Re-creating Your Life - Part One
November 2005



Beginning anew
Intermittently we either choose to begin anew or are forced to do so by circumstances beyond our control. Be it moving, starting a new job, the death of a loved-one, ending a significant relationship, or letting go of an old dream that’s just not coming to fruition, we are faced with re-creating ourselves, beginning anew. A potentially exhilarating and emotionally tumultuous time, we might ping-pong from being thrilled to overwhelmed, and from motivated to being a sloth on the couch. It is a time of great expansion, stretching, (sometimes painful) as we morph into a new self, a truer self.

In reviewing the common thread amongst recent clients (and myself), they have all, in some regard, recreated their lives or are smack in the midst of it. A time seeping with choice, opportunity, and creativity; it is deeply meaningful as they begin to choose the shape and feel of the life they desire, connecting with who they truly are.

Are you in the midst of re-creating yourself in some way? If so, welcome to the party!

Surround yourself with inspiration
Change is difficult, even if you choose it. Be intentional about how and with whom you spend time. Choose to be around people who celebrate your efforts, encourage you to be your best, motivate you when you lose momentum. Listen to uplifting music…put away those melancholy CDs that keep you mourning the past and listen to music that makes you smile and energizes you. Put yourself in physical environments that feel good…open the blinds to let in the sunshine; get outside for fresh air; limit being in places where you might feel drained or there are a lot of unhealthy people. This is a critical time when you can be highly sensitive to your surroundings, so choose wisely, choose inspiration.

Take amazing care of yourself
You may be tempted to become best friends with Ben and Jerry, sit on the couch and TV-surf mindlessly, or on the flip-side, stay busy every moment of the day. Resist and choose you. Choose to honor your body with the best foods you can find, and your body will handle the stress of change with remarkable resilience. Take time to be still rather than racing around. Subconsciously people often stay busy to avoid difficult emotions that often arise with change. Again, even if you want the change, it can create powerful feelings underneath. Nurture yourself with healthy new patterns…maybe it is going to the gym, reading books for pleasure, talking to friends on the phone, journaling about what you want, expressing your feelings rather than stuffing them.

Getting it right the first time
If only. As you begin re-creating yourself you may have the desire or expectation that it should be smooth sailing; that the hard part is over. Don’t be discouraged however, if your first endeavor doesn’t flow as smoothly as planned. It doesn’t mean it wasn’t meant to be, but it is like fine-tuning an instrument…it often takes patience and many attempts before you get the harmonious sounds. So if you “fall down”, get up. If you feel you failed, try again or start over. Remember your vision, recommit to it. Know that you deserve it, remember that the vision is possible and begin again. If I gave up on my effort to create a career that is uplifting to myself and others when I felt stuck or failing, I would have quit at least a dozen times in the past five years. But because I believe in my vision and myself, I continue to get back up and listen to my inner voice for the best next step. Every day I take one small step forward and recommit to my vision.

A good beginning
You can either resist or embrace the process of re-creating yourself. You can be frustrated and stay stuck, or you can embrace the opportunity to create more happiness for yourself. If you surround yourself with inspiration, honor yourself and your body and persevere regardless of the obstacles, you are on your way to an inspired new life. You may as well enjoy it!

Part Two coming soon to a computer near you!

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