I had a birthday January 3rd.
Every year of my life someone else has planned my birthday. Sometimes I had a party, sometimes an intimate gathering, sometimes an outing. I expected it. I enjoyed it. I looked forward to it. This year was different; it was a change.
In quiet meditation I had a vision emerge and this year I planned my own celebration. I invited my friend Kim Miller, owner of Om and Garden Yoga Studio, to lead an hour long class and meditation. I asked my friend William to put together an hour long movement and dance segment. My friend Sigolene (a family constellation facilitator) offered to share a group drawing. I asked everyone to bring some food to share… I asked them to pray over the food as they prepared it. The evening was in silence. Sorta.
This same day I committed to a 40 day yoga meditation.
I’m on day 10; sometimes I get up at 5:30am to keep my commitment and sometimes I go to bed later than I prefer. The meditation I am doing is for change. I fold into a rag doll and release everything that no longer serves my highest good. I reach up to the heavens and open to the abundance all around me. I complain. I cry. I sit in peace. And then I do it all over again as I call forward the change that allows me to live a higher expression of myself. I do it all over again as I call forward the change that allows me to connect with you in the intention of you living your life purpose.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the concept of change and I’ve decided I’m all for it.
Change is inevitable; it will happen with or without your consent. Things happen. Wrists break. Cars slide off the roads. Relationships change. I personally can’t wait for the snow to melt and spring to bring the baby animals to life. Moves. Changes of jobs. Look at your baby pictures… There’s nothing you can do to stop the change. You can resist the change and have a miserable experience or you can accept the changes as they come and adjust to them…even thrive! What if the only reason for change was to lead you to a higher vision? a higher engagement and expression of your purpose… Maybe the change you’ve experienced in your life is really your wake up call.
Being open to change is what makes it possible to have a positive experience.
Hindsight confirms that change teaches us…that change benefits us. So, what if we were to not only accept the changes in our lives, but welcome them and their messages? Change informs us. Change invites us to new perspectives… to a gentler relationship with ourselves.
My experience with change is opening me up to new ideas, possibilities, and opportunities.
I have tons of ideas. Michelle and I are going to make lots of changes in the coming weeks. We are going to change our website. We are going to start a real newsletter. (I’m going to write it.)
Have you thought about change in relation to your vision?
I have. This is the most exciting part of change for me…. Look at your vision for your life this next year (you can look out 3-5 years if one year seems too overwhelming), and get in touch with what you want your life to look like. Now be real honest with yourself and notice what needs to change in your life, in your world, in your relationships, or in your way of thinking in order to bring about this vision for your life.
You need to have a vision of what you want so you can compare it with what you have.
Once you have a vision you can look at your current circumstances and determine what changes you need to make to bring about your vision. It will be very important for you to know what needs to change, because then you can take the actions that naturally lead to the life you want to create. I have a vision of a huge party with all my clients, readers, colleagues together in the same room. I have deep and meaningful connections with wonderful people around the world. My circle of influence enlarges every day. You are an integral member of my circle.
Here are some things that need to change for me and the actions I can take to ensure that change happens…
- Reading Marcus Buckingham confirmed that I’m a relator. The first thing I want to do when making a connection is go deeper. I want to connect with you! I want to have a relationship with you. In my vision, I empower everyone one I meet… I inspire people to live a grander version of themselves. I give people permission to love and accept themselves exactly as they are. All through connecting… Does your life change with what I write? Does your vision become clearer to you by being in relationship with me? How can I support you? How can I empower you.
- How can I let you know that I really care about you. Yes, YOU! Let me know what I can do, because I will take the action that demonstrates my caring. And I want you at my party!
- We want to make it easier to use our website, so we’re changing it.
- By next week we will have a cleaner website. You will be able to find what you’re looking for easier than before.
- I’m going to start the newsletter… a real one that I write regularly.
- I want to share what I know about living a life of purpose. Having a newsletter will allow me to give you tips and suggestions for unveiling and manifesting your spiritual gifts. It will provide a venue to connect with each other. I love it! And it’s a great way to send invitations to my gala event, in which you are a most wanted guest.
What changes do you need to make?
If you want to lose twenty pounds, what changes do you need to make in your daily choices?
If you want to have a healthier relationship, what changes to you need to make in your relationship with yourself?
What are the changes you need to make that’ll knock your socks off?
What changes do you need to make that naturally lead to a lifestyle that fits with someone living a life of purpose and passion? What kind of life do you want, what changes do you need to make to have this life?
None of this matters unless you are willing to take the actions that lead to the changes you want to experience. Are you resisting the changes because you are afraid? Are you pretending that the choices you are making now will lead you to what you desire, even though you know they won’t? Are you ready to step beyond your limitations?
Here’s what I’m willing to let go of.
A limitation I’ve placed on myself is around being in front of the camera. “I’m not a speaker,” I tell myself. I’m not confident in front of the camera…. Okay, I have a huge amount of fear on this topic and I’m willing to let go of my fear, if you are. I will just fold forward and release this fear that no longer serves me. I will stand up and open to the abundant connections I will make as a result.
What are you willing to release to allow the changes you want in your life?
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
WOW! Those were powerful words, powerful commitments. I can feel the force of change, see the vision that creats evolution. I want to be there with you, with me, there. I see change all around me, friends, thought patterns life style and I do believe it is people like you, creating a catlist for an energic change allowing people, me, with the creation of a vessel, the space to change. I’m ready, I have never been more ready to change, to move forward to release what needs to be let go of.
I want to let go of 50 pounds, to practice yoga every day and write and meditate everyday. Since I know me, well kind of anyway, the idea of what can be accomplished sometimes holds a large degree of grandiousity. My life before today has held vision and most of it has come to furition, I wanted to be an editor of a small magazine, the opportunity came to wirte a news letter for a non profit organization and it seems my self confidence was not there to support me. I tried it for a while and then began procrastinating and finally turned it over to someone else who is doing a great job. I did a great job,however my fear of critisim and commitment became self sabatage.
I want this to be different, I choose for this time to be different. THis time it needs to be about me, however it needs to be bigger than me, it needs to be about us, as a family, a community, about the earth. It needs to come from a place of center, focused with a force of universal energy. Sounds way out there dosen’t it. Perhaps it is possible, one day at a time, with support.
Though change is happening every moment of everyday…sometimes I feel like I’m in slow motion. Like something is trying to grab my attention. When I pause and sit at the computer; I feel the power of your words and thoughts; revealing incredible possibilities. Your commitment to embrace change is inspirational. Thanks CK.
Terri, it sounds like you are on a path to success. Hold the vision and take action every day. It’s okay if it’s a small…small step…that’s how you’ll manifest your vision.
Gail, What are the incredible possibilities? What is it –specifically– that’s trying to grab your attention? How is my commitment inspirational? I Want Specifics! Then I can settle into my comfort zone and coach you on how to get what you want….
A belated birthday greeting, CK. I enjoyed the article. Look forward to your newsletter and the new website. Recovering from adrenal exhaustion has been very insightful. I have learned first hand how a nervous system’s base line of active awareness that steps higher to preparation for fight or flight; but never steps down to relaxed awareness drives everything. For the first time in my life, I am able to step down consciously to relaxed awareness. It has changed my life and my work. All the deeper, richer perceptual qualities are present with everything. A big thank you to you and Michelle for your classes and coaching.
Susan, You are welcome! I’ll be sending an e-mail soon–we have 2 local classes in February we would like to invite you to. And since you’ve been a client of ours, you get a great discount!
So, what does stepping down consciously to relaxed awareness look like? What are the first clues that inform you to take this step down? How early are you catching it and what are the signs? Are they connected to your body? Like heart rate? or is it a thought? I think the answers here will be very helpful to everyone reading… Because if we have the awareness early enough and can recognize we need to take action or make a change or simply stop… then we can change our experience…get off the merry-go-round …
Thank you for this topic because it really hit home. I also celebrated my birthday this month on the 10th, and made my own plans to be with the people which count the most. Fear of change is something I really need to work on and as we all know it will happen even if you don’t take action one way or the other for better or worst. Taking part in it and making the choices on what types of changes you want to see to make a purposefull life will make us healthier happier people. I will begin to see my therapist to continue the work we began four years ago before I had my two precious children. Thank you for sharing your fears and growing process with us. I love to share also.
Happy Birthday Martha! I’d love to gift you with a coaching session for your birthday and in light of working on ‘fear of change.’ If you’d like to receive, shoot me an e-mail.