Shift In Awareness
“I can affect change by transforming the only thing that I ever had control over in the first place and that is myself.” — Deepak Chopra
“When she transformed into a butterfly, the caterpillars spoke not of her beauty, but of her weirdness. They wanted her to change back into what she has always been.”
“But she had wings,” writes author Dean Jackson in The Poetry of Oneness.
Self-transformation remains fundamental to the human condition. The ability to impact your life through change remains your greatest virtue.
Yet, most people sail through life powerless to venture beyond their comfort zone. It is there they stay until circumstances compel them to take action.
If you wish to transform, it must be framed within the proper context to make the change sustainable. One must become curious how they intend their life to be, while disregarding the negative aspects of the change.
To focus on life’s denials reinforces them, thus change emerges for the wrong reasons.
Let’s not sugar coat it, change is difficult.
One need only refer to the change cycle to see how self-transformation is a tumultuous landslide interspersed with detours, highs and lows.
Yet, if approached with the right intention, a change in circumstances yields life-lasting benefits.
Many people resist change because it can be difficult and disruptive.
Why disturb the status quo, they proclaim.
Yet if you allow for change, an inner shift is made to usher in the new, fresh and vital energy grounded in receptivity to the upcoming attractions.
Transformation, like the overused caterpillar analogy, coincides with a shift in awareness to shape your reality.
Author Michael A. Singer writes in his book The Surrender Experiment: “What I saw was that no matter who we are, life is going to put us through the changes we need to go through. The question is: Are we willing to use this force for our transformation? I saw that even very intense situations don’t have to leave psychological scars, if we are willing to process our changes at a deeper level.”
I offer the following points to help influence change in your life.
Undoubtedly, change and self-transformation must be approached intending to improve your life, while accepting your current circumstances.
1. Own Your Situation
“Man, alone, has the power to transform his thoughts into physical reality; man, alone, can dream and make his dreams come true.” — Napoleon Hill
If you seek change, no one will make the shift until you decide.
You are the sole investor in the corporation called, Your Life.
To own your situation means taking responsibility for the life you create. If you are unhappy with your current circumstances, acknowledge your unhappiness, yet do not believe reality is fixed.
It is anything but fixed.
As you shift from perpetuating a wounded mindset, power is realised to usher in the change.
The wounded perpetuate a malicious cycle of self-torment, believing they are at the mercy of life.
Owning your situation means empowering yourself to make changes congruent with an increase in personal power.
2. Accept Your Circumstances
“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” ― Leo Tolstoy
Human suffering ensues when you resist what emerges. Your opposition to what is, shows inner resistance and moves you into a disempowered state.
Author Hale Dwoskin of the self-enquiry program The Sedona Method states:“That’s because the most powerful place to create what we choose is from the position that it’s “okay” whether we get it or not. This model applies to all areas of our lives.”
Your life’s circumstances are perfect to shape your personal development, irrespective of whether you see it that way. The moment you accept your circumstances, self-transformation sets into motion.
3. Let Go of Resistance
“The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.” ― Albert Einstein
Self-judgement and judgement of others keeps you stuck recycling the past into the present moment.
Judgement is a toxic emotion because you concede to it, believing you are not in control.
Past conditioning governs your actions and limiting beliefs discourage positive change.
You may be in a rut and unable to transform your life, owing to the distorted lens which you perceive your current circumstances.
In my earlier book The Power to Navigate Life I state: “Judging yourself and others is too easy, since it shifts the blame from looking within and dealing with those parts we dislike. Those who remain Parked in life feel the need to label and judge others, believing the world is wrong and they are right.”
4. Honour Your Emotions
“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” ― Rumi
Are there circumstances which transpired long ago that you hold on to as pain or anger?
Were you victimised, criticised, abused, or neglected?
Investigate the negative feelings so you can take an honest look at them. Feel your feelings.
Yes, that’s right, connect with the emotions but do not attach meaning to them.
To acknowledge your feelings requires courage, especially if they have been stowed away for years.
Don’t allow negative or untoward feelings come between you and the remarkable future which awaits.
Whilst it is daunting to deal with negative emotions, it pales into insignificance to the havoc wreaked if the emotions are neglected.
I am drawn once more to Hale Dwoskin’s quote from his book The Sedona Method: “There are no problems in the present moment. I saved this piece for now, because I know this may be hard for you to accept, but — what if all the supposed problems you have right now are only memories? I challenge you to explore this question for yourself and at least entertain the possibility.”
The power of the human will is unbending — it can bring opportunities into being once your resolve is firm.
It was the British politician Benjamin Disraeli who once declared: “Nothing can withstand the power of the human will if it is willing to stake its very existence to the extent of its purpose.”
In transforming your life you leave behind a part of you to gain something more powerful; the wings to experience a renewed existence for whom you aspire to become.
Originally published at Medium