March 14, 2024

Finding Clarity - Do I Really Want This?

Clarity is a nice buzzword tossed around in the media these days. It is supposed to cure all your problems; once you find clarity, everything else makes sense. But is this true? Is clarity really what you want in life? Some people with clarity would say they would rather turn in clarity for a successful career or a good family.

Clarity is not necessarily the be-all, end-all; it is nice to have but will not lead you to the far reaches of the world. It will help you develop the necessary skills and give you the drive to reach higher ambitions, but there are no guarantees at the end of all of this. So, it begs the question, should you be so focused on clarity in your life?

The Realities Of The Modern World

In 2023, the American Surgeon General released an advisory raising the alarm bells about loneliness in America. The report pointed out how loneliness increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and developing dementia. Inflation in America, let alone the world, is at an advanced level causing pain in many people's pockets, and the persistent corruption of this country’s public officials is becoming ever more of a reality we have to face daily.

The world is becoming a lot more complicated and a lot more sad. These realities could easily push a person into a feeling of depression or a sense of being lost in life. What do I do if I can’t trust the people who are supposed to serve me and the American citizenry? What is the point of seeking a raise when inflation will curtail any gains I make?

It's easy to feel lost and confused in this new world we live in, especially coming off the heels of Covid-19. This example is one case of why clarity is more important than ever.

There are a lot of distractions in the world, a lot of noise which could break even the best of people, so you need to be focused.

Clarity gives you a focus and an outlook on life that allows you to take action based on things as they are, not as you want them to be. Loneliness, political corruption, and inflation are all real things with real-world implications over which you have no control. If you have clarity, you understand what’s before you and you’re able to take the necessary steps to ensure your overall well-being.

Downsides Of Clarity

A judgment placed on someone who has found clarity could be an increased level of selfishness. Someone who is going for their goal in life or who walks around understanding their feelings, what triggers them could be seen as emotionless.

They could seem like someone focused on doing what is best for them to the exclusion of everyone and everything else. While this may be true in some extreme circumstances, this is not the reality for everyone who has found clarity.

Some people look for clarity simply because they want to understand themselves better. Doing this does mean separating yourself from external issues or people but looking within yourself. This inward path can appear as selfishness, but this oftentimes is an exercise in self-improvement.

Another opposition could be the level of aggressiveness someone obtains with clarity. Not necessarily physical aggression but a single-minded purposefulness to get things done and not let anyone get in their way.

People like Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos had clarity; they knew what they wanted and pushed to achieve their goals no matter what. But the reality is that they are not necessarily the best people to work under. Clarity makes you sure of yourself and what you want; for some, this could be too much to handle.

Someone with clarity must remember to balance being respectful with pursuit of greatness. An aggressive, take no prisoners attitude is appropriate for the battlefield, not in the boardroom. However, sometimes this aggressiveness is more on the person than on the pursuit of clarity. After all, clarity is about focus and taking action; having it does not require a pugnacious attitude.

An individual may choose a more aggressive route to obtain their goals, but others keep a peaceful environment with love and kindness at the top of the priority list. So, clarity is not inherently leading to aggressiveness; it is more of the person.

Is Clarity For Me?

The world is changing, and a countless number of people feel lost. Sometimes looking inside yourself and understanding yourself better is the greatest recipe for success in a loud world. Clarity in and of itself may not make you rich or the most popular person in the room, but it will help you become self-aware. In his first novel, The Invisible Man written in 1952, Ralph Ellison said, “When I discover who I am, I’ll be free.”

Once you understand yourself, your feelings, your dreams, your desires, the world becomes a lot smaller, not easy, but smaller. Clarity can set you free and it can provide you with the guidance you need to make the most of your life.

There may be other things pulling on you and taking your attention, but everyone reaches that moment where they realize they need to put themselves first.

dhf

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