Embracing Change

Our nature as human beings is that we love routine and predictability. Whether we like to admit it or not, we are creatures of habit. In some areas of our lives we do certain things out of habit and don’t even notice. Have you arrived to a destination and not remembered parts of the trip? Have you eaten dinner in a rush, and not stopped to taste the food? Does your work require repetitive steps, that become second nature? We operate on auto pilot unless we are being mindful of being in the present moment. This is a practice in itself.

When we are running on auto pilot, I believe this familiarity is a sense of security. It can be a false sense of security. At some point in time, we are on auto pilot for the majority of the day. It is then that we realise we have become stuck in what we perceive is a rut. With no idea how to break the pattern, we begin searching. Searching for what we can change; trying to find the catalyst for change.

Something external usually happens as a catalyst, and it’s usually out of our control, which means then, we are forced to change. Change our habits, change our routine, change our job, move house. Some changes are comfortable and we move forward with ease. Some changes are big and bring up fear or other intense emotions, as we are pushed outside our comfort zone. The “what if” thinking comes in. It is how we process and handle the change that is the challenge. If we keep going as we are, our body starts to express through dis-ease, what we aren’t looking at and the changes we are needing to make. The dis-ease is there to take notice of - it’s our body’s way of letting us know what needs to be looked at emotionally and within our lives.

Emotions need to be validated, and can be viewed as positive or negative. It is our Ego defining how we should be feeling, then guilt creeps in for feeling the way we do. Do not let the emotions get in the way of pushing yourself out of your comfort zone for something that you do really want to have happen.

Close your eyes, centre yourself and breathe out the emotion you are feeling. When you are feeling calm, think about the situation and listen internally for a feeling, an inner knowing or an inner voice about what to do. Sometimes a goal or big change is just too big to handle at once. If we look at the entire situation, it is overwhelming and our thoughts and emotions can come in and limit the action we are wanting to take. The goal or change seems too big right now. If it is something that you are wanting, break it down into smaller steps.

When I am feeling overwhelmed, I will stop, breathe and ask myself what the next step is that I should take. I will get a feeling, or an idea and know the next step. Move forward one step at a time – rather than looking at the whole goal/outcome. Write a list of what needs to be done to achieve your goal. Smaller steps are easier to enable you to move forward towards your goal.

If you were to look back on your life, look at an achievement. Look at the steps you took to achieve that goal. If someone was to tell you that you were going to achieve your goal or undertake a lot of changes, you wouldn’t believe it. No major achievement or change in our lives just happens; there are steps taken to achieve that goal. Lots of tiny steps were taken to achieve the outcome. As small as they appeared at the time, these small steps led you to the end result.

If you happen to fail, pick yourself up and try again. Look at what didn’t work and change it. Keep reworking, defining and redefining. The only way to move forward is to try and try again. Learn from past mistakes and adjust accordingly. Nothing is achieved without trying. Nothing is achieved without taking that one small step. Don’t give up on your goal before it has the chance to happen.

Put one foot in front of the other. All the little steps will add up to something big. We are here to expand and grow. If we do not do this, nothing happens. Change is inevitable, we are here to accept the challenges given. Dare to dream big. Embrace the changes that occur as a result.

Danielle Renee

Holistic Therapist – Writer

Visit Danielle's website here