What If You Put Yourself In The Way Of New Opportunities?

Life is what we make of it.

That's really true. All the expressions you've heard a million times that may seem trite now still exist for a reason. They resonated deeply when first expressed. 

When you feel like you're stuck in a rut and nothing exciting comes your way, examine whether you are open to new experiences. Are you exposing yourself to interests and activities that lie outside your usual scope? You might have tunnel vision and not realize it yet. It's commonplace to get comfortable, become used to your routine, and stop seeking out adventure. This is when we tend to stop expanding and growing beyond our current capacity, and in turn begin to notice discontent that seems to insidiously creep in out of nowhere.

But everything comes from somewhere, and if you are dissatisfied and bored, the answer may be as simple as trying something new.

You may not stick with that new endeavor. You may not even like it. But you won't know until you dive in. And so what if you don't stick with it? You're growing no matter what, and most importantly, you are training yourself to face the unknown with excitement rather than fear.

For example, a friend of mine recently completed her training in hypnotherapy. I knew close to nothing about what hypnotherapy actually is, and at first I didn't think much of trying it. It didn't seem like I needed to add in yet another healing modality. Then, as I noticed curiosity about it continuing to rise up into my consciousness, I thought, well why not? She isn't that expensive, and it can't hurt to try something different.

Fast forward a mere six sessions, and my time in hypnotherapy is the greatest highlight of my week. I'm continually amazed by the shifts I feel and the tangible progress I make towards my goals with each new dive into my subconscious. It's helped me so much that I already consider it a non-negotiable financial investment in myself to attend these sessions. If it aids my healing this monumentally, it's beyond worth it.

If you'd told me even a few months ago that I would now be a hypnotherapy devotee, I wouldn't have believed it. I'm also learning to never say never. 

Think about it this way. Doesn't it sound exciting to discover facets and sides to yourself that you never knew existed? To find strengths, openness, interests, and passions that are as of now lying dormant? That's the gift you give yourself by opening up to new possibilities. 

Next time you find your curiosity piqued by something, pay attention. Lean into it. Listen to your body and your intuition, not your doubt-ridden and dismissive brain. It doesn't hurt to try something, and if you hate it, guess what? You can always quit. It's your life. Don't just let it all pass you by while you hold back and worry.

You can do this. Embrace the unknown! You will discover so much about yourself. I've got your back, and I love you. 

What If Joy Is Simply A State Of Mind?

 Skeptical? So was I, for most of my life. 

I could not even grasp the concept of "changing my perspective". First of all, people toss that phrase around like it's easy to transform neural pathways that were formed during your development and negative stories that were reinforced over and over throughout your life. Whether you were the one unconsciously creating situations that reinforced them or not, it happened, and it only furthered your misery, depression, anxiety, low self-confidence, insecurity, lack of self-worth ... or anything else you've suffered from that I haven't named.

I've struggled with the notion of learning how to think positively many times throughout my own life. It literally felt like an impossibility to emerge from the depressive rut I lived in, my moods mostly ranging from "just okay" to suicidal. I hardly ever experienced real joy. I thought it was something that more functional people felt, that I was so irrevocably broken that there was no hope for me in this world.

So yeah, I get it if you don't think you have the capacity to shift your life and find possibilities for yourself. But I'm also here to tell you that you're wrong. Every single person on this planet can accomplish this, no matter what you think. But you've got to open yourself up to new possibilities and commit yourself wholeheartedly to change.

And, perhaps most importantly, when it gets uncomfortable and scary and tough, you have to push through and push on anyway.

That's as much a reminder to myself as it is to you. 

I can't tell you what your personal journey looks like. Everyone is different. I can tell you what helped me to adjust my belief about my own possibilities - knowledge. When I began to read scientifically proven information about trauma, neurology, and how our bodies store our history, it gave me hope. When I began to understand that my behaviors are simply explainable products of my life thus far, not hopeless flaws or indicators that I'm broken, it freed me. 

I never knew that I could separate my emotions and my unhealthy patterns from my SELF. Believing that I was my emotions, I lived in service to their every whim, and thought of myself as a hopeless mess. Now that I understand that my self is the constant, and my emotions come and go, I approach my life from a place of personal power that I didn't know existed. 

What if you decided enough is enough and that you want to live a joyful life before it's too late?

You can do this. Recruit help, whatever assistance you may need on your path. Open yourself up to hope and possibility and you'll find it actually can exist for you. You can learn to choose joy, even if right now you don't even understand how. I didn't either - but I also knew I couldn't bear to live in misery any longer. 

You're wonderful, and you are loved. Until next time, you got this.