Change Your Mind, Change Your Life
I was recently listening to a podcast about spiritual beliefs, and the host said that she had changed her mind on some of the thoughts she had previously spoken publicly about.
In fact, she had done a complete 180 and no longer believed what she previously had.
Whoa! You can’t do that can you? Change your opinion on something once you have already shared your thoughts and spoken about it?
Absolutely you can! People change, our thoughts change, and it is a completely natural and beautiful occurrence!
You are under no obligation to be the person you were 5 minutes ago. – Alan Watts
Alan Watts was spot on with that quote. And you are certainly under no obligation to be the person you were a month ago or a year ago. You hereby have the permission to change, right here, right now, despite what you did/thought/had yesterday.
You can change your mind.
You can change your lifestyle.
You can change your hair.
You can change your interests.
You can conjure up new beliefs and you can share them if you so choose.
And just quietly, you don’t actually need permission, but just in case that is what you are looking for, here it is! Why do people struggle with this? Because of their ego – that’s why! Their ego says:
What will people think of me?
Will they accept me?
Will they think I was being inauthentic?
What if I look silly?
Will they judge me and my new opinion/choice?
The truth is that people change and learn and unlearn and grow. When our opinions change and we speak our truth, or do something new, it is a reflection of that.
When we think about giving ourselves permission to change it can trigger a whole lot of resistance and fear inside us. Don’t let those fears hold you back.
If we listen to them, and to our egos, we risk honouring our 2.0 version of our authentic selves which will restrict us to living the same way we did before.
And we were changing for a reason, right?
Over the past year I have done a whole lot of growing and changing.
I have said things that are completely contradictory. I have changed my job title numerous times. I have done things that in the past I never would have been open to, and some that I have even said I would never do (never say never, right!?). Heck I was a vegetarian for 8 years because I didn’t want to eat an animal, and now eat meat. Every. Damn. Day. The list goes on!
Everything I have done, said or experienced throughout previous years has contributed to me being me. All of the changes I have made are part of the me that I am right now, today. And tomorrow that might be different!
Still not sure about making that change?
Ask yourself these questions:
1. What have you been wanting to change?
Maybe it has been something big, like your career, relationship, physical appearance or religion. Of course, changes in areas of our life such as these can have serious consequences, but to be considering making a change, there must be a good reason! Maybe it is something more minor, such as your hairstyle or an opinion about something. If you feel overwhelmed by change, start small!
2. What is holding you back?
If it was permission, you now have it – even though you don’t actually need it! If it is fear, fear of what? And does the reality of that fear outweigh the joy or satisfaction you will gain by honouring your own authenticity and desires by committing to the change?
3. How will I feel when I make (and own) this change?
Visualise your answer when fear is holding you back. Visualisation is a powerful tool! See yourself with the change already made (whether it is a move or change to physical appearance etc) and tap into how you will feel once done.
Repeat these mantras:
I give myself permission to change.
I give myself permission to grow.
I give myself permission to be happy with the choices I make.
I give myself permission to validate myself.
Embrace change, gorgeous. Grab it with two hands and don’t let go. You have the right to grow, with no apologies or justification ever needed. You have permission to change. Just be you!
