Shauna had found what I like to call her Pearl.
Picture this: an oyster, minding its own little oyster business, somewhere on the ocean floor. A current in the water disturbs the sand around it, and a single grain gets lodged in its shell. The oyster has no way to get rid of it, so it responds in the only way it knows how. To protect itself, it secretes the substances that form its shell. Layer after layer, the oyster shell grows around the sand. Years later, after countless, microscopically thin layers, the oyster has turned its little bit of bad luck into a shining, iridescent gem. A pearl.
The things we want in life are our Pearls. They are things that might start from a small, nagging feeling, a bother, a thought that won’t go away. They’re the things we work for, using the resources we have. They are things we create, through a process that might not always look glamorous, which might not always be fun, or comfortable, or simple. But, in the end, they result in something beautiful.
There’s an image of pearls I find totally enthralling. (It’s a little childish but bear with me. ) Imagine a treasure chest, filled with gold coins, sparkling jewels, and shiny, white pearls. I’m talking about the kind of treasure you read about in storybooks, the kind of pirates buried hundreds of years ago. You follow a map with a big black X on it, battling monsters and stormy seas and, in general, being the ultimate warrior. Then you find the treasure and become unspeakably rich, and your friends are jealous and impressed and everything in your life changes for the better because of this crazy, swashbuckling adventure you had.
That kind of pearl. Something you fight for, something you go on adventures for, something you travel the world to find.
Our Pearl goals can be big or small, quiet, or loud. All that adventure talk can be as figurative or as literal as you want. Sometimes you might have Pearls that take years to develop, quietly, over time. Sometimes you have to sail around the world to find them. Sometimes they come more quickly and are closer to home. No matter the case, they are precious, invaluable things. Things we want nothing more than to chase and create and discover, because they are calling to us on a deep, core level. They make our lives brighter, richer, more fulfilling, and more authentically ours.
So I’ll turn it to you. What’s your Pearl right now?
Yes, I know it’s a big question. But don’t overthink it. Just jot something down, the first thing that comes to mind. Don’t go off and think about it, because chances are, you won’t come back.
There’s a saying poets have: “First thought, best thought. ” The fact is, many people obsess over the perfect answer, waiting for inspiration to strike. But, if you just let the answers flow, and don’t worry about whether it’s perfect, you might surprise yourself with your clarity and accuracy.
Any answer that comes to you is valid. You can always change it later.
What do you want?
Is it to start your own business, or break into a new career that will fulfill and challenge you?
Is it winning an Oscar? Writing a novel? Running a marathon? Running a dairy farm? Starting a family?
Or maybe it’s on a smaller scale. Maybe it’s working with your team to create a new product, then sell it. Maybe it’s taking a family vacation. Maybe it’s strutting around Malibu in your string bikini and totally owning it.
Those are all Pearls. Things that inspire you. Things that make you feel like you’re meant to achieve them. Things you can point to, show people, and say, “This is my Pearl. I made this happen. ”
If you’re still not sure, here’s another way to think about it (I’m sure you saw this coming):
What if it were easy?
What would be your Pearl, if there were no barriers or doubts or fears standing in your way?
If you could do, have, and be anything at all, what would that be?
Don’t blow this off or negate it. Just for a moment, really let yourself go there.
What would you go for if there were nothing in your way?
If you could see your destination with utter clarity and confidence, what would it look like?
“Nice Try, But It Doesn’t Sound Easy to Me!”
Remember, this question isn’t about faking it. “What if it were easy?” doesn’t deny that you’ll have to put in some work to reach your goal (eventually—we’re not there yet).
What it does is help you see straight through to the clearest path, the one you want most.
For Stephen, it was so simple: “I’d start my own business. ” That was crystal clear. Yet he hadn’t seen that answer from his original perspective, which varied from, “I’m screwed, ” to, “I have no idea what to do. ”
Ironically, starting his own company was not the easiest choice.
Pretty soon after that breakthrough moment, he realized, Oh, crap…now I have to DO this. The hard work was still in front of him. But he was able to tap into what was really best for him, and since it came from his core, he could begin to truly manifest it. He could make decisions based on possibility, not fear—and that made all the difference.
The answer you get might not be the thing that makes the most sense from the outside. It might seem random to other people, or even to you. You might get a “Huh? Where’d that come from?”
Or maybe it’ll make sense right away, and you’ll say, “How did I not think of this before?” Whatever your answers are, follow them, and see where they may lead.
One More Thing (I Promise)
As you go through this process, I hope you’ll check out our website, www. whatifitwereeasy. com (or use the QR code below). Remember the Moti-Minute we did in Chapter 2? To make it easier, I’ve created videos of each one. So, instead of following along on the page, you can follow along with me on your phone, laptop, or whatever. A lot of people find that this is easier than reading the exercises on the page. You will also find other bonus material, activities, and guided meditations.
So, head on over and say hello!