“Courage is the measure of our heartfelt participation with life, with another, with a community, a work; a future. To be courageous is not necessarily to go anywhere or do anything except to make conscious those things we already feel deeply and then to live through the unending vulnerabilities of those consequences. To be courageous is to seat our feelings deeply in the body and in the world: to live up to and into the necessities of relationships that often already exist, with things we find we already care deeply about: with a person, a future, a possibility in society, or with an unknown that begs us on and always has begged us on.”
~David Whyte (poet)
For me sometimes change has felt scary, especially these past few years. What we thought we knew about ourselves and the world has changed. We naively thought we had control over our lives and even over ourselves. We all had plans, schedules, routines, and dreams that all changed because of forces beyond our control. The pandemic has taught us that we were never in control. And even now as we return to “normalcy”, we are all in some way walking towards an unknown future, whether we’re consciously aware of that or not. Even in the moments when we think, “we know,” we don’t really know the full story or see the whole picture, and that unknowing can be scary.
Change is the one constant in life.
What if we could hold the unknown and the process of change with curiosity and, even dare I say, excitement. Perhaps consider that how we hold our relationship with change can impact what is yet to come. That doesn’t mean trying to stop change, but it means embracing it and empowering yourself to move with change. Only the past chapters of our lives have been written; we don’t know what the future holds.
We can’t force change or stop it, but we can choose to courageously meet it with presence in body, mind and spirit. We can learn to see change as an exchange with life and learn to live with awareness and authenticity. Rather than anchoring ourselves and fighting against the current, let the river take you to unexpected places. When we allow this to happen, we learn more about others, the world around us, and ourselves.
It is not only the world around us that changes. We are constantly changing, shifting, and growing into new versions of ourselves. There are parts of us that are still a mystery. There are unknowns within us that we often ignore, both intentionally and unintentionally. We often shy away from the parts of us that make us feel uncomfortable, confused, dissatisfied, or unfulfilled. We can try to ignore them, but they are there and a part of our reality.
For me courage encompasses looking at those places within myself where I feel out of balance or where I am holding a painful state of mind. Courage requires slowing down and facing the side of myself that lies in the shadow. I consciously bring awareness to the places I hold discomfort. To bring awareness to where I want to change something about myself and have the courage to stay with it, breathe, trust, and let go into something not yet known. When we hold onto those hidden parts that we sometimes try to ignore, it allows us to learn more about ourselves, grow, and change with the world rather than feel disheartened by trying to stop change.
Leaning Into Change
Courageously walking toward change with a heartfelt commitment and dedication to a practice of turning within and staying with what’s alive and happening in the present moment. Find the courage to honor all parts of you, including the ones that are open to change.
Leaning into change can be scary, and it can be even more unnerving to do it alone. In my work, I help people explore themselves in a safe space, allowing you to navigate your life, deepen your connection to your authentic self, and opening up new possibilities within yourself and your life. I’d love to support you on this ever-changing journey and help you live your most authentic life. Contact me today.
