Embracing the Miraculous in Uncertain Times

It's impossible to ignore the instability and uncertainty that surround us. The world feels heavy—bombarded by the relentless churn of 24-hour news cycles, deepening political divides, and challenges to truth, integrity, and values. Whether we look at global crises or our communities' personal struggles, it's easy to feel overwhelmed, even disheartened. The constant noise pulls us into spirals of fear, frustration, or even apathy.

I'm not immune to it. I feel it too—that tug toward hopelessness, the exhaustion that comes from trying to hold it all together. These are the moments that remind me how essential it is to double down on the practices that keep me grounded. It's not always easy. Staying above the fray, finding the beauty amidst the chaos, and attuning myself to what really matters takes effort. But it's in these very moments that the work becomes most important.

This isn't about ignoring the world's challenges or pretending everything is fine. It's about choosing how I engage with life—choosing to notice the good, even when it feels buried under layers of uncertainty. It's about looking for the extraordinary in the ordinary, and trusting, even when it's hard, that life has the capacity to surprise and transform.

The Wisdom of Unexpected Gifts

In 1992 fresh out of school, I had the opportunity to interview an amazing entrepreneur names Tricia Wilson who gave me a perspective that has stayed with me ever since. When I asked her about her future plans, expecting a detailed and inspiring answer, she surprised me with this: "Shasheen, I just don't have the creativity to answer that question"

Her response floored me. How could someone so accomplished, so full of life, not have a vision for what was next? Seeing my confusion, she leaned in and explained.

"If you had told me a year ago," she said, "that I'd be on a flight to New York City, sipping champagne in first class at 10 AM, sitting next to two of Japan's biggest hoteliers, I'd have said you were crazy. Yet there I was, raising my glass and saying the only Japanese word I knew—'Konnichiwa'—as a friendly gesture.  And if you would have told me that one moment would spark a conversation that led to the biggest contract in my company's history. I would have said come on, what are you talking about." She paused, a twinkle in her eye. "But you know what? ....That's exactly what happened."

Her stories didn't end there. "If you'd told me a year ago that I'd be on a safari in Africa, meet a National Geographic photographer, fall in love, and get engaged within six months, I would have just laughed out loud convinced that you were crazy. ...But you know what?" she said, leaning in again. "That's exactly what happened."

Her words began to change the way I looked at life. Tricia wasn't rejecting goals or aspirations; she was reminding me that life often unfolds in ways we can't predict. "Most of us have a sense of where we're headed," she said, "and life has its own plans. If you do your best, own up to your mistakes, and play fair, life works things out in ways you can't imagine."

Declaring the Unexpected Good

Years later, in 2006, during the height of fascination with the law of attraction and manifestation, another mentor of mine, Matthew Ferry, introduced me to what he called the "Miracle Hotline." The concept was simple yet profound: anytime something unexpectedly good happened, you would declare it a miracle. Matthew even set up a hotline for his clients to call and leave messages about their miracles, no matter how big or small. From finding a parking space to serendipitous encounters, people were calling in, celebrating the unexpected good in their lives.

Matthew believed that speaking these moments aloud held transformative power. It wasn’t just about noticing the good; it was about actively training your brain to recognize it. By declaring these miracles, you shift your focus away from what’s missing, wrong, or disappointing and instead orient toward what’s abundant and right. This practice doesn’t just improve your mood—it rewires your perspective. Over time, it heightens your awareness of life’s gifts, even the ones that initially go unnoticed.

The neuroscience behind this idea lies in the reticular activating system (RAS), the part of the brain responsible for filtering information and prioritizing what we pay attention to. When you focus on something—whether it’s a desired car, a specific goal, or a recurring worry—the RAS highlights related information in your environment, making it more noticeable. It’s the same mechanism that makes you spot your dream car everywhere after deciding you want it.

The Miracle Hotline practice leverages this principle but applies it to the unexpected. Instead of fixating on rigid goals or material desires, it teaches you to notice and amplify the unplanned, joyful moments that align with your intentions in surprising ways. This shift isn’t just about achieving tangible results like houses, cars, or relationships (though it can include those); it’s about cultivating an entirely new way of being in the world. When you train your brain to look for unexpected good, you create a broader and more powerful experience of life—one that accelerates your ability to feel connected, supported, and aligned with the possibilities around you.

At first, I was skeptical. Calling a hotline to talk about miracles felt unnecessary, maybe even trivial. But as I reflected on Tricia’s stories, something clicked.

Her words, "I don’t have the creativity to answer that question," weren’t about giving up on goals or desires—they were about releasing the need to control every outcome and trusting in life’s capacity to surprise us with gifts far beyond what we could imagine.

Inspired by Matthew’s Miracle Hotline, I adapted the practice for myself, trading in my vision board for my "miracle board." Instead of obsessing over specific goals or chasing rigid plans, I started tracking and celebrating the unexpected good in my life.

And something remarkable happened. Not only did my intentions start manifesting in ways I hadn’t anticipated, but I also found myself living in a state of greater openness, gratitude, and curiosity. The practice wasn’t just a tool for achieving external results—it was a gateway to an entirely new relationship with the world. It allowed me to align more deeply with my true intentions and experience life with a sense of wonder and possibility.

This shift in perspective opened up space for more than material success. It cultivated a feeling—a new way of being in the world—that was richer, more expansive, and more empowering than anything I could have envisioned on a traditional goal sheet or business plan. By focusing on the unexpected good, I found a pathway to create the experience I truly wanted in life: one filled with meaning, connection, and joy that went far beyond any single achievement.

Reflecting on the Year's Miracles

Since adopting this practice, reflecting on the year's miracles has become one of the most grounding parts of my spiritual life. Each December, before I set intentions for the coming year, I carve out time to look back—starting with where I was at this time last year. I revisit my calendar, scroll through social media posts,  seemingly endless amounts of photos, and reflect on the experiences that shaped my experience.

What unfolds is an extraordinary tapestry of life's gifts:

• Chance meetings and reconnections with old friends. Inspiring conversations and connections made on chair lifts. Six degrees of separation that were reduced to 1 degree regularly.  
• Referrals from past and current clients that happen out of the blue. Old clients reconnecting expressing gratitude for our work and time together, reinforcing my commitment to my work. 
• Introductions to new teachers and teaching that shifted my thinking. New books, movies, or music that inspired me.
• Moments of breathtaking natural beauty—sunsets, starry skies, or encounters with wildlife that stop me in my tracks reminding me of my connection to something greater 
• Bursts of creativity and inspiration. 
• Amazing opportunities to travel, and adventures and experiences I never could have planned for.
• New and exciting opportunities to serve and financial surprises that remind me abundance can flow in from the most unexpected places.

Even the challenges I've faced reveal their hidden blessings. A project that fell apart freed me to pursue something more aligned with my values. A personal struggle deepened my relationships and reminded me of the strength within my community.

This practice of reflecting on miracles isn't about pretending life is always easy. It's about acknowledging that even in the messiness, there's meaning. The setbacks, the detours, and the surprises all weave together to create a richer story.

Walking Boldly Into 2025

As I prepare to welcome 2025, I can't help but feel a mix of wonder and determination. These are challenging times. The global instability, the challenges to truth and integrity, and the sheer weight of uncertainty make it tempting to lose hope. But this is precisely when we need to double down—on our practices, on our faith, and on our commitment to attuning ourselves to the miraculous.

The simplicity of the Serenity Prayer reminds me to embrace my wisdom to know the difference between the things I can not change and find the courage  It reminds me to focus on the here and now, to meet the noise and chaos of the world with stillness and presence, and to trust that life can transform even in the most challenging times.

So, as I look ahead to the new year, I step forward not with rigid plans or a checklist of goals but with an open heart and a readiness to be astonished. Life's intricate patterns remind me that the unexpected doesn't just surprise us—it changes us. The obstacles we encounter, the detours we take, and the unforeseen joys we stumble upon all weave together to create the story of our becoming.

In 2025, I'll walk with curiosity, humility, and wonder, embracing the challenges and the gifts that come my way. I'll celebrate the lessons I've learned, honor the growth I've earned, and remain open to the extraordinary gifts life has yet to reveal. Above all, I'll stay present, ready to meet life's unfolding magic head-on.

As a coach, therapist, and human being, I am deeply committed to continuing my own growth—not just for myself but for my family, clients and my community. Through courage, compassion, and the ongoing work of self-inquiry, I aim to model what is possible in the human spirit. This is my promise: to remain open to life, to serve with integrity, and to trust that the miracles we seek are already on their way.

I look forward to hearing from you. 

From the heart, 

Shasheen Shah