Clarity Isn’t a Lightning Bolt
Why waiting for "aha" moments keeps you stuck — and what to do instead.
There was a time in my business when I was constantly searching for "the moment." You know the one — the lightning bolt of clarity that would strike out of nowhere and suddenly, everything would make sense. I read all the blogs. Subscribed to the newsletters. Took the courses. I kept thinking, "This next thing will unlock it."
Yet it didn’t.
Instead, I found myself stuck in what I now call “almost clarity.” I could feel I was close. I had notes full of plans and ideas, but when it came time to act, I was left with nothing. I was dead in the water. It wasn’t fear exactly — more like waiting for the signal to go. The cosmic green light that never came.
The worst part? I blamed myself. For being indecisive, for changing my mind, for not moving fast enough. But the truth was, I had bought into the idea that clarity was something that happened to me, not something I could build.
Everything shifted the day I realized I wasn’t stuck — I was just expecting clarity to show up like a thunderclap in an unexpected storm.
Never Arriving Fully Formed
Many small business owners believe clarity arrives fully formed — like an epiphany. The perfect niche, the perfect offer, the perfect path. Until then, we’re supposed to wait. Research more. Reflect more. Collect more.
It says, "Don't act yet — you'll know when it's time." And for overwhelmed, heart-led solopreneurs, that feels like it's never fully there.
It's a trap.
We're so busy waiting for certainty that we delay momentum. We outsource the decisions to books, influencers, family, and friends. And we start mistaking overthinking for wisdom.
Think of the last time you knew what to do — not because someone told you, but because you had tested something, made a tiny move, or just paid attention to your gut. That’s what clarity actually looks like. Not a lightning bolt. A breadcrumb trail.
If you’re nodding along, this new video might resonate. It’s not a tutorial—it’s a mindset anchor about how filtering your decisions, not your inputs, can cut through the fog and reconnect you to your own compass.
I Just Need Someone To Tell Me
I was talking to a client who said, "I just need you to tell me what to do." And I heard myself say back:
"What if no one can? What if the only answer is inside you?"
That made me stop and realize I'd been treating clarity like a map someone else could draw. But it’s more like a compass you calibrate as you go.
Once I started seeing clarity as something built through aligned action, not something discovered beforehand, everything changed. The actions came quicker. The trust in myself grew. The ahas showed up.
The New Mindset: Core Filters
1. Clarity is Constructed, Not Found
Waiting to "find" clarity will keep you forever prepping like the final test of your senior year. Filtering for clarity – through decisions, reflections, and moments of silence, can be the thing that gets you unstuck.
2. Action Reveals, It Doesn’t Just Execute
We often think we need clarity before taking action. But we need context to know if we are making better decisions, like test-driving a car. You won't know if you'll be comfortable until you take it for a spin. Your business decisions are the same.
3. Feedback is the Shortcut, Not the Detour
The idea that you need to get it right the first time is a big myth, and what we are sold in fancy success stories. But real clarity comes from making the tiny adjustments along the way. It's more about what feels off than what looks good on paper.
Filtering For Clarity: Real-World Impact
Business Decisions: I no longer wait until everything is figured out. I test, reflect, and then adjust. Products get out the door sooner, and new ideas are executed without perfection.
Client Relationships: I attract more aligned clients because I’m not trying to please everyone. Saying no with confidence comes faster and easier.
Personal Wellbeing: I’m less anxious because I’ve stopped chasing the myth of the "right" decision. I've learned that confidence comes when you learn to say no through clarity.
Long-term Vision: Instead of looking for the perfect plan, I focus on aligned direction. My business grows because I’m in a relationship with it, not trying to dominate it.
Overcoming Resistance to Change
Resistance 1: "But what if I make the wrong move?"
Reframe: Every move teaches you something. Staying still teaches you nothing.
Resistance 2: "I don’t know where to start."
Reframe: Start with the next small thing you’re curious about. Action doesn’t have to be loud to be useful.
Resistance 3: "I’ve tried before and changed my mind."
Reframe: Changing your mind isn’t a failure — it’s evidence that you’re paying attention.
Mindset shifts take time. That’s normal. You’re building a new reflex.
Invitation to Reflect
Ask yourself:
Where am I waiting for a sign instead of making a move?
What’s one small decision I could make today to get data instead of clarity?
Where have I been here before — and what did I learn then?
What does clarity feel like in my body, not just my mind?
Try this: Spend 10 minutes writing about something you feel stuck on. Then list 3 micro-moves you could take this week just to explore that stuckness from a different angle.
Notice when your old belief about clarity shows up. Don’t fight it — just name it and try something small anyway.
Conclusion: The Bigger Journey
The truth is, clarity is a practice. Not a product, not a moment, not a headline-worthy transformation.
And honestly? That’s a good thing.
Because if you can build clarity, you never have to fear losing it. You always have the tools to find your next step — even if you’re only seeing one step at a time.
If you’re navigating through fog right now, consider this: maybe the lightning bolt isn’t coming. But the breadcrumbs are already at your feet.