Making a Shift

Yesterday was the first day in roughly three weeks where I felt like "me" again. Though I had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends, and joyfully rang in the New Year with someone I care deeply for, the past few weeks I have felt pretty “eh”. Maybe it was the sugar overload crash from the holiday treats, or the full moon on Friday (which always messes with my sleep), or other astrological happenings – out with the old and in with the new energy from the New Year/New decade, all leaving me with a feeling like I haven’t done “enough”. 2019 was a transformative year for me and I’m proud of all that I did in making personal changes and growing my businesses, but there was still a feeling of “lacking” or “not enough” and feeling “stuck”. I’m not a fan of using that word, because in reality – we’re not stuck, we’re just at a pause, “waiting” for the change that is about to occur. But for someone who likes to be in control and know what’s happening next, this is something that I’ve had to learn to embrace; to understand it’s not a negative and that “waiting” doesn’t mean to do nothing and just sit back and eat bon bons. 😁

So, how did I awake yesterday morning feeling energized, motivated, and a bit more of “me”?!? By becoming aware of my feelings, acknowledging and accepting them for what they were, and taking action, by…

• Getting back to a healthier eating/lifestyle. The holidays were great and yummy, but no more sugar, no gluten, no dairy – they all wreak havoc on my body - physically, mentally, and emotionally.

• Going to bed at a set time each night. Even if I don’t feel tired, I almost always fall asleep pretty quickly. By establishing a bedtime, your body’s clock becomes accustomed to falling asleep at a regular time which can provide the proper rest you need, as well as other health benefits.

• Giving my body the attention and care it needed. I went to the chiropractor last week – I finally stopped ignoring that my back and hips needed attention. When I went in for the adjustment, I found out my diaphragm was compressed (most likely due to a fall I took a week before), which can cause sluggishness and explained exactly how I was feeling. The “adjustment” also helped with my nervous system which had been out of alignment and definitely was affecting how I was feeling the past several weeks. I also went to a yoga class or two. Due to a shift in my schedule, I haven’t been able to go as much, but I go when I can, and my body and mind thank me for it after.

• Connecting with friends and family. I had planned already this past weekend to meet up with friends and also my mom, but had I not, I would have reached out. Just getting out of your living space and your head and doing something different, can help to start a shift.

• Talking it out - If you don’t have a therapist, get one – it’s one of the best things I could have ever done for myself. It’s best not to use our friends and family to be our counselors. Having an impartial person to talk "life" out with is something I believe everyone should do at some point in their life.

• Finding Inspiration and Reflection Time – Every morning I read from my Louis Hay “You Can Do It” daily calendar, as well as from a daily meditation book. This year I started with “Meditations for Women Who Do Too Much” by Anne Wilson Schaef, my mom has this book and when I saw the title, I knew I had to get it for myself as well as gift it to a few women in my life "who do too much".😉I also listen to several different Podcasts, no matter the topic I always end up feeling inspired. Lastly, daily (either morning or evening) I take time to reflect and journal, sometimes it’s a 5-minute gratitude reflection and sometimes it’s a longer entry on what’s happened in my day. There are so many different avenues you can take to look and people you can look to for inspiration, you need to find what and who resonates for you and know that over time it will change and that’s okay.

Making any step, big or small, provides a shift and changes your energy and your trajectory. Our feelings, thoughts, moods, etc. affect our energy, which in turn affects our physical, emotional and mental well-being. Small simple steps to change, can start to make a shift in your life.

It’s easy to continue a pattern or patterns and stay in your comfort zone, especially when we’re not feeling well, but why not try something new – break the cycle, make a change!!