Clarity 4 Life: The 4Rs of Living With Clarity
Author: S. Joseph (Stan) Carter

You’ve heard it before, “Life is a Journey”. I suppose when you really think about it, that holds true, considering there is a beginning, an inevitable end, and what transpires between the two.

Granted, any journey has the same traits—beginning, middle and end. The similarities between life’s journey and any other journey, however, are not limited to only the beginning, end and the in-betweens.

For instance, whatever journey you might begin, whether a brief journey or your own personal odyssey, a journey must have a destination. If you are on a journey, you are going somewhere—whether you realize it or not. You may or may not know the outcome of your journey—where you will end up; when you will get there; what to expect along the way—but you can be sure of one thing, if you are a trekker in life, and you have embarked upon any journey, you are headed for a destination.

Before you begin your journey, you want to ask yourself some questions. Here are some samples:

Do I know my destination?
Do I have the right equipment?
Do I have the proper and adequate supplies and provisions?
Do I know how to get to my destination?
Have I laid out a route toward my destination?
Do I know where I am right now in relation to my destination?
Am I aware of the hazards along the way?
Am I aware of the opportunities along the way?
Do I need a guide?
Do I have a map or guidance system?
Do I know how to use my equipment?
Do I know how to regroup or adjust my course if I lose my way?
Am I traveling alone; and if so, does that change any of the questions I need to ask?

Whether you are on a safari in Africa, your first trip to another country, a long-distance drive on an interstate, or a trip to grandma’s house, every journey has a beginning, an end and an in-between. Every journey raises questions about awareness; preparedness; tools, supplies and equipment; systems, directions and guides.

The journey of life is no different from any other journey. Distances on life’s journey are measured by increments of time—days, weeks, months, years [moments]. Achievements, goals, milestones and a sense of destiny mark the destination(s) along the way. Perhaps you may feel well equipped; or you may not even realize the need for having the right equipment, food, provisions or guidance system necessary to achieve the best outcome and to arrive at your destination.

Clarity 4 Life is the template for understanding the landscape and terrain of your life—and a broader awareness of your life within the context of life in general. It also provides the basis for developing your own personal guide for your journey. The concepts of Clarity 4 Life will help you understand the nature of life’s journey. Like the individual notes in a musical scale, you will be provided with the essential elements of Reflective Life Management and how they work independently and in synch with each other. As you become more familiar with each of the components of the Clarity 4 Life system, you will begin to develop a renewed awareness of your own journey. You will eventually begin to improvise with the application and utility of this life-design model. Like the jazz musician and the symphonic composer, you will begin to make your own music based on what you discover about yourself, your importance and interaction with others, and the significance of the destination(s) or your life’s journey.

You will discover a greater awareness of your destination as well as gain a better understanding of:
• How to get started on each leg of your journey
• How to change course when necessary
• How to be resourceful along the way
• How to understand the terrain of your life’s journey and navigate the difficult areas.
• How to reach your destination (achieve your goals) and your destiny with peace of mind
• Discover and experience the “Ultimate Rest” in your everyday life.

I am going to introduce you to a simple, yet very powerful, model that will help to clarify the obscure portions of your journey that may be foggy.

Perhaps you began a journey some time ago without having a specific destination in mind:
• You went to school to prepare for a career that hasn’t turned out to be the source of passion you thought it was going to be;
• Perhaps you live in a city, work in a career, attend a church, got married or started a business as you entered into a segment of your life’s journey and your awareness of your destination became obscured;
• Your outlook for whether or not you will reach your destination has diminished.

Well, guess what? There is good news! Fantastic news! With the proper equipment and guidance, you can begin again right where you are. You may need to hit the RESET button and start over, or you may simply need to regroup or recalibrate where you are and make some adjustments in order to continue your journey. You can correct your course or change destinations altogether.

Let us begin your introduction to the development of your personal guide toward the designer life that you were destined to live; a life with a destination that may yet to be discovered; with a purpose that transcends your current outlook or expectation.

Have the waters of your life seemed murky? Imagine you are looking into a cool, clear pool of mountain spring water; it’s crystal clear; you can see the different colors of the smooth stones and gravel 10 feet or more below the surface. As you are peering into that wonderful pool and marveling at its clarity and the beauty that you see below the surface of the water, all of a sudden, in a moment, your perspective changes. All of a sudden, with the subtle speed of a thought, you realize you see another image in the pool clearly. It’s the image of you, immersed in the intrigue of what things look like when they are crystal clear. Like looking into the pool, you can be crystal clear about life and about your life as a reflection of who you are.

Rest. Reflect. Respond. Reality. These are the 4Rs of living with clarity.

Be Clear!








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Stan Carter is a Life Coach and Business Consultant. He lives in the Los Angeles area and is the author of the “Clarity 4 Life” seminar series, including “Clarity 4 Life” and “Clarity 4 Business”. His “Living Clear Institute” is committed to providing learning resources through workshops, retreats and online forums for individuals and organizations to transform their everyday personal and business lives. To receive additional information about the Living Clear Institute, send an e-mail request to: info@livingclear.com and put “Clarity 4 Life” in the subject line.

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