Life Transitions: Last month I wrote about the “slow movement” and this month I’m carrying that theme further. While gardening with my head down planting cold weather crops, I heard a bird call out a tribute to spring. I immediately knew it was a Robin and I could see in my mind’s eye a clear image of what it looked like. It delighted me that I had stored that sensory memory for easy recall. Then I thought about the human propensity to store and vividly recall the sad, hurtful, and traumatic memories that often have the power to shape our perceptions. They can set up our beliefs about ourselves and dictate how we approach life. I’ve had my share of those types of memories and have worked hard “not to go there” when evaluating choices for moving forward in life. We all have unhelpful beliefs not serving us any longer, especially those coming from our early developmental years. The longer we live, the more likely we’ll pick up a few more. Here is where the “slow movement” comes into play.
ACTION STEP: Slow down and challenge your negative perceptions when a situation triggers something that wouldn’t be beneficial to relive. You have a new truth to focus on. It is most helpful to take the time, prior to any incident, to gather more accurate evidence of who you are and begin to claim intimately your personal power. To build a more accurate view of who you are, search your memory for moments of triumphs, of acknowledgements given for your accomplishments or contributions, of what you have learned and your self-discoveries, and then add what others have said about your positive traits and talents. As always, I recommend writing these down. Whatever you have gained over the years has come from you and no one else. You are not seeking a perfect you, but one who has engaged in a satisfying way of life. Success is not being the best but getting better for your own satisfaction.
The secret to change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old but on building the new. ~ The Power of Focus
