“It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.” ~Alan Cohen
If you are in the process of embracing something new in your life, you know it requires courage to release what is no longer meaningful and align with your soul’s calling. You may recognize you need to release what is no longer serving you to step into who you are becoming but not know where to begin. You might have this unsettling feeling that you don’t fit into your life in the same way and that the familiar now feels uncomfortable and confining. You will need to release some old identities to live in more alignment with what is truly important to you. This time of transition and change is unsettling but essential for your healing and growth.
On the journey of becoming the artist of your own life, navigating change with grace becomes a superpower. Developing a self-nurturing practice to support your process will help you feel empowered and resourced. Change is inevitable but how we respond is a choice. Change brings up many contradictory emotions. These ambivalent feelings can be confusing, especially if we chose the change.
In order to release the familiar, align with your values, and nurture yourself through the change process, embrace these self-nurturing practices:
1. Explore your feelings about the change.
Ambivalence is a natural part of the change process. If you are having difficulty taking the next step on the journey, it may be because you have not acknowledged and resolved your ambivalent feelings. One self-nurturing practice to support you is to write out a list of your feelings, bringing self-compassion to all the feelings you identify. For example, you may feel excited about a change and anxious all at the same time. Remind yourself this is normal and include the language of “both/and” when exploring how you feel. When you make space for the complexity of emotions you are experiencing, you deepen your self-awareness, self-compassion, and self-love. Using this practice will support you through the change process and grow your confidence, trust, and belief in yourself.
2. Acknowledge what you have learned.
Another self-nurturing practice to support you through the change process is to acknowledge what you have learned from the situation/place/person you have outgrown. Journaling about what you have learned, and how you have grown as a result of the experience is empowering and will ground you in gratitude and a growth mindset. Instead of judging yourself that you did not make the change sooner or feeling frustrated at the rate of your change, choose to acknowledge that life is about progress, not perfection, and you are growing. Reviewing what you have learned and how you have grown will transform your mindset about the change. This practice is another way you can support yourself through the change process and highlight your growth that made this change possible today.
3. Release your outgrown identities and beliefs.
Now that you have explored your feelings and acknowledged what you have learned from the situation you are changing, you are ready to release your outgrown identities and beliefs that were rooted in the past. There are many self-nurturing practices for letting go. One you could try is write down all the identities and beliefs you are ready to release – being overly responsible, a caretaker for everyone except yourself, neglecting own needs and feelings, believing life happening to you instead of for you, always struggling, self-doubting, overwhelmed, exhausted, etc. Whatever comes to your mind put on paper and then safety burn it or tear it up saying I release these identities and beliefs with gratitude for all they taught me. When you release those identities and outgrown beliefs with love, you will make space for who you are becoming.
4. List all the ways you are supported.
If you feel fearful or anxious about the change you are making in your life, one nurturing practice is to remind yourself of all the support you have in your life. This practice can be incredibly helpful, reminds you that you are not alone, and helps you stay in alignment with what is important to you. Create a list of all the ways you are supported. Your list may include your family, friends, colleagues, clients, the Universe, nature, music, creativity, community, food, sun, neighbors, teachers, coaches, books, kindness, poetry, pets, and more.
Be sure to create another list of all the ways you support yourself with your self-nurturing practices. Your list may include meditation, art, rest, self-compassion, reading, learning, hugging, dancing, play, walking, ability to heal, gratitude practice, sense of humor, creativity, boundaries, and more. When you keep your lists where you can see them, you will feel resourced, supported, and more empowered through the change process. Remember you can continue to add to your lists and feel increasingly supported in your life.
5. Celebrate your growth and new opportunities.
As you release and align with what is truly nurturing in your life, you will begin to see all the areas in your life where you have grown and all the new opportunities available to you because of your courage to change. Celebrate your growth and these new opportunities with intention and gratitude. Take time to celebrate the benefits of choosing to change, and you will feed your confidence, belief in yourself, and support you in feeling resilient and capable!
Cultivating these self-nurturing practices will support you in navigating change with more ease and grace. Whether you are releasing what is no longer meaningful in your life or choosing to live in more alignment with your values and truth, it takes courage and intention to navigate the change process. Investing in yourself by embracing these self-nurturing practices will transform your anxiety about change into peace, joy and empowerment.
May you be empowered to navigate change with grace, as you nurture peace, compassion and hope in the world from the inside out!
Sending you so much peace, love and gratitude, Kelley
