tomorrow toward your alignment. (Keep it simple - no 2 hour projects. It can merely be a phone call inquiry.) Upon waking you know your one action for that day. Five or six a week, 20+ a month. That’s action!

Coming Forth
Why is it that the thought of being totally honest and completely who we are makes us feel like we are standing nervous and naked before the jury?

However scary, naked is liberating. Once you experience your own personal alignment, the freedom that results is unequalled. For the risk of sharing yourself and failing, is far less than the risk of living a life that is not truly yours.

Take time. Do the work. Align with your true self. Share your gifts.

Leap and you shall fly.

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