But the Universe said Yes!
I love my spiritual clients. They are deeply connected to the Universe (Allah, God, etc.) and strive to do good in the world. There is one common practice that I, frankly, find disingenuous.
I have a practice of checking in with the Universe before making important decisions, most of my spiritual clients do the same thing. If you’re not familiar with this practice, the clearest way to explain it is through an example:
A business leader wants to host her next live event on Mar. 10. Her team recommends March 20. The leader isn’t swayed by her team and decides to check in with her highest self, the Universe, to receive clarity from the Universe on the optimal date.
Checking in with the Universe or your highest self can be a wonderful way to feel 100% comfortable with your decision and stay in alignment. Energy is everywhere; we are energetic beings.
That being said, I have concerns about the integrity of “checking in” when you have strong feelings about a decision. If we are energetic beings, and we have a strong positive feeling- or even a slight preference- for a date (such as March 10 for the event), that positive energy flows out into the Universe. Similarly, if you have a tiny negative or constricting feeling about another date, such as March 20, that energy flows into the Universe.
When you check in with the Universe, you ground yourself and ask to be a clear vessel for guidance. I’ve found that after working with many leaders when you’re ‘checking in’ about something important to you about 85–90% of the time, you’ll receive a response that validates what you want to hear. Considering you have a 50/50 chance of receiving a positive or negative answer, an 85% accuracy rate seems unusually high.
I’m not a mathematician or a researcher, but I’ve worked with many spiritual leaders and have observed their methods. Your energy affects everything around you; when you are checking in about something important to you, your energy influences the Universe’s response.
Instead of personally checking in on something important to you, I recommend enlisting a trusted friend or peer to assist you. This is the approach I use, and it helps remove the influence of your personal energy on the check-in process.
Here’s how I do it:
I work with a friend who genuinely wants the best for me. She is spiritual and, before checking in on my behalf, she asks to be a pure, clear vessel for information that will best serve me.
I create the question I would normally ask the Universe.
I send my friend a simple text: “Yes or No.” No context, no hints about the question- I only ask for a simple “Yes” or “No.”
It may take her 5 minutes or 4 hours to respond. I trust that I’m receiving a response directly from the Universe.
A strong “Yes” or “No” response gives me clear guidance.
If she receives a less firm or “light” response, she will let me know and suggest that I develop a more specific question. We try again. I still don’t share any information with her.
We continue asking the Universe until we get a solid response.
Only after we are satisfied do I tell her what the question was about. Often, it is days or weeks before I share the information.
This process isn’t the most efficient, but I’ve found it to be the most effective. I provides me with a response I feel comfortable embracing, regardless of whether or not it affirms my original desire.
When you share your decision with your team, based on your check-in with the Universe, remember that you are the leader. Sometimes, we don’t understand why the Universe guides us in certain directions. Those directions may put you at odds with your team, but trust in your decision.
Do what you can to get your team in the same positive, energetic space that you’re in. Then move forward with confidence.
If you don’t have a trusted peer or friend to help you check in it’s time to cultivate that relationship. We are not meant to go through life alone. Having someone who wants only the best for you is invaluable.
If you don’t have a trusted peer, it may be time to work with a coach who can not only help you move forward but also serve as your trusted advisor.