Time to go into the light...
CHANGES
Change is a difficult process, it requires us to remove, alter or amend old patterns, desires or approaches. It means we have to give up our norms, our beliefs and/or our security. Change is often scary or at least unknown. 9 times out of 10, most people do not willingly change; it is usually only when faced with some greater pain or loss that propels us to making the alterations we need.
Dis EASE is a great motivator. When we have become uncomfortable with our status quo we are more willing to look to change, because we want to move from the place of discomfort to a happier, healthier more rewarding place. Yet still, most of us will only change that which we are convinced will have the greatest impact, so the path of least resistance or alteration. It is our human nature to generate a flow or pattern in our worlds and to go with that flow; most people do not choice to make waves. We cling to our norms and behavioral lifestyle patterns to keep our path smooth and consistent.
It is often said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different outcomes. Yet how often do we all continue to do the same destructive behaviors hoping, wanting or expecting something better to happen? We get stuck in our self-imposed/dug/created ruts, and then wonder why nothing is getting better or changing.
When I look back on my life I see how prior to every one of my greatest achievement I have had to let go of or alter/change a major life aspect. The basis of every change is the process of letting go of the old and embracing the new. Whether that process is done in thought, deed or action; through letting go of old ideas, behaviors or believes. Each began with having a complete analysis of where I was and acknowledging that I wanted to be somewhere else. The first step is acknowledging there is a problem and that I can impact or alter its outcome by making a choice.
Second step in the process is gathering all the information I can about the situation at hand. Like a detective, gathering the “who, what, why, what and how’s”. Collecting all the pieces of my puzzle and laying them all out so that I can see what I can make out of them. Then the hardest part comes when you have to take action and remove those harmful aspects and then increase the healing components to replace the destructive forces.
The letting go of the expected and predictable, and reaching for an unknown can be overwhelming and scary. We need to learn to let go of our own wills/ideas/beliefs and being willing to try it God’s way. It is less frightening when we know and trust that he will be with us every step of the way. Letting go and changing require a leap of faith that many of us resist taking because we do not trust a loving God who has a plan for us that we cannot know or see.
Learning is a lifelong journey and I believe that we always have to challenge and grow our knowledge base. When we refuse to let go and grow, I think we start to stagnate and go down a path of dysfunction or dis ease. What are you hanging onto to keep your comfort level status quo?
What choices do you continue to make that keep you in the place that you are? Do you keep doing, eating, believing the same things? Do you keep getting the same results from the same decisions? Are you insanely choosing to repeat patterns that are no longer in your best interest?
Are you ready to let go and change so that you move towards a better life, a better happier, and healthier you? What are you really willing to change to be well? The truth will set you free, but first it can and frequently will make you miserable. Such is the nature of change; it means giving up, giving in (letting go and letting God) and moving into the unknown and discomfort.
If you are tired of DIS EASE, then you must acknowledge that change is needed, and take responsibility to find out what needs to be removed or added to your world to find your balance or regain your ease.
Will it be easy? Most likely not, but will it be worth it? Definitely, it is only by changing what we can that we will move forward.