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Change, Embrace It!
Working in a school setting, or anywhere these days, you'll find change a constant companion. What do we have to do to live a hopeful, healthy live fully life with constant change? How do we embrace change?
What is change?
Change has always been a part of our lives- as an infant, from crawling to toddling, then off on a run. As we age, we are challenged to make changes in our health, our work, our thinking and our environment. In our society, we operate within systems, "any structure that exhibits order and pattern", such as family systems, work systems, and health systems. Each day brings a challenge to embrace change or resist it, as we are called to change, sometimes at warp speed!
How do we embrace change?
Change can feel fearful or adventurous. The choice is up to us. It may not be an easy choice but one in which our health, well-being and future depend upon.
The brain does not operate well in a "flight or fight" mode, which is an automatic response for our protection. When we are feeling fearful or anxious, the brain reacts to protect itself and goes into an automatic mode. We are not as free to think creatively and stress hormones are continually released into our physical systems to fight off or flee from what is making us fearful, anxious, angry or unhappy. Over time, the stress can create poor health, such as heart disease, migraines, strokes, and obesity. These symptoms lead to a shorten life span.
To embrace change, we can use the following questions to meditate upon, process and focus on the changes facing us:
1) What is my part in the change that is occurring?
If the change is happening around you or in your work place, write down your feelings about the changes and look at how your efforts can make a positive difference, regardless of the circumstances.
- What losses will you experience from the change?
- What will you gain?
- What efforts will you need to put forth?
- What will you learn?
- What can be the outcome of this change?
2) What are the possibilities that the change can bring to my life?
Change can be an opportunity to think big, bold and dream. We do have choices and writing down a plan of action will give you ways to make your own personal healthy changes, rather than feeling victimized. Sometimes we need to be ready to try new things, regardless of how we feel. The only failures occur when we don't move forward.
- Where will the changes take you in the next 3 months? 6 months? 1 year?
- How do these changes fit into the purposes you have been called to serve?
3) What support structures do I need in my life to encourage my change efforts?
Making changes are hard because the brain likes habits. Find a friend, coach or group of people who will help you be accountable to the changes and dreams you want to make and can keep you positive and healthy.
- Who do you have in your life that will listen to your dreams?
- How can these support structures help you gain clarity and focus?
You can embrace change in any setting and live a more hopeful, healthy live fully life, day by day. Your joy and health depend upon it.
"I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you, to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
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Living a Hopeful, Healthy, Live Fully Life - How I Embraced Change
Over the past year, I have been on a journey of learning to embrace change and become hopeful, healthy and living each day fully. It's hard to believe I'm the same person I was only a year ago. I want to encourage and empower other women to take the journey that I have experienced as they love,learn and live hopeful, healthy live fully lives.
1) What was my part in the change that needed to occur?
The change that needed to occur was my health. I was letting my work load, my "if only" and "God would you?" victimize me and be in a pit of self pity - not a pretty place to be. I started with a life coach who asked me powerful questions about what I believed God was calling me to be and about my health, which was interfering with my living.
Through much prayer and meditation, her coaching and my efforts, I made the following changes:
- Met with my doctor who said exercise can help alleviate anxiety
- Read about seasonal depression - started light box therapy, at the same time daily and for the same length of time
- Met with my boss and discussed the help I needed. Why is asking for help so hard to do? I got an additional team mate this fall to share the work load - an amazing answer to prayer
- Started going to bed at the same time and getting up at the same time
- Determined that God was calling me to serve women through a life coaching business - took a big risk - started classes, reduced my hours at regular work and began my business in June
2) What are the possibilities that this change has brought to my life?
The possibilities of starting my own business and taking care of my own health has given me back my health, my passion and my life. I can live each day, grateful and thankful. It's also given me the energy to work two jobs while I build my business and enjoy it! Things are not perfect nor easy, but I know I am exactly where God has called me to be, encouraging other women on how to care for themselves, be less stressed and rely on God. My seasonal depression, even in one of the worst winters, has been managable because I'm living fully, one day at a time.
3) What support structures do I use in my life to encourage my change efforts?
The support structures I have put in place in my life include:
- my supportive family, who are behind my new business completely, with my husband as business manager
- my church family as biggest fans and prayer supporters
- my friends who listen and cheer me on
- my coach and coaching friends help me sort out my mindsets that get in the way of my progress
- my clients who bless me as they gain clarity in their lives and move forward with their own healthy changes
- my God, with whom I meet with on a daily basis, and says, I will teach you and tell you the way to go and how to get there; I will give you good counsel, and I will watch over you. Psalm 32.8
People who haven't seen me for a while tell me I look so much more hopeful and younger. Embracing change? You bet!
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Be sure to forward this newsletter on to someone you think would enjoy learning to embrace change and live a more hopeful, healthy, live fully life! April's newsletter issue will focus on forgiveness and how it reduces stress in our lives to live more fully. Check out my website at www.livefullylifecoaching.com and Facebook page at Livefullylifecoaching. See you next month!..
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Nancy...
- Loves God and wants to share His delight with you
- Loves her family, including lovely granddaughters
- Trained at the Professional Christian Coaching Institute
- Enjoys learning new things and meeting new people
- Is passionate for women to live hopeful, healthy, live fully lives each day
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