Mental Health, Spirituality

Let’s talk about…Transitions

As I write this I’m sitting in an airport waiting to board a flight.

I’ve always loved airports because they’re portals for adventure, where people converge – there’s an energy of change, readiness and excitement here.

Some people are here to go on holiday but others will be embarking on a new stage of life.

Right now in the Northern Hemisphere  we’re transitioning into Autumn and the colder months.

I’ve learnt that it’s important to appreciate the inbetween phases of life.

When something comes to an end it’s important for me to take a deep breath and fully appreciate the moment.

I need to smell the roses before I move onto the next goal and notice the changing colours and seasons of my life.

Sometimes I feel like I’m not moving forward or progressing in the way I’d like to.

But I am always healing.

Always becoming.

Always transforming.

Every day in every way my life keeps getting better and better – even when it feels like I’ve taken a step back or I’m stuck.

As Miley Cyrus sang “It ain’t about how fast I get there…it’s the climb.”

It may sound cliché but Life is a journey and along the way we check in at various destinations.

It doesn’t matter if you don’t know where you’re going or how you’re going to get there.

Just appreciate each moment.

Spirituality

Stepping out of your comfort zone, stepping into balance

 

balance
Image Credit: Kathy Giddins

What is your comfort zone? How do you step out of it?

For some people challenging themselves might mean going out more, meeting new people, trying a new hobby or visiting a new place.

But recently I’ve realised that for me it means taking things down a notch, slowing the pace and allowing myself to CHILL.

I’m most comfortable living life at a pace of 100 mph.

Never content with just sitting still, I always have to be doing something whether it’s discovering aerial hoop classes, dancing, going out with friends, writing a song, writing a book, studying something or pushing myself to a new limit.

But what inevitably happens is that I take on too much, get stressed, panic about the amount of things I have to do and then realise I’ve got no one to blame for it but myself.

zen cat smokey
My cat Smokey teaching me how to be zen

It all boils down to finding the right balance in life – something which may seem difficult to do but is actually incredibly simple.

Now every time I do something I need to ask myself – Why am I doing this?

Am I doing a dance class because I think I need to lose weight or because I enjoy it?

Am I writing a blog because I want likes and followers or because I want to help others?

Am I reading a book/article because it’s on a topic I feel I should know more about or one that I’m genuinely interested in?

When we examine the motives behind our actions we get to the core of what’s going on.

For me it’s usually pride, self-doubt, fear and perfectionism.

Deep down part of me still thinks I’m not good enough and therefore have to prove myself to the world.

But I don’t and neither do you.

So today, have a rest, put your feet up, take 10 minutes to meditate, read a celebrity magazine, watch TV or do a crossword – whatever makes you happy.

We don’t need to constantly grasp for something to make us whole.

We can be liberated from our negative self-talk and the shoulds, and coulds, and “need to” statements.

Everything we need is within.