Waiting for the Wave

A client phoned the other day worried about the business decisions he'd made. He was in upset because he's been at a job that he termed "an under-earning situation."

I reminded him that during the past year he left a 20-year marriage and was confused and disoriented when he first took that job. He did not make a bad decision, he made the best one at the time. Who he is today is someone that doesn't fit there.

"What do I do?" he asked.

"Wait for the wave," I said.

"Huh?"

I laughed with him. Sometimes, being psychic is a strange experience.

A few weeks ago, I was out with a few friends. We were chatting and then, out of nowhere, I turned to the bartender and asked when he was leaving for Fiji.

He shook his head and asked me, rather confused, "Do I know you?"

I had pulled an "oops." Sometimes without knowing it, spirit talks to me and I think that I've had a conversation with someone, when in fact, we've never met. I try to keep this at a minimum to avoid freaking people out. I've learned to ask questions.

This guy was in a similar place to my client, Pete. He didn't know what to do, if he should go. There were a few variables.

He was a surfer. I asked him what he did after he paddled out on his board.

"I wait for the wave" he replied.

I waited. He nodded and got it instantly.

Teasing, I said, "So you don't wonder what you can do to make the wave come or if there ever will ever be another wave in your lifetime or if..."

He waved for me to stop, laughing, and then shrugged as he wiped down the bar. "It always comes if you wait long enough."

When we are lost, the key is to wait it out. I'm not talking about doing nothing.

I'm saying that after we make our request to the universe to give us signs (and I often ask that they be billboards, so I don't miss them), we have to wait for the answer...or the wave.

And here's another part to the surf analogy: when you ride a wave, it's the only zone you can be in at that time. You must be present. Your entire being must be in it.

We are always doing the best we can in any given moment, but remember this: even for a surfer, no one can expect to be in balance at all times. Life is about being out of balance and stepping back into it.

Remember that no matter what is going on in your life, you must determine where you are and how to get into the zone.

Are you:

Turning the board into position?

Paddling?

Are you too early? Are you unprepared?

Are you too late? Did you miss this wave?

Are you up? Did you catch the wave?

Wiping out?

Riding the wave?

In the barrel?

Coming to shore?

Here's how to bring yourself into alignment no matter where you are:

Getting into position? You may be changing directions and not sure how to do this next part. This is change.

If you are paddling, focus on the next intended action. Keep paddling.

Scrambling for the wave? Slow down and take stock. Is the moment right? Check for typos, so to speak. Look for mistakes that make you look unprepared. If you feel a panic right now, you may be trying to gain momentum in something that's not ready to happen.

Miss the wave? Forget this part. Don't dwell on it. It's wasted time. That was not your wave, not your moment. "If I had bought that property five years ago..." Well, you didn't. Timing is everything. Again, accept that wasn't your wave.

Did you catch it? Check within. Where are you? What are you truly feeling? Get excited. This is your moment. Try to relax. Often we confuse excitement with worry.

Wiping Out? Yeah, go ahead and chuckle. It'll happen. Get back on the board and paddle.

Are you riding the wave? In the barrel? Smile, enjoy and have fun. Feel the exhilaration of this time. Be in the moment. You are in the zone. This is the reward.

Coming into shore? How will you step off your board? Will you fall? Crash into shore? Slide into shore? Go back out? Take a break?

No matter what phase you're in, there is a different approach to each. It is easy to see that waiting for the wave is the place to do nothing but meditate. This is when the universe is going to send you someone or something that will get you up and running again.

And take heart. This is a cycle we're all on. And once you know where you are, you can determine what to do. Each place has a very real action. Rest assured that you are in motion, even if it doesn't feel like it.