What does it take to break through?

Most people assume it takes more effort or force but it’s actually about disruptions. 

We’re creatures of habit, and for good reason, but that habitual lifestyle lulls you to sleep and you live eyes wide shut. 

Before I went to the golf range yesterday I was finishing up a post on Facebook.  A golf tutorial video popped up. They demonstrated that keeping your right elbow close to your body (for right-handers) enabled a smooth swing. Now I wasn’t looking for that; in fact, golf videos rarely come up on my feed, but I watched all five seconds because the range session was my first one back after breaking my wrist in October.  Did I need to see that?

Like the post card that fell out of a pile of papers, a comment you overheard in a nearby conversation (somehow it landed just a little louder), or the much-needed service provider you found at the mall because parking lot construction routed you to a different entrance.

We often call these moments coincidence—but they never feel accidental when you’re the one living them.

The interesting part isn’t the moment itself, it's what came before it.

Because breakthroughs don’t show up when we’re on autopilot.  They show up when the comfort zone starts to feel, well, cramped, and we’re no longer satisfied recycling the same ideas and listening to the same voice.

Aha!—It isn’t about getting new information. It’s about having eyes to see what’s already trying to reach you.

That’s where consciousness expands. Not through more effort, but through more awareness. The, I can see it now, moment.

What comes before conscious awareness is disruption. Doing something different on purpose.

Taking a different route to work, the gym or your friend’s place

Reversing the order of how you dress yourself, navigate through the grocery store, or workout.

Filling that free time in the evening, usually reserved for mindless television, with a new group.

When your desire starts to burn and you become more curious, you ask questions like.
What don’t I know yet?
What am I meant to notice today?

And then living knowing the answers are already on their way. 

That state of living is with your antenna up expecting that on your new route, reversed order or whatever is within hearing distance will be exactly what you need to move yourself forward. 

As for my range session. I recognized that the pain associated with hitting the ground on the fall that broke my wrist, was alive and well as when my club hit the ground, my body panicked.  Focusing on keeping my right elbow close to my body not only made my swing easier, it shifted the focus away from my recovering hand and gave me a chance.

Act on the impulses.  Say YES to more adventure. Get comfortable being uncomfortable.

Did you realize we just described what an Aha! Moment is? Did you know you can create them at will?  If you don’t have your Aha! Moment Journal to flex those breakthrough muscles, get it here.  Then join us in Human U Wednesday at 4:30 pm eastern where we’ll dive deeper into making Aha! Moments real.