Maybe it was the time you misjudged that driveway and drove over the curb. Or it might just be normal wear and tear. Whatever the case, you’ve been noticing that your car is pulling to the right. The front wheels are out of alignment. It’s not a big deal, just an annoyance. But if you don’t get the car into the shop, a little problem could blow up into a big one. Our emotions, thoughts, and actions can also get knocked out of alignment. You’re driving in a certain direction, but just like those misaligned wheels, your inner matrix is heading off course. You’re not going to wait to get the car fixed, so why put off getting your emotions, thoughts and actions aligned with the results you want?
At IMS we Rewire, Train & Align the emotions, the thought strategies, and the nervous system so that you can create the life you choose. Our system of training almost always starts with naming vision - it's your bullseye, your target, your North Star. We say that vision creates context for making decisions, evaluating options, and generally getting us from point A to point V[ision] (see what I did there?). In evaluating whether something aligns with Vision or Something Else, we're training that contextual relationship, and training you to align with vision in order to achieve it.
So what are we talking about here, exactly? I like to frame it in the context of what I call the 3 Pillars of life: Body/Health, Career/Money, and Relationships. When our emotions, thoughts, and actions are aligned in all three areas, we’re driving toward vision and fulfillment. But when one or more of those pillars get knocked off balance, it’s usually because an old emotional pattern is pulling us off course.
Let’s take Carol, for example. She’s not a real person but we can all use our imagination, right? Carol’s a mom, two young kids, she’s got a career, commercial real estate, and she’s in a marriage that she would say is “solid”. Carol has a clear vision for what she wants to create. She’s done the work of rewiring the nervous system and is in the process of training new emotional patterns. But those old patterns can be stubborn and it doesn’t take much to get distracted from vision.
Carol’s in pretty good shape but she’d like to start eating healthier and get into a regular fitness routine. Most days she sticks to the program but sometimes it’s a struggle. Creating a new eating routine can be challenging, frustrating, confusing. It triggers a fear response which makes the nervous system want to run and, fuck it, In-N-Out is right around the corner. Carol’s welcome to get a double-double if that’s what she chooses to do, but if she wants to stay on course, she needs to ask the question: Does this double-double align me with Vision or Something Else? If the answer is Something Else, then she has the opportunity to shift her emotional state and align with vision, which may change what’s for dinner.
Carol’s business has been doing well but she wants to take it to the next level. There have been opportunities in the past but she’s never been able to pull the trigger. Old emotional patterns like unworthiness and doubt would flare up every time one of those opportunities presented itself. We don’t do what we want to do, we do what the nervous system wants us to do. Unworthiness and doubt are not pleasant feelings to have so Carol’s nervous system told her to turn away from growth in exchange for staying in the nice safe place she already knows. Now she knows when those feelings come bubbling up to again ask the question: What emotion is present here, and does it align me with Vision or Something Else? If the answer is Something Else, Carol can shift her emotional state to align herself with vision, and reevaluate the opportunity.
On the relationship front, Carol’s in a pretty healthy spot. The kids can be a challenge but she knew that would be the case going in. She loves her husband, looks forward to growing old with him. But there have been some rough patches. Times when communication seemed to break down. Now Carol understands that marriage is fluid. There are highs and lows, good times and challenging times. The challenging times can leave their mark on the nervous system until it starts to see the other person as a danger to avoid. Of course a spouse is not the enemy, at least not in a healthy relationship, but the nervous system doesn’t know that. So the next time Carol’s thoughts are focused on tallying her husband’s shortcomings, Carol can once again, ask the question: Do these thoughts align me with Vision or Something Else? If the answer is Something Else, she can shift her emotional state to align herself with vision, and tally up a very different list about her husband.
At the end of the day, you can think of vision as the ultimate litmus test for staying on track. Whether you’re evaluating an emotion, a thought or an action (and by the way, actions include choices and decisions), if you run it through the alignment test, you can’t go wrong!
As for Carol, I think she’s going to be okay. She’s got the tools she needs to keep the wheels going straight down the road. But the tools alone are not enough. Driving toward vision requires training and intention. We’ll provide you with the tools, techniques and strategies, we’ll teach you how to train, all you have to bring to the table is willingness. Are you ready to start? Join us for the Power Series and get started down the road toward vision. Click HERE to learn more and sign up today!