What You Can Learn from a Morning in the Fog

Recently I was visiting one of my favorite coastal spots, Rehoboth Beach. I love to kayak in Rehoboth Bay and so early one Sunday we headed out to the put in shortly after sunrise. While it was sunny at the beach, by the time we reached the bay it was a thick sheet of fog. After debating for a bit whether we should still paddle or give it up, we decided that the fog was going to burn off very shortly so we launched our boats into the mist.

Visibility was very limited. We could see maybe 20-40 feet in front of us. We could hear motor boats roaring in the distance but knew that the tidal marsh area we would be paddling would be free of motor boats because of its very shallow waters. What transpired over the next several hours was truly magical.

Do you ever find yourself overwhelmed, all over the map, and unable to focus? Does thinking about the big picture leave you paralyzed or frantic? Daily life can be often feel like a constant stream of overwhelm, busyness, and stress while simultaneously feeling stuck. A few hours in the fog can teach you another way, a better way of dealing with this.

You see paddling in the fog was just grand. Because we could only see what was right in front of us there was no debating about where to go, where the next turn was, how far we would go, or looking around at some big expanse and missing the here and now. Instead we were transfixed with what was right in front of us. Nesting gulls would appear out of nowhere, ospreys came swooping like magic out of the sky, and turtles would poke their heads out of the water to see what all the fuss was about. Like a meditation in motion we paddled and observed. The fog blanketed everything and so it was simultaneously very quiet yet very noisy. The far off sound of car and boat motors was muted, but the sound of the gulls protecting their nests was overwhelming. It sounded as if they were literally in my head squawking because my senses were so heightened by the intense focus that resulted from being in the fog. Therein lies the first lesson from the morning fog – the power of focus and being fully present.

When you are taking action intentionally with laser-like focus while being fully present you are in the flow, aligned, and poised to powerfully create what you desire. Overwhelm, stress, doubt, and stuck-ness literally melts away.

What would be possible for you in your life if you could employ this technique on a regular basis (perhaps without the low-lying clouds!)?

As we continued to paddle in amazement at the magic before our eyes we started to wonder – How the heck are we going to find our way back to our car through this maze without being able to see the usual landmarks in the distance?

Have you ever struggled trying to define your bigger vision for your life or business and wondered how you might ever be able to bring it to reality? Does the bigger picture fill you with fear and dread because it is just SO big, full of unknowns, and hard to digest?

Little by little the fog started to lift - first in small little gaps in the clouds that allowed us to catch small glimpses of navigational markings. Just enough of a glimpse that intuitively we felt on track. That little bit of knowing allowed us to just continue to paddle and enjoy the journey. As time passed more of the fog lifted and we could suddenly see the great expanse of the bay. The bigger picture was right before our eyes crystal clear. At that point it was easy to know where we needed to go to return to our car. This is the second lesson from the morning fog – the power of trusting the glimpses and intuition along the way as the bigger picture slowly reveals itself over time.

Here’s the thing – the big picture will always reveal itself over time. It may take a few hours like my wanderings through the fog or it could take months, years, or even longer but it will always become clear. The key to staying on the right path for you is paying attention to these little glimpses and small whisperings along the way. In fact it is the only way to ever really know that you’re living aligned with what matters most to you, living on purpose.

How much more peace and joy would be available to you if you learned how to notice and trust in the little glimpses that are there for you each and every day?

Are you having trouble staying focused on what you most need to be doing? Struggling with wrapping your arms around the big picture and wondering if you’re on track or just headed down some road of “same-old, same-old”? If you want to learn how to harness the powerful lessons of focus and uncovering the right path for you without having to spend days, months, years, or a lifetime in the fog (literally), contact me today to set up a complimentary get acquainted session.