"You can tell how many seeds there are in an apple,
But you can't tell how many apples there are in a seed.”
Sydney Banks, Philosopher
I’ve spent the past weekend speaking at the Unlimited 2015 event, Finland’s first ever principles-based conference. It was the brainchild of Clarity Practitioner Niko Leppänen, who attracted speakers and delegates from around the world, and did an amazing job of creating a profound and powerful space for us all to explore in. And as I watched Niko’s smile beaming from the stage, something struck me very deeply about the intelligence behind life. So in this article, we’re going to be exploring the true source and “mechanism” of transformation and results in your life, your organisation and in the world as a whole.
Something happened in May of 1998 that’s had a profound impact in my own life. I attended a 2-day personal development workshop, and at some point in the weekend I had an insight; a sudden gust of fresh new thinking that blew away many of my limiting beliefs about what was possible for me in the world. I was so deeply impacted by the experience, and so fascinated by this new field that I left my job soon afterwards started retraining as a coach and trainer. But I made a logical error. I attributed the power and impact of the change to the trainer, the course and the technology I was learning. In the process, I overlooked where the power and impact really comes from.
Insights are a natural function of the human mind. The fact that you’re reading this article means that you’ve had countless insights over the years; “hits” of fresh new thinking that have aligned your understanding of life more closely with reality. If you’d like a simple metaphor for this, look at the FedEx logo in the picture below. There are two images, “hiding in plain sight”, concealed within the logo; an arrow and a spoon (both of them white). Let me be clear; these two images have always been part of the “reality” of the FedEx logo. You’ve looked at them hundreds or thousands of times. You may not have noticed them, but they’ve always been there. The “mechanism” that takes you from “looking” to “seeing” is a dollop of fresh new thinking; an insight. And once you’ve seen them, you’ll never be able to un-see them; your understanding will have been brought more closely into alignment with reality.
The insight that changed my life back in 1998 was an expression of Mind (what I call “the power principle”); the intelligent energy behind life. Mind is the original source of every thought, perception, insight or idea you’ve ever had. It’s the source of the inspirations and ideas that lead to new creations and innovations. Mind is the power source, and insight is the mechanism. And each insight is like a seed that’s planted in your consciousness and takes root.
As I flew to Helsinki last Friday, I was looking over some notes I’d made in preparation for the first Clarity Coach Training programme back in 2013. One of the notes I’d made while reflecting on the question of what I’d love to support my students in becoming, read “Pioneers, the Johnny Appleseeds of this understanding.” My vision was that, just like Johnny Appleseed traveled across the USA planting apple trees in his wake, that the people who I touched would take this understanding around the world, into their lives, their communities and their countries.
And it’s happening. I was so proud and inspired to be impacted this weekend by speakers who started out as my clients, and are now my friends and colleagues. The insight I had back in 1998 has taken root and borne fruit that I couldn’t have imagined at the time. The 2009 insights that had me fundamentally change direction and start sharing the principles behind clarity are taking root and bearing fruit in ways that are beyond my wildest dreams. The Unlimited conference was borne from the seeds of Niko’s insights. Chantal Burns’ book Instant Motivation was borne from the seeds of her insights. Elaine Hilides was my first apprentice back in 2009, the very first person I started sharing this understanding with. She was terrified of public speaking at the time, so it was a joy to see her on stage this weekend, enjoying herself as she held the audience spellbound. Her book Mind-fullness and all the other gifts she shares with the world are the fruit of her insights. Morten Hake heard the principles behind clarity when I spoke at his event in September 2013 and had his understanding brought dramatically in to line with reality. Now he shares these gifts with the world. Insight is the mechanism that leads to transformation in people’s lives, and Mind is the power source, the infinite intelligence that gives birth to all insight.
In the early 1970s, a welder named Sydney Banks started having profound insights into the nature of the human experience. His insights were seeds that took root, and as he shared what he saw, the people who heard him had insights that aligned their understanding of life more closely with reality. Each of Banks’ insights was a seed that is having an exponential effect in the world. This past weekend saw Niko and all my fellow speakers (Anders Haglund, Chantal Burns, Dicken Bettinger, Elaine Hilides, Eirik Olson, Jenny Kennard, Morten Hake, Rudi Kennard) sharing an understanding inspired by what Banks saw. More seeds planted. More trees growing. More fruit borne. And behind it all, the infinite intelligence of life having an exponential impact in the world.
It’s an amazing adventure to be on, and I’m glad to be sharing it with you.
To your increasing clarity,
Big love
Jamie
P.S. The Certified Clarity Coach Training Programme starts this Saturday, September 19th. We've added something that's going to be particularly relevant to you if you want to grow your coaching practice, so if you'd like the details just email info@jamiesmart.com and type "details please". Coaches are joining us via Live Streaming from all over the planet, and the whole thing kicks off in nine days, so I encourage you to act accordingly 🙂
P.P.S. Following the success of the beta-tests, I’m looking for a small group of very specific people for my final 'Project Glasswing' programme of 2015, launching in October. Here’s what I’m looking for:
- You are a coach, therapist or change-worker (Eg. Sports coach, psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, business coach, bodyworker etc)
- You have at least one year’s experience of working with clients (either paid, pro-bono or both)
- You probably charge by the hour, but want to use a “coaching package” model to increase your income & make it more consistent
- You have space in your practice to work with at least one longer term contract client, starting in November
- You’re an enthusiastic, friendly people-person
- You have a coachable spirit, and are willing to step out of your comfort zone if necessary, and
- You can keep a secret
If that’s you, then just email me at info@jamiesmart.com, and let me know where you’re located and a little about yourself (if you don’t know what to tell me about, look at the list above for inspiration). Make the subject line “Project Glasswing”. I’ll be choosing people in the next couple of weeks. Talk to you soon! J