Ask, Believe, Receive

Last time I talked about feeling stuck and how if a pattern keeps appearing, there is definitely something you can learn from it.  If you are able to shift your focus, I believe that you can turn any challenge into a purposeful, learning experience. 

So once you have identified and taken ownership of the pattern, it is time to start exploring the lesson it holds.  In order to really learn any lesson you need to change your actions.  We sometimes have a tendency to intellectually understand something but if we don’t translate that into changes in our life then we have not eliminated the need for the pattern. 

As a next step, I invite you to set aside some quiet time for reflection. Take some deep breathes and relax into the present moment.  Then start asking open-ended questions - out loud, in your head or on paper.  Allow yourself to be open and curious as to why the pattern is showing up in your life. 

• What can I learn from this?
• Why is this situation appearing in my life now?
• How can I see things differently?
• What else is possible here?
• If I learn this lesson, what insights will I gain?

Then wait for an answer or insight – for some kind of guidance.  Some insights come right away, others later on.  The guidance can come in many forms; through books or articles you read, e-mails you receive, discussions with friends or family members, movies etc.  Once you have asked the question to the Universe, you have set the wheels into motion to receive an answer.  Don’t under estimate the famous biblical line; ask and you shall receive or ask, believe and you shall receive.  My version would be; Ask, be open and curious, believe the guidance will come and you shall receive what you need (maybe not the answer you wanted or in the format you expected but you will get guidance)!

Remember to have fun with the questions, don’t take the exercise too seriously or you will close yourself down by getting stressed about it.  Stress and tension limit our ability to receive – guidance, gifts, insights, love etc.  So remain relaxed and inquisitive and let the guidance flow into your life.

Next time I will talk about another approach to learning from your patterns. 

Until then, be your authentic, loving and curious self!

Jackie

PS. I will be giving my 5Ps to Make Life Enhancing Changes presentation at the Atwater Library on June 6th. at 12:30pm.  I would love to have you attend, so if you are in Montreal and interested mark your calendar!

Patterns that Hold us Back

The pattern in my life right now is that many of my clients are coming to me with the realization that they are stuck in a pattern.  So I viewed this as a sign that other people might also want to hear about the role of patterns and how to get unstuck!  Patterns may appear as, for example, annoying bosses at several different jobs or like you don't have a voice in many situations.   The key to changing the pattern and moving confidently ahead is to assume responsibility for it thus empowering yourself.  Then you can move to making the necessary internal changes so the pattern becomes redundant.  Let me explain.

If you think about life as a full time school, a place where you learn and grow from your daily experiences, then all people and events, especially the most challenging ones, are your teachers!  If a challenge has appeared in your life, then there is something that you can learn from it.  If the challenge keeps coming back in different forms (i.e. the problem appears in different situations) then there is likely a very important lesson that the universe is hoping to teach you.  So running away from the problem won’t help.  If you really need to learn the lesson then another situation will likely emerge.  Unfortunately, if you don’t learn the easy lesson they get harder, that way the universe really gets your attention and helps you shift into awareness and action!

The first step I recommend if you are stuck somewhere is to simply identify the pattern.  Spell it out as clearly as you can and then take responsibility for it - it is your lesson.  Other people may be involved (like bosses or spouses) and they also have lessons to learn from the situation but you don't have to focus on them, just do your work and you will see how things will shift.  Take ownership with an objective attitude, don't label the pattern as good or bad and don’t blame yourself or others.  So become aware that the pattern exists, acknowledge that it may serve a purpose and if you feel frustrated or discouraged simply be aware of your emotions - again, without judgment.

Next time I will talk more about how you can learn from the patterns.

Until then, be your authentic, loving and powerful self!
Jackie

PS. I will be giving my 5Ps to Make Life Enhancing Changes presentation at the Atwater Library on June 6th. at 12:30pm.  I would love to have you attend, so if you are interested mark your calendar!

Your 'Unsafe' Comfort Zone

I gave a presentation this morning on the chapter I wrote in the book Power to Change - 5 Ps to making life-enhancing changes.  A big part of what I focused on though was the idea (that I find very intriguing), that your comfort zone is in fact the least safe place to life. 

I discussed how the universe and your soul are always guiding you and working behind the scenes to help you grow and evolve and to eventually find fulfillment by living out your life purpose.  I used the first P - Pain Point to talk about the notion that sometimes you may need a whisper from your soul to get you moving.  Other times you may need a nudge and, on occasion, you need a real painful push.  Pain is one way sure way of getting your attention and encouraging you to make changes.

I also shared an example from my own experience when I lost my job while I was three months pregnant.  In that situation, I was ejected from the comfort zone of my full-time marketing position into contract work. In retrospect, the contract work has, over the years, allowed me to spend more time with my family, pursue my passions and find my life purpose.  So all I can say now is - thanks for the push!

If you believe that pain is one way of getting you to take a risk or try something new and different and expand your potential then is follows that if you stay too long in your comfort zone, ignoring whispers and your sense of 'knowing' that something needs to change and the little nudges etc. then your comfort zone becomes a potential 'pain' zone - thus an 'unsafe' place to live! 

If you do want to make changes though, your fears and concerns do need to be addressed to make the change feel as safe as possible - thus expanding your comfort zone to help you reach your potential without destabilizing you and upsetting your ego.

Food for thought - I always love to hear your comments!
Jackie