Focusing on Outcome: Taking the Long View

+ two lane road into mountatins March 14 muse 7131375_sMy friend Judy was feeling stuck, nervous, and a little overwhelmed as she prepared for an upcoming presentation. At a certain point, she decided to stop and ask Spirit for help. Judy communicates with Spirit through the occult, so her questioning process included picking Tarot and Divine Master cards as well as studying her astrological chart. She assembled her decks and chart and got going.

Later, Judy told me she’d asked her question something like this: “Spirit, how can I be of the most inspiration through this talk I’m giving, and how can this preparation and delivery process be a joyful, ease-filled experience?” After doing a long reading for her self, she felt she’d received a great deal of insight from Spirit. Her presentation preparation was easier from then on.

I liked Judy’s whole process but I particularly appreciated the way she’d designed her question to Spirit. I noted her affirmative approach, which asked, “How do I get there?” rather than “Why am I stuck?” “How can I be of inspiration?” was positive, affirming, and set the intention for what she wanted the outcome to be – an uplifting event for her audience. She also included a precise description of the way she wanted to feel through the process – joyful and easy.

When we’re in challenging times, lots of questions come up for us. In an effort to make sense of things, to get un-stuck, we might ask any of a number of questions: “What’s going on here? Why is this happening? What does it mean? When is going to end? What did I do to bring this on? What can I learn from it?” All are valid questions whose answers bring us important information and insight into the situation and can help us grow spiritually.

However, as I compare these questions with the one Judy asked, I see that these other questions could tend to keep the focus on the situation itself, rather than to open up the energy and move things forward. These questions highlight the problem and analyze what it is that’s creating the obstacle. That’s all well and good, but if they are the only questions we ask, we might be limiting our perspective.

Adding an additional question that is focused on the desired outcome could really help things shift. Such a question brings in a future dimension that complements the questions that analyze the past (What brought the situation on?) and the present (What does this mean?). Asking for help or setting our intention for the future brings a positive vibrational tone to our process.

I experimented with focusing on outcome in a “baby step” way a few days ago. I was getting ready to leave the house to drive a couple of hours to Easthampton, but was running a few minutes behind. Getting a little tense about my lateness, I noticed I was getting stuck in asking myself why I hadn’t gotten ready a little sooner. Of course, this question just made me feel more tense! Suddenly, I thought of the “outcome” principle and asked Spirit to help me to arrive at my destination in plenty of time (even if I was leaving a few minutes late). And, I asked to arrive feeling relaxed and ready to meet clients.

The tension of the moment evaporated. I saw a vision of the arrival point and felt the qualities I wanted to be feeling. It was good practice with the principle of focusing on outcome.

This principle also came into a decision I was pondering a few weeks ago. Unsure whether or not to commit to continuing a project I’d started, I sought the advice of a good friend. He suggested that I think about what my goals were for three years from now, then to consider if saying “yes” to continuing the project would help me toward those goals.

Looking that far ahead into the future provided a way of seeing the outcome I wanted and then evaluating if I was on the right track to get there. This was a really helpful perspective that, again, shifted me out of the immediacy of the moment into the future as I desired it to be.

The dilemmas, obstacles and frustrations in our lives call for many kinds of help: understanding, insight, meaning, and guidance. Sometimes, we just need the comfort of feeling heard to help us shift our energy and move forward. But asking for help in a way that identifies how we want to feel, how we want the outcome down the road to show up, puts us into the vibration of what we want to achieve.

So, when something comes along that’s confounding you, be it getting out the door on time, preparing an important presentation, or making a big decision, look ahead! Ask yourself what your desired outcome is, where you want yourself to be at the end of the process, and how you want the process to feel as you go along. Identifying these elements is as important as understanding why you’re where you are in the current moment’s frustration.

Feeling the energy of the desired outcome brings inspiration. It uplifts our energy, which then propels us out of feeling stuck. It’s a great energetic jumpstart.

Just ask my friend Judy!

Comments

  1. I found myself particularly intrigued by this passage:
    “When we’re in challenging times, lots of questions come up for us. In an effort to make sense of things, to get un-stuck, we might ask any of a number of questions: “What’s going on here? Why is this happening? What does it mean? When is going to end? What did I do to bring this on? What can I learn from it?” All are valid questions whose answers bring us important information and insight into the situation and can help us grow spiritually.”
    I know for myself, that though these questions are valid and valuable, that in the moment that potentially they could heighten my anxiety, sense of internal pressure and unfortunately, self-criticism. There is of course a place for both strategies. But I do like the idea of asking for help, acknowledging that we are not omnipotent. It will always ultimately be up to us to do the work. But hopefully, with the guidance and inspiration of Spirit.

    • Spiral Energies says

      I agree that those questions have their place and can be helpful, but might not have the positive effect of bringing one out of a “stuck” place. Self-examination can promote our spiritual and personal growth, but focusing on desired outcome is a bright and affirming way to go. Thanks for your thoughts. And, yes, the connection and communication with Spirit or Source, or our Highest Self (whatever way we conceive of this energy) is the ultimate point for inspiration and insight.

  2. Hi there Janet —

    My email is down so I thought I’d respond this way.
    Here’s what I think/feel about my current huge project —
    [what your desired outcome is] — to live in a lovely household where there’s mutual respect, delight in each other, and capacity/wherewithal to work things out
    [where you want yourself to be at the end of the process] — held in the bosom of a mutually supportive community, honored for my contribution to it
    [how you want the process to feel as you go along] — energizing, supported, encouraged
    Yeayy! Sounds good to me.
    Pam

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