New seasons of life can be scary and beautiful all at the same time! Have you experienced that internal voice that says, "Heads up, change is coming"? It's a gnawing feeling that says, “I can’t explain it, but I’m feeling unsettled … there is something stirring inside me. Get ready for a transition!” Sometimes it's not an internal voice, but an experience like the changes within your family unit that come with the natural progression of time and growth. Change can feel like a gentle pull in a new direction, or it can feel like more of a solid PUSH into a new situation.
The thought of change used to TERRIFY me! It was scary because it meant facing the unknown and walking into uncomfortable or unfamiliar territory. This can feel overwhelming! Our bodies can begin reacting like we’re in danger, and anxiety sets in. Our hearts and minds start racing, our hands get sweaty, our faces become flushed and adrenaline starts flowing!
If our thoughts start following the racing heart and sweaty palms, we will try to figure out how to FLEE from the situation that is causing these feelings. I began to realize that my physical response to the unknown/unfamiliar was determining my reactions to the changes. My natural response is to RUN! I wanted to return to what I knew and could control.
How do YOU respond to change? It probably depends on how volatile that transition seems to you. Like me, your body may say “This feels dangerous and scary!” We have to recognize that these vocational changes, relational shifts, and life season alterations ARE different, and they certainly can feel uncomfortable. But they are not “bad”. Sensing something needs to shift can trigger an urgency for an immediate 180 degree pivot. (This can actually be the cause of the body’s anxious response.) But most changes happen incrementally. Facing the crossroad begins with one step forward. Small shifts add up to BIG growth! One day at a time … one moment at a time.
When we become aware of how our bodies and minds naturally react to new situations, we can pause and adjust our responses to the change based on what we TELL ourselves, not upon how our body feels or reacts. This awareness is the first step towards GROWTH and CONFIDENCE in this movement towards the new and exciting season that lies ahead!
Sometimes we need support as we take those first steps toward self awareness and BIG CHANGE. I'd love to help you discover the confidence and clarity it takes to move forward. Click the link below to receive "5 Questions to Ask When Desiring Clarity," as well as other tips and insights that help strengthen your confidence... https://spenceintegrativehealth.com
Thank you for joining me on this journey. I appreciate YOU!
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