“If we are not fully ourselves, truly in the present moment, we miss everything.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh
While in the process of “re-branding” my business, I’ve been reading a lot about business marketing. One of the articles that I really loved contains an analogy of a lighthouse for a business model, but to me, it speaks of so much more. It’s really a life model.
The example highlights how a lighthouse doesn’t run up and down the coast, anxiously seeking any boats in the water. It doesn’t cast its beam north and south, right and left, desperate to be seen. It isn’t frantically searching for every possible boat, screaming, “Let me help!”
What it does is remain steady, naturally drawing attention to itself by consistently beaming the same message “I am here.”
By remaining true to its purpose, the lighthouse guides the boats that need its direction. When they need it, they find the beam. There are no swaying lights and mixed reference points to confuse the other boats not needing direction. Everyone’s needs are met.
A challenge in my business life has been to remain true to what calls to my heart—to trust there is a need for my work and that my clients and I will find each other. To have faith that connections are inevitable. To stay focused on where I know I fit and not jump on every marketing bandwagon that rolls into town.
But I think this need speaks to such a greater challenge. It reminds me of the trust it takes to stay consistently in our personal truth, to be who we are we openly, to send a steady beam knowing that this is enough.
My past includes years and years of sales, and during that time, my mode was frantically trying to be all things to all people. How often have I felt I needed to keep running up and down the coast, trying to be noticed?
How often have I felt I must shout out, “Here I am!” not trusting that I was ever enough?
In business, as in life, there is the constant we’re constantly bombarded with information—how to be more productive, more successful, more everything. And every “more” comes with an action.
But how often do those actions come from a place of true heart-centered intention? Most of these suggestions urge you to shine your beam in a frenzy without an authentic sense of focus or connection to your truest aspirations.
I am realizing that there is great power in being authentic—that there is strength in truth. As I honor my personal truth without stressing about getting or being more, I’m naturally more confident and more successful.
I want to be a steady beam, to know that there is safety in my own truth—that my presence can provide a place for others to be authentic and secure in whom they are.
Does this image call to you as well? Isn’t there such a lovely peace about sending forth a beam with trust we needn’t obsess about the outcome? That our beam is all that is needed?
What a beautiful gift.
Photo here
About Karen Mead
Karen Mead is an alchemist, an explorer and a fellow traveler on this journey of life. Visit her blog, The Peaceful Journey , or check out her website, A Peaceful Path .
Though I run this site, it is not mine. It's ours. It's not about me. It's about us. Your stories and your wisdom are just as meaningful as mine. 
I love this post. It speak to me, thank you for putting it so eloquently. Sara
Love the message and beautifully put!x Fiona
I don’t understand the text of the second to last paragraph; perhaps there’s a typo there? Alas….
What a wonderful post. Thank you for sharing! 🙂
Beautiful:)
Beautiful:)
It has been my personal motto in the past year or so to “live bravely, and be authentic.” If I do my best to be authentic (which includes characteristics too long for a comment) and remind myself to be brave enough to follow that, then I am my own *beam* as you say in the article.
So yes, this resonated with me. I really like the metaphor. Thank you for sharing this 🙂
This was GREAT!!! Thank you Karen! “I want to be the beam” ,new motto. Priceless!! 😀
My new motto too – thanks!
The idea of quietly staying in my own truth and being authentic without having to force it on anyone else is one that definitely resonates with me right now. I had the realization earlier this year that nearly everyone in my life was rejecting who I am/my “true self”, and I had started “shouting” louder and louder since my voice wasn’t being heard. That wasn’t working either, and I can’t even describe what it feels like to know so strongly who you are but to have everyone else either ignore or deny it. It was a real lesson for me to have to learn to reign it back in, to be quiet and know that *my* knowing that I was being authentic had to be enough, and if that wasn’t going to be accepted by someone else then I had to acknowledge that and move on. I really like the lighthouse analogy, especially because it inherently seems to project a peaceful image… that inner peace is what I hung on to when everyone around me rejected what I was showing them, and in the end that peace with myself is all I needed.
thank you. i really enjoyed this article. it was something i needed to be reminded of.
[…] second post, Desperate to be Seen: Learning to Shine a Steady Beam, from the “Tiny Buddha” blog, touches on a subject I’m currently addressing in my […]
Totally awesome.
this is exactly the experience I had :))
For quite a long time, I’ve been trying too hard in my life without making the strides I wanted to. Consequently, I’ve noticed this quality with some of my friends who have turned their ambitions into feeding their egos as well. I couldn’t quite explain why I’ve felt so awkward around that until now. Your article was a great “aha!” moment for me! Thank you so much for the enlightenment!
“The little light of mine… I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine… I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine… I’m gonna let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine.” 🙂
I like the lighthouse image, and your emphasis on authenticity, heart-centered intention, trust and truth. And I can relate to the desire to be seen, and especially to be seen for who I am. However, your reference to boats got me thinking that if we all act like lighthouses, we may limit our ability to connect with each other.
For me, the boats represent a more resonant metaphor. I spend some of my time at sea, some of my time anchored or docked, and some of that dock time in what I consider my home port. While I long to be more deeply rooted and grounded – and often spend considerable amounts of time in safe harbors – I believe that I need to hazard myself (as David Whyte might put it) and venture forth, out of my comfort zone(s), in order to be of service to others and to realize my full potential.
This is an awesome and profound idea that I never tire of being reminded of. Thank you for sharing your personal perspective which brings it home again for me; the glory in trusting myself to attract the perfect situations, people, etc, just by “broadcasting” my energy and standing still. How easy. How perfect.
Loved this!
Thank you so much for this post Karen…I so needed this! I have been experiencing something similar and just last night, my life coach said to me “it’s as if you are spending so much of your energy trying to be seen, that you are pushing away anything that wants to find you.” I guess I’ve been “confusing the boats.” Thanks for your share…I too believe there is profound connection, power, and transformation in authenticity and when we ground ourselves and all our affairs in this truth. I walk this path with you…thanks Karen:)
Erin
http://www.ErinLanahanMethod.com
I love applying this idea to business. It really holds true that the more authentic you are, the more people are able to see who you really are and therefore are attracted to your true essence! It also allows others to shine their light brightly as well!
[…] goals for San Diego Lifestyle and came across this wonderful article written by Karen Mead titled Desperate To Be Seen: Learning To Shine A Steady Light. This was a real a ah-ha moment for me. Thank you Karen and I could not say it better than the […]
Karen, thanks for interesting and insightful article.. I guess what I am struggling right now is that beam knows what its goal or focus is… how many individuals really know what they want of life… I have never been able to figure that out for myself… and hence sometimes it becomes like we are just frantically moving from one thing to other… Any insights on how to know what your goal or focus is highly appreciated.