Discover the Unseen. T.J. Wagoner

       To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.

      — Ralph Waldo Emerson

Three Magic Words

      The most profound words that can be uttered on any journey of self-discovery are these three: “I need help.”

      At their core, these words acknowledge the Desire for a fundamental shift, and at the same time they are an admission that help is available and necessary to achieve this shift. The idea also contains within it the kernel of truth that the whole really is greater than the sum of its parts. Help is possible, and help is at hand. Whether you get the help you need from the pages of a book, a trusted friend, a network of experts, society as a whole, or from quieting your mind and listening for your inner voice, help is always at hand.

      This book is intended to help you transform your life from what it is now to what you would like it to be. The process I’ve developed helps you connect with your inner self, the authentic self, to understand and define your Desire, to ignite emotion and engage your passion. It consists of working with five elements, each one a metaphor for a stage in the process.

      My background is mainly from the corporate sector and the last 15 years center in the field of consulting, specifically business process coaching. For decades my job has been helping people solve problems. Through some experiences in my own life, I discovered that the process can be universally applied. It led me to create the core ideas in this book, the essence of the title Discover the Unseen…, and what I call the Advent5 Process. Advent⁵ is an action-driven, results-oriented process by which you participate in the design of your life. The definition of Advent is the coming or arrival of something extremely important, and the number 5 represents the life path plus freedom and change. Remarkably, this process is adaptable to any situation, available at any time, and limited only by you.

Stages of transformation and the overall process elements

      Transformation is a process, not an event. That means we can break down the stages of transformation into a workable, predictable system of events. Transformation itself can be expressed in five stages. And, also, with the 5 Elements of Advent⁵ (Fire, Water, Wind, Sun and Rock).

      Stage 1 Fire - Awakening: It all begins with an awakening, experienced as a positive motivation; the simple Desire for a better situation or way of life. This may be anything from a vague sense of dissatisfaction to a complete sense of being overwhelmed, making you want to stay in bed all day holding a pillow over your head, wishing the world would just stop spinning so you could climb off. The awakening may also be the sudden and unexpected realization that something must change, or it may show up as a burning passion. Whatever its form, the awakening marks the beginning of the journey of discovery and transformation.

      Stage 2 Water - Acknowledgement: The methods in this book encourage a stoic and calm acceptance of the present situation, rather than denial. Acknowledgement allows an individual to understand the futility of resistance and denial of the status quo, and enter a more constructive state of mind. This is a reviewing of where you are, with what you have, and who you are at this moment, with understanding of all that you are and what is needed to align with your Desire. Acknowledgment of allowing the flow as it is will be the next step toward transformation. It’s the realization that “I need help.”

      Stage 3 Wind - Acceptance: The key to fulfillment is acceptance. Without acceptance, we’re naturally in a combative frame of mind, fighting against the conditions we reject. This creates an ineffective situation, one that restricts forward movement and constructive resolution. The things we allow and accept will actually transform and the ones we resist we get to keep. What we resist persists. It’s the acceptance of what is present, even if it’s perceived as unwanted, by the leaning into adversity that blows into your present moment with acceptance and no denial that will bring forward movement.

      Some of the accepting is painful because of the ego. It’s human nature to fight against conditions. The ego gets so attached to the need for certain conditions or circumstances that it gets in the way of life’s own progress. Once you rise above the foreground of the day-to-day of what you see, you’ll begin to see that which is the essence of you. Just as a painter needs to step back from his work from time to time to gain perspective, you need to find the still, calm center within your own life to gain a perspective of the total picture. Only then can you make clear, productive choices about your life path and your day-today activities.

      Stage 4 Sun - Alignment: Your values, paradigms and passions must be in alignment with your goals. So many people go through life believing that the objectives they are pursuing are worthwhile. Yet when they accomplish these goals they can’t understand why there is such a deep well of emptiness inside. Aligning your pursuits and your passions avoids costly mistakes and misdirection of time and resources. It creates a focus, and with this aligned focus your path will be illuminated.

      Stage 5 Rock - Action: The final piece required for transformation is action. Acknowledging that you need help and accepting the emotions or conditions you’re experiencing is only the start. To move beyond your current state, you must take action with accountability. The principles in this book will assist you in discovering exactly which actions to take. Not just any actions, but actions built on a solid foundation of who you are and what you want from your life. Adapting these stages and elements will guide you to the discovery of your purpose. This is a continual process that is sustainable in the present moment and into your desired out come.

      The process works in a wide variety of situations, especially personal goal setting. The fundamental premise is to take a look at your current state, deconstruct it, and develop the future state by using the steps that I have outlined.

      It begins with mapping out the status quo, listing everything related to it, then reviewing the activities. Anything that’s a waste of time, energy or attention gets flushed out automatically. The activities that remain become the core of action in alignment with your true Desire, and the standardized path for moving forward becomes clear.

      By using the present moment, here and now, you create your future. This is the simple process of causality. The idea asserts that the future will continue like the past unless we change it in the present. “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” This process provides a path around the insanity most of us experience in our daily lives.

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