I had two miracles occur this week: both connected in a highly improbable way. And yet I know they are the direct result of my intentions.
The First Miracle
Back in 1998, I worked for a Canadian NGO in South Africa with a leader, a high school principal, who changed my life. His name was Khoarai and he taught me about integrity and service. Anyway, over the years of his career—where he became a government official, focused on transforming education—he got the shit kicked out of him (figuratively) by those who preferred corruption over integrity. They tried to frame him. They failed, but the experience took a major toll on him.
I learned all this only from what I could gather online. I haven’t talked to him personally in 14 years, even though he is, to some extent, installed in my mind as my mentor. But this week I received an email from a fellow principal who Khoarai talked into giving up his retirement to help him run a new project: training other township school principals how to be real leaders for their students. Same old Khoarai I remember!
Case in point: Here’s a pic of Nelson Mandela presenting Khoarai with an award for “Principal of the Year”.
Apparently my old friend had been talking about me, so the other principal looked me up—and found that I’d written a long article, back in January of this year, about leadership and how the things I’d learned from Khoarai had changed my life. Well, he sat Khoarai down and read it to him word for word. And Khoarai, apparently, was emotionally floored and humbled by it, in a wonderful way.
When I learned about this, I bawled with joy. It was the greatest gift I could ever give to my hero and mentor: to remind him of his own greatness once again. But also, knowing that I was able to give him this is the greatest gift anyone has ever given to me.
When I wrote it, I never imagined he would read it (because he doesn’t go online). So my intention was that the loving energy I’d poured into it would somehow reach and uplift him. In the end, the Universe delivered both in one fell swoop.
This is the blog post about the life-changing things he taught me about leadership, Feeling Alien, and Other Things Leaders Cure, if you want to read it.
The Second Miracle
Later, on the same day, I had a session with a client who is blowing my mind with her progress (and I know she’s reading this right now so: Go you!). In just a few months, she has pursued self transformation at a level I never imagined possible, diligently using every tool and insight I’ve given her. She has shifted out of a dark and hopeless place, to practicing transformative compassion for both herself and the people around her, and creating genuine magic left, right and centre! When we spoke, she was bursting at the seams to start exploring and living her life purpose, which is already unfolding as she marches bravely down this path.
But that’s only part of the miracle. Lo and behold, during our session, I find out that, like me, she spent months in South Africa many years ago, working for an NGO, taking photos (I was writing articles for an NGO in SA), trying to change the world. And she was shaped and transformed by her experiences there, much in the same way I was. Sistahs from anotha motha, I tell ya.
These synchronicities, what some would call “coincidences”, happen to me all the time, though not usually on this level (Hence the “miracles” reference, though I feel like I experience small miracles every day). The more I acknowledge them, the more they happen. And the key to all of this is that I know they’re not accidental. They’re a direct result of my intentions (both conscious and subconscious).
Now, perhaps I’m deluded (some will argue I must be, if I genuinely believe these things), but, if that’s the case, these are the kinds of delusions I’m willing to get used to. Because I’m happier and having way more fun than I’ve ever had at 45, and I’m just getting started. That’s saying a lot considering I used to wake up every day in a swamp of depression, anxiety and PTSD. Back then, sometimes the ONLY thing that kept me from jumping off a bridge was a trip to a cafe for a chocolate croissant.
Today’s Takeaway
Intentions create our reality. Not on our schedule, of course. They take their own sweet time to unfold. But when the momentum gets rolling absolutely amazing things can happen. (P.S. Unfortunately, our subconscious intentions also create our reality, so it’s a great idea to balance these out by creating conscious intentions and building a lot of energy around them.)
Use your intentions consciously and consistently. Track the results. And watch the magic happen. (P.S. I have a very specific formula I use with my clients that creates powerful results but, understandably, I’m not going to share it on my blog. You can only get that if you work with me—or, if you buy my book once it’s done. Which brings me to…
I’m Finally Writing It!
I’m divulging all my secrets in my next book, because I want it to be a one-stop guide for creating what you really want (as quickly as possible!). Just a small ambition, I know. Wish me luck! It’s been five long years since I published Help Me, Asia, about my own journey of awakening while trekking through Southeast Asia for 7 months. (That took me 10 years to write, BTW. This time I’m aiming for six months.)
I even did an official “I’m serious about writing this book” ritual, which included a candle and a written intention, and it was all very dramatic. (I rarely do that sort of shit–I’m weirdly adverse to ritualist spiritual stuff–but I just read Liz Gilbert’s fabulous book, Big Magic, about her journey to tap into her creativity; it included a candlelit vow when she was 16, and it all appears to have worked out for her. So…I’m covering all my bases).
Whatever works. That’s my life motto. Well, one of them anyway!
My New Facebook Page
Drop by and “like” my new Facebook page and share the stuff that happens when you try this out! Or share what doesn’t happen, so we can troubleshoot.
Yep, I finally started a Facebook page, where we can hopefully discuss some of these ideas, if you dare! And, even if you just want to follow me on my weekly adventures (which includes croissant runs), you can do that too. :) Right now I have only one fan on there, so, not to be pathetic or anything (who am I kidding, asking people to “like” me feels pathetic), but if you could drop by it would be less lonely for me there.
Just a heads up, though. I’m only going online a couple times per day right now (sometimes not at all), as I’m settling in to write my book.
Rise up and shine as your True Self,
Shawn xo
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