In my first article  on this topic of change, I used the analogy of a pendulum swinging back and forth as a great force for change. Sometimes the changes are subtle and we welcome them into our lives with nary a worry. Recently, huge shifts have been occurring and these bring major changes to our equilibrium. It can often feel like a pressure cooker about to explode, because there is no steam vent.

Your world may be turned upside down right now. Or you may fear it’s going to change because you’ve seen it happen to someone you know.  In my second article , I shared some questions you can ask yourself to help you regain your focus on reality and provide some relief to that pressure valve.

Today, I want to talk about the opportunities that come from a changing environment.  We are such creatures of habit that it is easier for us to stay with the status quo than to experience something a bit uncomfortable – even if we know it will make us better, stronger, smarter, or happier.

During a period of great change, you have an opportunity to re-evaluate your activities habits, and beliefs.  Which ones become your anchors that will hold you steadfast and see you through the storm?  Which ones no longer support you? By letting go, you make room for new possibilities.

Let me share an example. 

I was raised to be grateful for whatever I was given. (That’s a good thing!) I was also taught to not be wasteful. (That’s a good thing too!)

You may recognize these sentiments too: “Eat everything you put on your plate . . . think of the starving children in  _____ (pick a country.)”  Or it could mean wearing clothes until they were threadbare, whether you liked them or not. And if they didn’t fit . . . well you may lose that weight someday, so just store them away until your ‘thin’ days return.

The results of these two common stories many of us carry around are that we eat too much and we become packrats.

What if, instead, you can replace those stories with new ones?

 "I will eat slowly and enjoy the food, and eat only what I need to feel full.”  You consciously choose to order smaller portions (yes, I sometimes order from the children’s menu!)? Or you get a to-go box and take the rest home for a second meal at a later time.

And what if, instead of holding onto clothes that you’re fairly certain you won’t wear – even when the weight is lost, you make a choice to find places to donate the clothes so that others can still benefit from them?

The results are a thinner you and a less-crammed closet.  And you have a set of new stories, new experiences in your mind that reflect a new way of being:  “When I make smart choices, I take care of myself and am healthier. When I share my abundance, others benefit along the way.”
 
I encourage you to always reflect on what’s working, what is not working in your life. It’s the natural order of things, as in the subtle pendulum swing, to clear out the clutter – not only in your closet, but also in your mind . . . in order to make way for the new possibilities that are coming your way.

Have a Golden Day!
Coach Darlene