Sunday, January 22, 2012

Making A Lasting Change - Part IV



If you want to make a lasting change any time in your life (did you notice the word “lasting”?) there are 4 powerful mindsets that must be in place for us to do so.

In my previous post, I presented the third one: “Perseverance.” You can read that entry here.

Today the fourth mindset ...


Support 


We all need cheerleaders, supportive others who can run the race toward change with us. No one should make significant life changes alone, and yet, many of us think we should.

This is my problem, my issue, we think, and I will handle it just fine.

However, it is wise to realize that it’s alright and good to share our weaknesses with caring and trusted others—knowing none of us is without such weaknesses.

With transparency and compassion for ourselves (because change can be difficult), we open ourselves to others, gaining sturdy companionship for the journey.

Consider Alcoholics Anonymous. It provides a perfect model for lasting change. This life-enhancing program has helped millions of people with drug and alcohol addictions by providing them with a sponsor, someone who has walked the long, hard road to recovery themselves.

Do you have someone who can be your life-change sponsor? Someone who can support you through the ups and downs of change? As success stories reveal, the odds of us reaching our goal are much greater if we have a buddy or two to travel with ...

I have been blessed many times over with such companionship. Wise mentors, dear friends, sacred circles of women—each in a unique way provided me with the support I needed at a pivotal point in time. Recovering from a health challenge, living beyond co-dependency, healing a broken heart, creating a new life for myself as a single mother—each time a big change was called for there was at least one other person on whom I could depend to nudge me along if I got stuck in the mire of transition.

In time, I created AwakenedLiving.com and my publishing company, Heart to Heart Press. I became a spiritual director, wrote books, offered workshops and retreats—ALL with the purpose of supporting others on their life-change journeys. If you had asked me 30 years ago what I would be doing with my life today, it likely would not have been this. I was a classroom teacher at the time and I was pretty darn sure I'd be doing that the rest of my life. 

But life is full of surprises and being open to them and the invitations to change that they bring is the path, yes?

With the dawning of a new year, our thoughts will naturally turn to the things we need or wish to let go —and what we must move toward in our lives to be happy and whole. With transparency ask what yours are. Discern if you have the support you need to move in a soul-enhancing direction. Every single one of us needs companions for this pilgrimage we call life so please, friend, seek out yours. Truly, no one should journey alone ...

My hope for you is that your change will be timely, passionate, persistent, and supported so that a new you can burst forth onto the horizon in 2012.

It’s a new day, a new year, a new life. Your new self, your truest self, calls!


“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans; the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too.”

~Goethe

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I'm so pleased to announce a new 12-Month Sacred Journey Course, based on my book Your Truest Self.

What a joy it will be to travel with you—intimately!—through the 12 Transformational Truths. With kindred women, we'll create Sacred Community (in a secure online "classroom") and be each others' best traveling companions for one full year. Wow!

Together we will EMBODY our truest selves—finally! We'll live rich spiritual lives and engage life from our fullness. No more shrinking, hiding, being less than we are meant to be. What a beautiful journey we will have.

I hope you will join me. Class beings March 5.

Registration has begun! Read more and register here.



Photo image credits (top) istockphoto.com

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