In manufacturing, danger zones are clearly marked. Signs are clear. There's an abundance of training to help people recognize and interpret different signs. Signs from the universe can be obvious too, but they're usually more nuanced. When life is telling us something, the signs can be harder to read and they don't come with a training manual. As a result, it can be more challenging to get life's messages and heed its warnings. It's also easier to have a near miss.
Value in the Near Miss
I've had the opportunity to work with wide variety of manufacturing companies throughout my career. While the industries and companies are all different, one thing is consistent — safety is priority one. A manufacturer might be wildly inefficient in other ways, but they don't mess around when it comes to safety. Whether you're an employee, consultant, or visitor to a manufacturing facility, everyone is responsible for knowing and following the safety rules. It can, quite literally, be a matter of life or death.
This dedication to safety includes thoroughly investigating any accidents and updating policies to prevent similar incidents from happening again. What stands out to me here is that companies place equal emphasis on "near misses." Near misses are tracked, evaluated, and acted on with just as much rigor as incidents with injuries or substantial loss. Why? The near miss is infinitely valuable. A near miss provides an opportunity for understanding, correction, protection, and prevention without the corresponding loss. What can you learn from your near misses?
Pay Attention to the Signs
If you're looking to learn the language of the universe, the key is to be present and observant. The more present we are in our lives, the more self-aware we are, the easier it is to notice when the universe is trying to tell us something. When we're all up in our heads, distracted by mind chatter, we're not living in the flow of life. Not only are we missing out on life happening all around us, we run the risk of missing life's messages entirely.
If the universe has something to tell us, it happens in the present. So, if we want to pick up what the universe is putting down, it's important to notice what's going on in both our outer and inner worlds — maintaining awareness of our thoughts and emotions and recognizing when we're not present. When you catch yourself dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, make a point of intentionally coming back to the here and now. Be in your life.
How Do I Know It's a Sign?
Assuming we're in it, we're present and aware, what should we be looking for? What qualifies as a sign? How do we know it's a sign meant for us? Great questions. I'll give you a typical (former) consultant answer — it depends.
Signs from the universe are not going to be the same for all of us. They can't be. We're all unique and we experience life differently. Consider this: If you were trying to get your attention, how would you do it? How would you send yourself a message? What would have meaning for you? What would cut through the clutter and reach you? I believe we all have a higher Self. You might think of it as your subconscious. That's cool. Either way, you know you. The universe knows you too. Start there. Also, notice any experiences that repeat, are out of the ordinary, or qualify as near misses.
If it seems like a sign to you, trust your gut. If the message isn't clear, tap into your intuition for the translation. We're not all fluent in the secret language of the universe, but we all have a translator app. It's our intuition. If you're not sure how to use it, check out our blog, Rekindling Your Intuition.
Yeah, but is it REALLY a Sign?
Some of the most obvious signs I've received have been near misses, and I still found a way to question whether the messages were real or imagined. For most of us, it's hard to believe the universe is speaking to us directly. It's a mind-blowing concept to accept.
Example: I was driving to a doctor's appointment and a truck slow-rolled into the intersection in front of me, completely blocking my lane. The driver didn't see me and there was no chance of a clean stop. This situation had T-bone written all over it. That's when the universe took over. I was perfectly calm, not thinking at all. Time seemed to slow down. The creative maneuvering that followed came from somewhere other than me, as my car gracefully spun around the truck and between another car. I ended up facing the right direction, in the correct lane, on the other side of the truck, without a scratch.
After the near miss, an overwhelming feeling of gratitude washed through me, followed by an equally powerful sense of awe and disbelief. Did that just happen? Did the universe just reach in and save me? No, things like that don't happen. Not really, right? It must have been the adrenaline, or I'm in shock. And then...
At the doctor's office, my tiger's eye mala spontaneously broke, scattering 108 beads across the exam room floor. Mala beads are used for meditation. When not in use, I wore this one as a bracelet. When a mala breaks it basically indicates that its work is done — the intention has been realized. I chose this mala because tiger's eye is a grounding stone, aligned with strength and courage. I started wearing it daily when I needed more of that energy in my life. Turns out another function associated with tiger's eye is physical protection. Hmmmm.
Mastering the Obvious
Now, I don't think the mala actually saved my life (and the lives of others) on its own accord; that was the work of a higher power. I do believe the universe will use whatever is necessary to get messages to us when we need them. And, I believe my higher Self knew I would question whether the near miss and the mala breaking were signs, and that I would look up tiger's eye (again). There was a message I needed in this experience. Message received. But, it took some reflection after the fact for me to fully understand and apply it.
Near misses are scary. I don't wish them on anyone, but if a near miss happens to you, make good use of it! There's so much we can learn from our near misses. When a near miss happens in your life, it's an opportunity to express gratitude. It's a chance to pause and reflect with awe on the wonder of the universe and our place in it. It's also an opportunity to tap into our intuition to discover what we're meant to learn from the experience, and take any action needed.
More to Explore!
Have you experienced a near miss in your life? If it's safe and comfortable for you to relive that memory, close your eyes and imagine you're back in that moment, engaging all of your senses to make it real. When you're done reflecting, take five minutes to journal on what happened. As you reexperienced this moment, what are you grateful for? What fills you with wonder about the experience? What can you learn from it?
Oh yeah, and if you're reading this blog and wondering, "Is this a sign?" I get you. Maybe it is, maybe not. That's between you and the universe. What does your intuition say?
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