by Nancy Barry-Jansson ( a special guest post for today!)
Previously, I wrote an article about the incredible power of decision, about how just deciding what you want can create the opportunities for that creation to appear in your life. Now, I’d like you to consider whether you’ve made, or are ready to make, the decision to change what isn’t working in your life.
To Decide or Not to Decide: Is That the Question?
A few months ago, during a coaching session, the client brought up three experiences that were upsetting her. To her, these experiences were unrelated, but they all frustrated her. As I listened, I could hear the common thread in what she was saying: All three of her experiences reflected that she felt unappreciated for her hard work, and in some cases, disrespected by people around her. When I brought this to her attention, she was surprised as she had not seen the commonality in her experience until that moment. I told her the good news is that she could decide to change right there, right that minute while we were talking. All she had to do was embrace the decision to change. She could begin by creating positive self-talk affirmations such as
- I am respected and appreciated by everyone around me, and I respect and appreciate myself!
- I allow others to respect me and show it in positive ways!
- Everyone I interact with treats me with respect and appreciation!
‘Tis Easier to Change Than Remain Suffering
The gal I was coaching was ready to make a change. She had reached a point where she no longer wanted to experience those same frustrations, and she recognized a long-standing pattern in her life that needed to change if she was going to move forward. So, she embraced these new affirmations immediately, saying them with conviction and belief that she was already creating what she wanted. Within 24 hours, she reported noticing respectful and appreciative behavior all around her…particularly from the people she previously felt were not behaving that way! Her discovery? What she wanted was all around her as soon as she was open to seeing it. While she was convinced that others were disrespectful, that is how she perceived others’ behavior and that is what showed up for her. As soon as she changed her focus, what she perceived and experienced changed as well. When we talked afterward, she shared that making this shift in perception helped her to appreciate life so much more than before she had reached out for help during coaching. That comment made it clear to me that choosing to make positive changes is far more rewarding than staying in suffering. Our egos will convince us that change is not possible…it’s too difficult…it can’t be done…it’s better to stay where you are. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Changing is really easier than most people think, and it starts by making the decision to change.
Are You Ready for Change?
In the above example, if she had not been ready to change, she wouldn’t have been able to do the affirmations with feeling and would not have seen any changes. She may even have found excuses why she didn’t have time or energy to say the affirmations…or kept forgetting to say them. This is just resistance to change. Most people think change will be too painful, but the truth is NOT changing is more painful. How do you know you are ready for change? You can feel it. You know you are ready when you realize what you are experiencing is not working for you, when you are open to suggestions for shifting (like saying affirmations), when you can feel your life could be better and you are no longer willing to repeat the same mistakes. You can feel it inside yourself that it’s time…and, if you aren’t sure you can do it by yourself, you begin considering reaching out for help. Likewise, when you aren’t ready, you’ll find all kinds of excuses to not reach out for help. Suddenly, you’ll create tons of reasons that tell you, “now isn’t the right time”.
This is Your Life: There’s No Wrong Answer
Keep in mind that there is no wrong answer when it comes to your life. If you are choosing to stay where you are, that is because it is right for what you need to experience in this moment. As soon as you are ready to embrace change, trust that you will find the help you need and begin taking appropriate steps. In the meantime, love and accept yourself for who you are and how wonderful your life really is!
……………………………………………………………….. Nancy Barry-Jansson is SF Bay Area-based illustrator and the creator of AffirmingSpirit™ Affirmation Cards, which are available at AffirmingSpirit.com. Currently, Ms. Barry-Jansson is writing about the 2008 AffirmingSpriit Affirmation Study, where individuals were coached through the process of creating and using their own affirmations to create positive change. Nancy is on Twitter @affirmingspirit , which is where she first met Nancy Sutherland. © 2008 Barry-Jansson & Associates and AffirmingSpirit.com
Technorati Tags: affirmation, attitude, business coaching, change, overcoming obstacles, personal growth, positive attitude, positive thinking, success principles, visualization
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