Changes
It’s the time of year for change. Changing seasons welcome fresh starts, new beginnings, and opportunities for growth and productivity. It can also be a good time to reflect on the past. Reflection on past decisions, old patterns, and relationships allows room for integrating the parts we want to keep with us, and the parts we want to leave behind. After we incorporate the wisdom we want to carry, we can begin to move forward with greater clarity and intention.
Reflection can be difficult sometimes. It requires drudging up memories, old hurts, grievances, and consideration of past events. It means confronting the problems that have been troubling, or weighing us down. Sometimes we may even need to dig down to the roots and clear out the bramble before we can start out on our new path.
By engaging in true contemplation about the past, we may first need to examine what has been keeping us stuck, or preventing our growth. Is it old attitudes that need changing? Is it a situation or relationship we have outgrown? Reflections can sometimes trigger a sense of nostalgia and sentiment. Nostalgia can sometimes be useful to engage in, to determine the essence of our experience that we will continue to hold close to our hearts. After engaging in this period of reflection, we may determine we need to let some things go, or allow our relationships to evolve in ways that adapt to the change. It may mean having some difficult conversations with loved ones, or allowing for some deeper self-reflection.
After engaging in exploration of our past experiences and behaviors, we can shift our perspectives, and begin to move forward with a renewed sense of purpose. What lessons have we learned from the past that will provide greater insight into our current circumstances? What is our driving force? What goals do we want to work toward in the future? Some review and revision can help clarify our true wants and needs, and can help to determine the path we may take. It may even lead us in a new direction.
Here are some steps to help process and integrate change successfully in our lives.
1. Take a step back and reflect on the circumstances you may need to change. Revisit these circumstances and ask yourself if they are fully serving you.
2. If there are situations that are stagnating, or are no longer serving your goals and purpose, take steps to change or adapt them fit with your current vision.
3. Negotiate changes in relationships, in ways that honor the evolution in our lives. Sometimes as we grow, our relationships need to evolve and adapt to the change. This may mean confronting a relationship dynamic that is no longer serving you, or working with the other person to compromise in a way that reflects the change.
4. Challenge yourself to shift perspective, and adopt a growth mindset. Remember that circumstances are continuously changing throughout our lives, and we may be limited by a rigid viewpoint. By adopting a new lens that is oriented toward improvement and future growth, we can begin to see opportunities to move past the roadblocks.
5. Learn from the experiences and use the wisdom gained to propel yourself forward in a new direction. What have you learned? Determine which parts you want to cherish and hold onto, and which parts you may need to release and let go.
6. Create goals that drive your sense of inner fulfillment and purpose. What fuels your sense of passion and motivation? What sparks enthusiasm and joy? Which relationships nourish and energize you? Who provides true and well-meaning support?
Once you have done some exploration and revising, you can determine the steps you may take to adapt to the change, looking forward to a more fulfilling and brighter future.
