GETTING CLEAR WITH OURSELVES IN A TIME OF CHANGE
Where is my life? The past is fading and I cannot see the future clearly. What am I to do? It’s as if I am no longer standing on solid ground. So much is shifting. How do I move forward?
Bringing Ourselves Fully Into The Present Moment
Along with chaos and change, there is a higher measure of the unknown now. We are in between the old and the new. Acceptance of this reality can be difficult. We did not expressly invite in this change and chaos. However, it is ours now and up to us to decide what to do with it.
As the ground shifts beneath us, we had better find balance or we will fall. How do we find balance? First and foremost, we should establish where we are. We must center ourselves to regain our bearings. Now is not a time to look backward or forward, but to look right where we are. There is always a now and that is where our power lies.
Distraction Can Be Dangerous
It is natural to find ourselves distracted at this time. We are in an uncertain situation that we may not want to look at. There is fear, stress, discomfort and adjustment. We’ve been shaken out of our comfort zones. However, using distraction as an escape can lead us into an oncoming train. We lose time, perspective and our equilibrium. Distraction is not a good place to be in the long term.
A small amount of distraction can be productive — stepping away to read a good book, take a break or talk to a friend. It’s okay as a short, temporary escape, but must not go beyond that. Distractions, such as endless internet scrolling, leaves us lost and incoherent. We must make sure to maintain our focus and control how much distraction we allow.
Staying True To Ourselves
We are not in control of all that happens in the world. (That’s for sure!) Thinking we are in full control is an illusion. In truth, the only thing we have a chance of controlling is ourselves. We must know and honor our values, make our best choices and trust our instincts. Being true to ourselves is the highest level of control we can have.
In staying true to ourselves, we may encounter interference. We can counter this interference with courage and resolve. We find our direction using an inner compass. We can be our own best friends and not require approval from others. Others will see this and hopefully, interference will diminish. Staying true is a natural path. The alternative is to be a lesser version of ourselves.
Dancing to Our Own Beat
Getting clear with ourselves requires honoring who we are at our core. This is the only path to clarity. Being true to who we are is accomplished when we honor both our values and our desires. We must find our own beat by going within, ascertaining what it is that will truly make us happy and pursuing it.
Some steps we can take: observe what makes us happy and unhappy in our lives and select accordingly what we will and will not do; let go of aspects of our lives that no longer serve us; believe that joy and fulfillment in our lives are real possibilities. That will initiate the first chords of the music that is meant for us. Dancing to the music affirms our identity and makes us whole.
Change is challenging and, at first blurred my vision. By going within to seek my own counsel and prioritizing my own happiness and values, I got in touch with who I am. I am seeing more clearly now, as I face the future.
photo: J’VonJones, pixabay.com
