Saturday, November 13, 2010

Change, change and more change!

I am a creature of habit. I like my routine. I like my immediate, personal surroundings to have some sort of consistency. When people, places, and even my internal climates are consistent and familiar, I feel safe.

Safety. And what benefit to I get from feeling "safe" all the time? Well, I feel secure and comfortable for starters. But I've learned that feeling comfortable isn't always what ife is about. Infact, some of the most uncomfortable times in my life have led to the most rewarding gifts. Safety doesn't lead to new relationships, new jobs, or the ever profound emotional growth that had elluded me so for so long.

The more I "grow up" the more I realize my desire to control things around me in my immediate circle. It could be anything from how it feels when I exercise to what time I put my son to sleep at night. When these circumstances deviate from their familar path, I can get freaked out or anxious. It's that simple.

So the answer for me here is acceptance and mindfulness. Things are always the way they are because they are! And the greatest blessing is that most of the time it really has nothing to do with me! Thank GOD! I've learned...hmm, honestly I'm learning...to live in the moment with whatever circumstance, feeling, weather pattern exists. The more I wish something is different, the more anxious and resentful I can be.

I am more resilient, at peace when I can accept the current circumstances or my feelings and have faith that they-whatever "they or it" is, good or bad- will pass. There is opportunity to learn all...the...time.

Stepping of my comfort zone and taking risks is a learned behavior that still doesn't come easy for me. I have to practice taking risks in other areas of my life. The marathon is such a great example.

Speaking of long endurance evens, I've wanted to do a triathlon since I can remember. A great tool I've learned to nudge myself out of the comfort zone is to just implement some accountability. In short, I'm signing up for the 2011 Pittsburgh Triathlon. Next year will be the year. I'll just sign up! It's a small step of many...but it's the first.

Cheers :)

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Changing Our Sails

Well, let's just say I didn't welcome the darkness and cold this morning at all. For whatever reason I've had a hard time this autumn waking up in the early morning darkness. And I was even more cranky this morning when I left the house to walk the dogs and my hands instantly froze.

Fifteen minutes later in the car I recognized my cranky mood and quickly re-adjusted my attitude. By now I know it's a waste of my energy to get upset about something I can't control and weather is one of the best examples.

What a great skill I've learned over the years: recognizing when I'm headed down a cranky path and having enough awareness to stop, take inventory, pray and/or meditate and take actions toward a better emotional direction.
Sometimes this is hard to do regardless of how much practice I've had.

Acceptance is really the answer to all of my problems. Any time I'm discontent, it's usually because I cannot or will not accept something about some person, situation or thing. As someone else once said, we cannot change the wind, but we can change our sails. Have you ever tried to run against the wind? Not fun!

The last couple years of my life I've really tried hard to concentrate on the areas of my life that I have the most control: diet, exercise, sleep, my job, and my interpersonal relationships.
It's worked out pretty well. A lot of my relationships are so much better these days and mostly because I changed. Funny how that works!

Here's to many years of growth, adaptation and plenty of ACCEPTANCE!