Making Changes

Change is often difficult, it's taking the first step into the unknown that often holds us back. But there seems to be this inate drive within to push forward, to grow, to spread our wings a little wider.

Today I want to talk about changing from doing to being. I'm thinking about all the reading we do for self help. I know I've been doing it for the past 20+ years! It seems a little soaks in at a time. If we keep at it, change does slowly take place. Being patient with ourselves isn't easy either. Persistance does pay off though.

I want to say there comes a time when we have to put the books down and live what we have been reading about. While that is true to some extent, I think it happens piecemeal. We often can't change all at once.

We do have to make the effort to put into practice what we learn though. Reading about meditation will not help us be more calm!

Make a pledge to integrate something you have learned into your daily routine. Studies show it takes about 30 days of doing something new for our brains to develope new neuropathways to a behavior so that it becomes habit.

Let me know how it goes, or if you need help!

Blessings!

Voluntary Simplicity

I've started a Voluntary Simplicity workbook group. The workbook is from the Northwest Earth Institute, a great organization offering many different series concerning food, nature and humans! I highly recommend them. They are free except for the cost of the workbook.

Simplicity has so many meanings and it is different for each person. A very personal thing, I'd say.

Simplicity doesn't necessarily mean never buying something new, or fixing everything yourself, or not having the things you really want.

I think the main idea for me is to be able to go through my day feeling relaxed, focused and enjoying what I'm doing. Boy, that would require a lot of behavior change! But, stop for a minute and imagine what that would look like for you!

Yes, we would have to make a concerted effort to catch the stressors before they grab hold of us, saying no to things that would knock us out of balance, watch what foods we take in and really think before we act, deciding if what we are about to do will add to or take away from our peace of mind.

Will there have to be exceptions? Of coarse! How we react to unexpected events will make all the difference. We can always choose to react differently. Take a few deep breaths and realize it isn't the end of the world and we will be okay.

Adding that inner smile can help too. With some effort, we can change our mood by being willing and thinking of something that makes us smile and capturing that feeling and hanging on to it. We can then proceed with a positive attitude and not let things spoil our day!