New Directions
Last week I wrote about motivation. This week I want to talk a little about forging ahead on a different or even slightly altered path. What happens when we are motivated, committed to the change and then that change actually does come about? How ready are any of us for success? Are you ready for success?
It’s easy to start with a dream, set some goals and even work towards them, but it can feel really scary when what you ask for starts to materialize. It’s tempting to want to run to the safety of what “was”. Commitment to attaining dreams requires that in the face of anything, we become relentless in the pursuit of the new direction, trusting that it will take us where we need and want to go. This isn’t easy. How brave are any of us at our very core to try new things, alter our attitudes, and open our arms to new people and circumstances? Newness can bring with it a great sense of discomfort, depending on our personality. We have to be ready for and believe in the change we are seeking.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about people that choose to live in the same area their entire lives and change relatively little about their situation (nothing wrong with this I might add). I wonder what has motivated them through all the years besides raising their families and paying off the mortgage (nothing wrong with this either!). But deep down, I wonder if there was ever a stirring for a new direction: an adventure, wanting more? Did something happen that took them away from themselves? Did they have dreams they let go of to put others first?
I have always lived a life of constant change. That old saying “been there done that” is pretty much true for me. New directions don’t feel overwhelming. In fact the idea of getting too comfortable or becoming a creature of habit feels a lot more threatening. The world is a big place and I want to experience as much as I can while I’m here. That means taking a chance, changing things up. As a culture we have become so driven by economics and the illusion of security within a specific context (house paid off, kids doing well, pension), that this thinking has fed a constant churning of beliefs that impose upon us the experience of settling, making do, believing in can’t have, shouldn’t have and so on. More people feel trapped than free.
Right now, if you are contemplating a new direction but are feeling uncertain of the path to take, remain committed to your dream even though it may require you to eventually shake things up. Play with the idea of whatever you are contemplating until you do feel ready to become more (change always makes us grow). Know that it’s okay to take small steps to ignite the bigger leaps. Remember that decisions don’t have to be made quickly. Stay with the flow of your heart. I talk a lot about the heart because it is the gateway to Sprit. You can only ever succeed when you are in sync with Spirit, which is your true essence. Also remember that if others can do it, so can you. We all start from somewhere.
My heart to yours,
Vonne
