Being in lock down has been challenging, scary, joyful & at times, quite dark and yet
This global slow down has enforced lifestyle changes but has also given us an opportunity to finally stop being busy and to take a long hard look at our lives.
We’ve had the time and space to evaluate what is & what isn’t working & highlighted what we’d like to do differently once things start moving again.
There are, of course, many who haven’t been able to slow down, there are plenty who have continued to provide essential services to keep us all well & safe at home. Never before have we been so grateful to the people that (maybe?) before we took for granted?
Suddenly this pause has allowed us to really notice nature. I have to admit, I was too caught up in the day to day running around, thinking that everything was way more important than allowing myself to stop & notice what’s actually going on around me. Is it just me or have the birds always been this noisy? Was the sky this clear before? Are the trees extra green now?
This slow down has allowed us all to see our lives from a whole new perspective, to re‐evaluate and realise how important friends, family & community are and how, despite the miles between us, what happens in one part of the World can & does affects us.
We have become a global collective of beings with raised consciousness.
‘This too shall pass’ and life will return to ‘normal’ at some stage but for some this ‘time out’ has served as a reminder that life really is too short to not be or do what their heart & mind has been yearning to do … for years maybe.
We have this ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity to change the way we live.
Do you feel ready to make some changes? Do you need some help to take the first step to create new adventures and change the way you live? If so, we hope this post is the little push you need to at least explore your ideas.
“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what
makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what
the world needs is people who are alive.”
– Howard Thurman
Guidance to help you steer a new path
Prepare
- Set aside a good hour for this session. Make a mug of herbal tea, grab a notebook & pen and head somewhere where you’ll not be disturbed. Ideally a place with a view to nature or a spot where you feel relaxed. Perhaps play some instrumental music softly in the background to set the mood &, If you like, light your favourite candle to create a relaxing, calm environment.
- Know that you don’t have to have all the answers today, you can always come back and add or amend anything you write.
Begin
- First, take a few breaths & reflect on where you are now & your achievements to date. It’s a good to take stock of what’s gone/going well so far:
- What successes have you had & what are you most proud of?
- What experiences & qualifications do you have?
- What would you like to do more & less of going forward?
- Now, to the future:
- What would you like to be doing in 3 years time? Spend as much time as you can visualising this. Note down what work you see yourself doing; how you would look; how you’d be feeling & who’d be around you. If you have time later on, you could take this a step further & create a vision board using images that reflects the life you’ve visualise. Keep the vision board in a very prominent place so you see it often.
- What experience & skills do you currently have that will assist you in your new chapter and, what additional (new) skills will be essential? How/where/when can you begin to accumulate the essential skills you will need?
- Is there anyone you know (or know of) that will be really useful to you? Perhaps its asking them to share their experience or introduce you to others who can help.
- Are there any obstacles holding you back from creating your new life? .. is it possible to move any of these or at least make them less of an ‘obstacle’?
- Are you prepared to take risks? Stopping one thing to do another often has a ‘cost’ whether that be earning less initially, moving location or spending much of your free time learning a new skill. Making changes isn’t always about what you want but more about what you’re prepared to let go? How much of a risk are you able to take?
- Can you begin any new habits now that will move you forward to where you want to be? Focus on a few habits that will have the biggest impact & greatest momentum towards your future life. Such as joining/attending a networking forum or social group where you can build contacts in the field you want to get into. Or, learning/practicing a new skill each day. Choose a few habits that you can get really good at rather than too many that you can’t maintain. And remember, habits have to be repeated regularly to have a positive affect.
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- Now review everything you’ve written. You’ve identified your strengths, you’ve described your ideal life, the skills & qualifications you’ll need, the obstacles you may have .. & how to minimise them, the habits you could begin & who would be able to help you. Make any additions / amends to your notes and then put them aside for the remainder of the day to let you mind contemplate what’s been written.
Create
- Now you have some clarity on your new chapter, if you’re happy to, you could talk them through with a good friend or, better still, enlist the help of a trained coach .. someone who is completely neutral. A good coach will ask the right questions to help fill any gaps, help break down what needs to be done in bite sized chunks with a time frame for each and more importantly, keep you accountable & encourage you to maintain focus.
- Or you could create your own strategic plan based on the actions you’ve identified with a time frame attached to each. You’ll need determination & resilience so regularly check & update the plan to keep momentum, record your progress & celebrate the little successes.
Stick at it, never give up, do something every day if you can to move forward & never, never be too afraid to ask for help.
“The consequences of today are determined by the actions of the past. To
change your future, alter your decisions today.”– Anonymous
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