You may ask yourself, “How do I articulate the essence of what I do?” or, “How can I clearly communicate it so people can find me?”
You’re not alone.
In fact, I commonly hear, “I know what I do… but I can’t explain it clearly.” This is usually followed by assumptions about lacking clarity, confidence, or skill.
However, that’s rarely the case.
I know intuitive healers, people who do energy work, sound healers, and many other practitioners who are gifted, talented, and deeply skilled at what they do. At the same time, they often struggle to explain their work to the very people who are looking for them—but don’t yet have the language to find them.
One of my clients said, “I just do it! Why can’t I wave my hands and people get it?”
Great question.
We live in a world of agreed-upon symbols—and yes, words are symbols too. However, each person interprets those symbols differently.
For example, we can all stand around a plant and look at it. One person thinks it’s pretty. Another thinks it’s a weed. Someone else is allergic to it, so it feels harmful. In reality, it’s just a plant.
So, the difference isn’t a communication problem. Instead, it’s a translation problem.
That’s exactly why I created the Aligned Expression Framework.
How does this apply to your work?
Let’s break this down into a simple cause-and-effect relationship.
Cause
Your work exists internally as:
intuition
experience
emotional and energetic knowing
multiple interconnected ideas
It is:
non-linear
felt before it is defined
It is non-linear, and often felt before it’s defined (similar to what Thinking, Fast and Slow describes as intuitive processing).
Effect
When you try to explain it:
language feels insufficient
descriptions feel incomplete
you simplify too much or overcomplicate
Result:
The work becomes difficult to recognize from the outside
The Second Layer of the Problem
Cause
You try to describe the work before it is fully clarified
essence is not fully articulated
audience is not clearly defined
transformation is not fully named
Effect
messaging feels vague or abstract
different explanations each time
difficulty answering “what do you do?”
Result:
Inconsistency creates confusion – for both you and others.
The “Marketing Language” Mismatch
This is a big one.
As someone who has worked in marketing and web design, I’ve heard many stories from people who hired an “expert” and then felt like something was wrong with them.
However, it’s not you.
Instead, someone tried to stuff your work into a container that doesn’t actually fit.
Cause
Traditional language:
prioritizes simplification
prioritizes persuasion
often doesn’t match the nature of meaningful work
Effect
your work feels reduced or distorted
your language feels unnatural or performative
you avoid using it
Result:
Resistance to expressing the work at all
What This Actually Means (Reframe)
If your work is hard to explain, it often means:
the work has depth that hasn’t been structured yet
the essence is felt but not articulated
the expression layer has not yet been developed
So, this is not a failure.
Instead, it’s a stage in the process.
A Simple Way to Begin (DIY Clarity Process)
Here’s a self-guided version of the Clarify stage from the Aligned Expression Framework.
Exercise 1 — What Does the Work Actually Do?
Write in plain language:
“This work helps people ______”
Repeat until it feels:
simple
specific
grounded
Exercise 2 — Before → After
This is a powerful reflection. In addition, it can help you connect more deeply with your clients.
Ask them what they think – after all, they know how they feel better than you do.
Before working with you, clients feel:
After working with you, clients feel:
Focus on:
emotional state
not outcomes or promises
Exercise 3 — Who Is This For (and Not For)?
This work is for people who…
This work is not for people who…
This sharpens:
Recognition
Exercise 4 — Say It Out Loud
Speak your work as if explaining to one person.
Notice:
- where you hesitate
- where language breaks
- where it feels natural
This reveals:
Where clarity exists vs where it doesn’t.
Section 6 — What Changes When Clarity Begins
As clarity develops:
- language becomes simpler (not smaller)
- explanations become consistent
- confidence increases naturally
- people begin to understand more quickly
Shift:
From explaining → to being understood
Section 7 — When to Go Deeper
If someone reaches a point where:
they understand their work but still struggle to articulate it
they can describe parts, but not the whole
their presence still feels misaligned
Then:
At that point, deeper structured work can help.
We all reach a place where doing everything alone becomes difficult. If you feel stuck, you’re welcome to reach out. I’m happy to offer a nudge in the right direction.
You can also explore whether an Alignment Session would be useful.
Closing
This process can feel overwhelming at times. I’ve done this work myself, and yes, it can feel like herding cats. You may find the Finding the Centre of Your Work guided meditation helpful in developing Clarity.
You don’t need to force clarity all at once. Sometimes it’s enough to stay with what you can already see and let the rest take shape gradually.
If questions come up as you move through this, you’re welcome to reach out.
Some people prefer to remain close to their own process while having support translating it into clear, grounded language. That’s part of what I offer.