U/B 11: Finding what you look for

Plus, finding what you didn't know to look for

Here’s your weekly reminder to choose what serves you. What might be useful and beautiful for you today?

Hi!

You’re more likely to find something if you are looking for it.

Is that true? I suppose it’s one story, not a fact.

Still, it can be a useful story.

Look for what you want

I can hardly take a walk without finding 4-leaf clovers.

I’ll literally stop in my tracks (even when jogging) because I’ll see one out of the corner of my eye. About half the time, I’m right.

My husband and kids think I’m a freak. Kind of. Not really. They know that I’m good at pattern recognition and I’ve got a weird obsession with 4-leaf clovers.

How many 4-leaf clovers do you see?

I consider this a “you’re more likely to find something when you look for it” situation¹. Most people don’t bother looking. They don’t get value from it, so it’s not worth their time and energy.

I love the rush of finding treasure. Like I said, it’s a bit of an obsession.²

A bowl of water helps wilted clovers perk up before being pressed.

Believe you can find it

Let’s say that it’s true³, that you are more likely to find something if you’re looking for it (like 4-leaf clovers or a silver lining to a shitty situation). I think it helps if you believe it’s possible.

Plenty of people don’t look for 4-leaf clovers — even if they’d enjoy having one — because they don’t believe it’s possible for them the find⁴. That it’s the kind of thing only happens to other people. I’m talking about more than clovers now.

I don’t have to believe anymore because I know it’s possible⁵.

I know it’s possible to find (or create) usefulness and beauty in any situation, because I choose to look.

A caveat to looking

Don’t only look for what you know exists. You might miss things that you’re not actively looking for.

That’s why I remind myself to stay open to possibility. Meander with an open mind. You may not know what you want until you find it.

The teacher appears when the student is ready.

A quick note on pattern recognition

Finding 4-leaf clovers is about spotting the what’s out of place: a square (4 leaves) among triangles (3 leaves). I’ve found loads of things this way. Arrowheads, fossils, dollar bills (back when people still used paper money), bird’s nests, etc. What have you found?

What will you choose to look for?

So…

You’re more likely to notice something if you look for it.

And if you’re not looking for it, you may not see it. Which can be good or bad, depending on the thing.

My advice:

Actively look for what you want: positive things, opportunities.

Don’t actively look for what you don’t want: negative things, inconveniences.

Sometimes, just look with no objective. See what you might find when you’re open to possibility.

What will you look for today?

Thank you for choosing to read my words. Your attention is a generous gift.

Love,

Kate

p.s. Like this letter? Help others get value from it, too. Please tap the heart, forward it, share on your socials.

p.p.s. Stuck in a cycle of looking for bad things? Send me a note and we can chat.

Also send me a note if you want a 4-leaf clover. I have plenty.

A rare 5-leafer

1. There’s also an element of “you have to know where to look”. You won’t find 4-leaf clovers where there are no 3-leaf clovers.

2. If you want a 4-leaf clover, send me a note. I laminate them to give away.

3. Plenty of people will tell you to NOT look for something because that’s when it will show up. Like love. Or your car keys. I don’t know. Do what’s useful to you.

4. FWIW, 4-leaf clovers are not as rare as you’d think. Some say it’s a 1 in 10,000 chance, but that’s misleading. The human eye can scan thousands of clover leaves for pattern disruption in a manner of seconds. Once you find one, it’s easy to find others because the plant you’re looking at has the mutation. Regardless, 78% of statistics are made up.

How many clovers did you see? There are at least ten 4-leaf clovers in the first photo.

5. For more on believing vs knowing, see this post:

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