When You Change

When we change…

5 a.m. Monday morning.

My alarm goes off.

My eyes struggle to open and the thought of pulling back the duvet cover off my body traumatises me.

It's early spring and the morning temperatures are still chilly.

I decide to close my eyes for another minute or two, as I prepare my mind for the cold am about to face.

When I open my eyes again, my clock reads 5.36 a.m.

I hear a little voice tell me it's too late anyway... you might as well stay in bed till 7.

As I submit to that voice's most reasonable idea, pulling back the duvet to cover me, I turn to relieve my aching shoulder. Then another voice comes in, this one contradicting the first.

"You promised you won't do this!"

"You promised to commit to your commitments."

"You promised to keep the promises you made to yourself!"

My eyes open wide and I whisper quietly to myself... I have to do this!

I get out of bed and my feet hit the cold floor beneath.

I grab my running clothes… I'd set them out the previous night as motivation. I put them on and tiptoe down the stairs, not wanting to wake my housemates up.

5.50 a.m.

I open my front door to the crisp morning air, ready for my now routine morning walk. Elevation with Pastor Steven Furtick podcast is playing through my earplugs as I set out for a 3km brisk walk.

Pastor Steven is teaching about change, and how we should embrace it.

Of the 1 hour 10 minutes sermon... one line resonates to me loudly.

How true is that?!

Coz that's exactly what I've discovered through this journey.

True healing starts when you recognise that you can't remain the same.

• In the same situation.

• With the same pain, anger, frustration, hurt.

• You can't remain in the same regret, shame and depression.

When you accept that something needs to shift... change needs to happen!

At least that's my story.

You need to accept change

Change can be very scary.

• it's the unknown.

• it's the worry of it not working out.

• it's the anxiety of being all alone.

• it's the paralysing fear of other people's opinions and judgement.

The thought of going off course from the familiar can paralyse you. But that doesn't mean that it's a bad thing, on the contrary.

Staying stagnant, in your comfort zone, hinders you from growing.

From reaching your potential.

And from living the life you know you deserve.

Embracing change can look like;

• Cultivating a growth mindset.

Changing is an opportunity for learning and developing. Learn to see challenges as moments of growth, rather than obstacles.

Start believing in your ability to adapt and thrive in new situations.

• Being solution focused

Directing your energy on finding opportunities and solutions as you go through change. It's counterproductive to dwell on what you might be losing or leaving behind.

Find ways to focus your strength and resources on creating positive outcomes.

• Practicing mindfulness and feeling your feelings

Being mindful can help you approach change with clarity and acceptance. Try as much as possible to be present. Acknowledge the feelings you experience about the changes that’s happening.

Be kind to yourself, view whatever is happening with a non-judgemental lens.

The Healing

What I know for sure is change is inevitable.

Whether we like it or not, things will change at some point in our lives.

We have to see change as a chance to grow.

Let’s take the opportunity that change presents and aim for positive results. To achieve these results, we have to use our strengths and experiences to find impactful solutions.

It's important to allow ourselves to feel our emotions without judgement. And this, by being mindfully aware of them at every moment.

Taking small but vital steps is empowering.

These steps allow us to face change with hope. But also with confident in our ability to adapt and thrive in our new environment.

Because, when we change... our situation, relationships and the environment around us changes.

Love & light,

Christine

P.S

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P.P.S

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