Flowing Gracefully Through Change
Here is one of the many lessons I love written about in Lynn A. Robinsons’ book, Divine Intuition. I’ll share it with you.
Divine Intuition by
Lynn A. Robinson, M.Ed.
Flowering Gracefully Through Change
“TRIALS ARE BUT LESSONS THAT YOU
FAILED LEARN PRESENTED ONCE AGAIN,
SO WHERE YOU MADE A FAULTY
CHOICE BEFORE, YOU CAN NOW MAKE A
BETTER ONE AND THUS ESCAPE ALL PAIN
THAT WHAT YOU CHOSE BEFORE HAS
BROUGHT TO YOU.”
-A Course in Miracles
Many people come to me when they are
going through changes in their lives. This
change often starts on an inner level with a
feeling – even before there is an outer change.
You know you do not like your job any longer
and that it is time to leave, but to where and
to what and how do you begin? I believe that
when you are feeling these seemingly
negative feelings, they are simply one of the
ways God communicates through your inner
wisdom that it’s time for a change.
WHEN IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE, YOUR WISE INNER BEING has quite a few ways to let you know. The most common way you might experience is that you feel restless, anxious, or bored. When you consistently feel any of these ways, consider it a signal that it is time to let go of something that no longer works. For most of us, discomfort often creates the motivation for change. If you become uncomfortable enough, you eventually take action to leave the job you dislike, or work on a relationship that has been neglected. You do whatever is necessary to move into a better feeling place.
The dilemma comes for most of us when we allow ourselves to live with the uneasiness we feel. Instead of seeing it as a signal for change, we decide that maybe the discomfort is not so bad and we allow ourselves to stay in the old rut. However, if we ignore the symptoms long enough, our intuition is apt to see that we are not getting the message – and then turn up the volume on the communication it is trying to send. Ignore your discomfort long enough, and it will eventually turn into a crisis. Before I started giving readings, I thought that everyone knew precisely what they wante4d and I was the only one who did not. I seemed to be surrounded by people who knew what they wanted to do or be. One person was clear he wanted to be in sales. Another said that his dream was to make it big in advertising. One friend said that her life’s desire was to have kids and be a good parent. Maybe those people stood out because they had clear desires and could articulate them. I was not one of them and I have since found that I have a lot of company.
Many people look at me blankly when I ask them about their hopes and dreams. For most of us there is no connection between what we hope for and dream about and what we actually create in our lives. What I have discovered in giving readings to thousands of clients is that there is a direct connection between what happens to you and what thoughts and images you dwell on.
When You Are Faced With Uncertainty
What are some of the bigger changes or transitions that affect you?
- You change jobs.
- You are down-sized out of your company.
- You experience ill health.
- A friend of many years moves away.
- Your spouse asks for a divorce.
- Your child leaves for college.
- Your biggest client goes to the competition.
- A love one becomes ill or dies.
Many times in our lives we are faced with uncertainty. What do you do when you reach the end of something? That changes that come about are not necessarily of your choosing, so what is the right way to proceed?
I have a client named Paul. At the time Paul first came to see me he was an industry leader in sales. He came to see me over a period of a few years and began to complain about his work. “
I asked Paul if he was passionate about anything. He lit up as he told me about an idea he had for teaching people what he knew about sales and motivation. We spoke about this at length. I explain that when we take small steps towards something, God will often show us the most direct path to our dreams. At the mention of actually changing his job, Paul looked deflated. “I can’t do it,” he said, “I make too much money at what I do now. I’d be giving it all up to take that risk. What if I failed?”
Each time Paul came to see me, he complained about his work. People were starting to become envious of his success. Someone had called him to task over a relatively small incident and a big crisis erupted. I told him that I felt each of these situations was a message to at least try something new. It was clear that the passion for his work was no longer fueling him. He was increasingly tired, anxious, and full of fear about his future. He began thinking very negatively about his situation fearing that he had a colleague who was out to undermine his success.
I pointed out to Paul that he was ignoring his own intuition (and mine). Over the span of the next several months, one crisis after another erupted in his work. Each time he came to see me he was desperate to do something else in his career. Paul was receiving intuitive information that supported his choice to leave his industry and yet he seemed unable to make a move. My perception was that these were “intuitive nudges” he needed to heed. If he didn’t, the situation would be taken out of his hands.
The next call I received was from Paul telling me he had been asked to leave his company and possibly even the industry. After several months of turmoil and severe depression, he finally realized that he was being offered an opportunity to create a new life for himself and began the career he dreamed about. Two years passed before I heard from him again. He called to tell me how thrilled he is with the new business he started. His clients love him and he is full of enthusiasm. He told me that he made $90,000 in the last month doing what he loves. He volunteers time each week to talk with mend in prison about coping with change from a spiritual perspective. Paul has become a happy man.
“IF YOU HAVE BUILT CASTLES IN THE AIR,
YOUR WORK NEED NOT BE LOST; THAT IS
WHERE THEY SHOULD BE. NOW PUT THE
FOUNDATIONS UNDER THEM.”
-Henry David Thoreau
Dream, Reflect, Explore
Think about taking time over the next few months to dream, explore, and reflect. This might come in the form of journal writing, meditating, or taking a class in a topic that interests you. This may not necessarily be the time to create some new and big goal. But it is a time to figure out what is fun, enjoyable, and energizing. When you listen to the whispers of your soul and take small steps forward, a new dream emerges. Mary Manin Morrissey said, “As you grow into your dream, your fears grow along with you. Courage is action in the face of fear.” Sometimes we just have to be willing to move into some unknown territory and look our fears in the face. That is how our soul challenges us to grow. So, have courage. And be sure to have fun!
“WE ARE MEMBERS OF A WAST COSMIC
ORCHESTRA, IN WHICH EACH LIVING
INSTRUMENT IS ESSENTIAL TO THE
COMPLEMENTARY AND HARMONIOUS
PLAYING OF THE WHOLE.”
-J. Allen Boone
Exorcise:
Time For Change
1) Write a few lines about something you feel unhappy about in your life right now:
_______________
_______________
2) If you could wave a magic wand and create a happy, new situation, what would it be?
_______________
3) Make a list of friends, community, and family members that could help you:
_______________
4) List some books you can read that would help you:
_______________
5) What other resources might you have to help you create a positive change?
_______________
6) What steps are you willing to take to access and utilize your resources?
_______________
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