The Zig-Zaggers Guide to the Universe
Uncertainty is something most people avoid like the plague. There’s nothing like comfort in knowing we have a place to lay our heads every night, knowing we have things to do, food to eat, materials we need for the basics of a decent life.
If we’re honest, we know that we also need a little mystery, surprise, uncertainty. There’s a thrill to that. The thing is sometimes it comes in forms that we weren’t expecting, and instead of embracing uncertainty, we fight against it. ‘This isn’t what I was expecting! This isn’t the way things are supposed to be!’
And instead of staying in flow, we stay stuck while the universe may very well had intended for us to roll with the change; having faith in ourselves and in life. There is wisdom in embracing uncertainty.
Understanding this, we also come to realize the goals we move toward are rarely going to occur in a straight line from A to B to C. That’s completely unnatural in the universe. It’s literally impossible.
Wealth, money, relationships; success in any arena in the real world happens in a zigzag. You have to expect to constantly correct yourself. Constantly! And when you do that you will eventually land your success. The only time you won’t land is if upon making ‘mistakes’ or thinking yourself a ‘failure’ you give up or you don’t learn anything.’
It’s hubris for anyone to think they’re like a genius and you’ll get it right every time. Maybe you won’t. We have our experience to help us, though, and our desire to learn and become more of what we want, open to the guidance and wisdom of those who have already gone down those paths.
If you’re a perfectionist, give it up. It’s pointless. Mistakes, corrections, mistakes, corrections! That’s the way it is. Mistakes are the natural ways we learn.
What happens to babies when they first learn to walk? They fall! And what would happen if they didn’t learn from those mistakes? They would just stay down there! But they don’t know that yet. Nobody taught them “failure.” Quite the opposite they tend to get encouragement. So they just get up and try it again. Pretty soon, they’ll resent you trying to help them; that’s how confident they become in themselves.
If they were an adult, though, here’s what would happen. They would fall, stay down there, and get real comfortable. ‘Oh, God I don’t even deserve to walk! It must not be meant to be! I should just lie there.’ We justify it or we blame. ‘Mom never taught me right! It’s her fault!’
Imagine how less insecure we become when we get comfortable making mistakes, confident enough in ourselves to say, “That’s okay, because I’m going to get it right next time.” And maybe we won’t! It’s still okay, because the confidence runs so deep it doesn’t matter how many times it takes. You know you’re going to nail it and be happy all the while because you’re implementing this practice into all facets of life, from relationships to business.
What’s your zigzag story? Have you reached a cherished goal by means you never imagined yet you arrived at the destination anyway? There are stories grand and ordinary that shed light on the power of universal correction. We want to hear yours!







Back in 2000 I moved from Chicago to the mountains of Colorado with only my resume in hand,and a reservation at a hostel.My goal was to find permament housing and a full time job.I didn`t have to zig zag in the housing goal,that I nailed down in one week.However,finding a permament job took quite a bit of zigging and zagging,but eventually I landed a position at a major ski resort in real estate.It was simply the natural order of things.
In the last year, I quit my job, got an unexpected but interesting assignment in Australia (after I quit my job), and ended up the year moving from the desert southwest to the beautiful Gulf Coast beaches of Florida. Now I am working on building my dream career based on the internet that will allow me to work from anywhere instead of being tied to a desk. I really don't know how all that happened, but I asked for this about a year and a half ago (as the result of the Millionaire Mind Intensive in fact) and here I am. I let the universe work it's magic and didn't try to control things. A new paradigm for me!
2010 was a crazy year for me,all the sudden i quit my job because deep down inside me ,i believed that being a full time Mom and having a full time job is not the life i want,i want to explore how to be more home with my kids and at the same time doing something useful ,that is why i decided to take UIBC and now i am building my busniss from my own home ,the place that i love to be most of the time.
Personally my commitments are gentleness, power and love. Gentleness because people have been pretty beaten up, power because it's the only way things get done, and love because it's good. I rarely get love 'right'. That is a huge zig-zag area, it's NEVER what I think it 'should' be and never shows up how it 'should'. I truly don't know what to do except let go. Fortunately, I do know that when you let go, the good stuff always shows back up for the next chapter. Love is a messy area for me.
Business goals: Reach out to a higher level client. I know what to do here and am avoiding: targeting clients, preparing to deal with a higher level client, updating resume, references and sales material to provide for clients. Of course, this is a new goal and I feel as if all of this should just happen in one day. This goal makes me feel like a 5th grader at a high school dance, ill-equipped and without appropriate resources and references. I have a we'll see attitude here and that's bound to cause some zig-zagging.
Spiritual goals: Somehow move toward ministry and missions. My 'guidance' has started whispering San Paolo…. young girls and singing. If you can make sense of this, please respond, as, I have no clue and no reference, so, zig-zag is likely here. I'm not even sure that that is good guidance. San Paolo and a ministry mission sound good to me. I'm not much of a minister, I just know that people are in need in many places in this world. Showing anyone that you are willing to make an effort, that you care and are maybe willing to provide support goes such a long way.
2011 feels like a blank page. I think it's a good year to be willing to surrender to zig-zag.
Things rarely occur in a straight line. I also understand that I am going to make mistakes and I do not know everything. This allows me to go and try things. I break things, I figure how to fix them and I grow in the process. Do not let fear of failure/change/difficulty stop you. just take some action you understand and keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Josh Bulloc
Kansas City, MO
How can I help?
“Success really happens in a zigzag”. Thank you so much for this article! I usually expect things to be A – B – C. Perfectionist! It's a clear and obvious reality, but I'm grateful for reading it so well explained.
Paola, Milan, Italy
Amen! Don't know, love & embrace the zig zag! Thanks for another great piece
Harv, I just wrote a post about my learning experience at Making The Stage in Phuket, and share your sentiments exactly in this post! See it here:
https://thedirty30sclub.com/blo…/
Chiao Kee
i am very thankful to this act. Iam very needy person.
Thank you,
*reading in dismay and say in silent* Dear universe, please don't let zig zag happen too often in my life until i forget how to walk straight ……..
“Nobody taught them failure” I like that. It's true that we are taught that failure is a bad thing.
So, instead of learning from making mistakes, we get stuck and start making excuses.
It was a major breakthrough in my life, once we realized this.
I Like you to succeed
I lead a personal change group for individuals who have Type 2 diabetes, and I always start the group by stressing that “change is a winding road.” It's a theme that comes up repeatedly on my website, http://www.pocketchangebook.com, as well! Thanks for the interesting post.
Thank You Harv!
Never thought I would make it past college.. But yeah graduated and got that piece of paper about 6 years ago… yay.. Never thought would start a business.. did that too about 6 years ago… yay.. the zig zags… the stumbles were all worth it… the journey is beautiful in spite of the pain, like when working out, when you have the pain.. u know ur muscle is growing.. love you guys.. Have a great life 🙂
What most people learn (thru school, family & life) is that making mistakes, getting it wrong is BAD. This then translates to “avoid making mistakes” which results in NOT taking action, NOT being committed just in case its WRONG.
I've been reminded of a very important lesson I learned when I was young recently “… that making mistakes is how you grow and building upon mistakes is how you create success.” Try, try and try again. And Harv you have just supported that once again.
Thanks
I love your courage Claire. Iwant the same freedom as yours of not being tied up in a desk, it's just so foreign in my country (sometimes even to just think about..)
I need to let the nature work miracles in me for once.
I am feeling very vulnerable today. Shifting beliefs and habits that no longer serve me…. Trying to get over the fear that other's opinion of me should not really be important to me. People Pleasing is a big issue for me and I am trying to stop that and be true to me. I guess you just have to trust in God and fake it til you make it xxx
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
I teach my kids that they can do anything and become anyone they want.
My wife and I praise them for 'everything' they accomplish. No matter if it's small or great.
I encourage them to try, even though it doesn't seem possible.
I tell them that there is no such thing as failure.
Why is it then, that they still have this ever present feeling of 'failure'?
We as parents are supportive, their school is supportive… still the first thing my daughter would say when she faces a 'challenge' (like drawing a dog): I can't do that dad, I won't try.
I wouldd say: well, let's try and find out how well you will do. Remember that a dog has 4 legs 😉
It is like this fear of failure is imprinted in our DNA. The whole world suffers from this human error.
Or is it a blessing that supports us? Something that we have naturally in our system and we must try to find the balance?
Also the thought of 'what will other people think' is so strong and present in every human being. For what purpose? That has nothing to do with survival of the species. Mating perhaps…
These feelings are in us, no matter where or in what family you where born. I don't believe that there will ever be a time that kids grow up and don't have a clue what shame has to do with failure.
Is this designed?
Is it the only way for us to grow, to fight this battle against our own feelings… everyday?
Some folks will never even think about these things. Am I really better of beating myself up to become a better person?
I sure think so.
Create a destination, then go there. Straight lines are best but a little zigging and zagging doesn't hurt, just takes a little time. Never, ever give up though!!