Dear Friends,
As we begin this New Year, I am reflecting on change and how change affects us. It has been said that the only things in life that are certain are death and taxes. I believe Benjamin Franklin said that. Well, personally, I think that sounds kind of forboding. I like the saying that the only thing in life that is certain is change. Many spiritual teachers over the years have said this.
My mother recently went through an amazing transition to a new residence in an Assisted Living Home on January first this year. My sister in law chronicled my mother as she left her home and entered her new place of living. The picture of the old home where she lived alone felt heavy and lonely as she was leaving. From the moment she entered her new abode the energy felt alive and bright. My mother has never looked back. She is having the time of her life, literally. She is making new friends, laughing, taking classes, and loving the care and attention she is receiving. We, my family and friends, are all delighted for her.
I am reflecting on my resistance to change at times. I am a Taurus/Bull, Sun sign, and an Ox, Chinese Zodiac sign. I sometimes joke that I am not always the first person to get someplace, and changing direction is a bit difficult for me. However, when I make up my mind and feel committed, I have the strength of the Bull and Ox within me. It just takes me a bit longer, okay sometimes a lot longer, then others to make a change.
When I reflect on change, however, and when I step into the energy of change something magical happens. For those of us who can see energy, we know that energy is always in movement, always flowing. As a nurse, I know that there is always change within the body. Nothing in the body ever stays the same. That is why I often suggest to people who have discovered they have high blood pressure, that they should take their blood pressure in a variety of times and circumstances as I can guarantee that it will not be the same from moment to moment. Often times, medical providers are quick to put people on blood pressure medication without having them go through the task above.
I also suggest to my clients, especially those going through difficult moments like a serious health issue, to reflect that even these daunting health issues change from moment to moment. As long as we are alive, new cells are being created and old cells are being broken down to allow for the new growth. We have an amazing tool within us that also can affect the changes that are happening and that is the power of our mind and thoughts. When we envision healthy changes in our bodies, they are more apt to move towards greater wellness.
I know it is extremely difficult to stay neutral when difficult things are arising in our lives. However, just reflecting on the thought that everything changes all the time and that life never stays stagnant, can give us hope and allow for new directions to arise. Even if divorce or something else is happening that is challenging for us, know that life is moving, changing, flowing us towards something new, something hopefully even better than what we could have imagined. My mother is discovering this at this very moment.
I was meditating the other day, and I could see my life as energetic swirls in constant motion. In that moment, I could feel life pulling me in new directions. I could sense how life had my back so to speak and once again I marveled that I forget this and feel stuck at times. I saw so clearly how the only thing holding me back was my own resistance to change to allowing the energy of change to move through me and guide me.
My mother resisted her new life for several months. My mom is one of the most social people I know. Living alone was not congruent with her needs as a person who loves interacting with others. I could feel that her resistance was making her unstable with herself and causing her to fall. After the first fall, she thought she was ready to move, but then once she returned home and was back in familiar surroundings, she decided she should stay for another year. Then a month later she fell again. I again talked to her gently about maybe life was trying to move her in a different direction and again she agreed.
However, when she felt better she went home and again decided to stay for a while longer. Then the 3rd fall happened and she broke her wrist. I believe a switch went on inside her, and she finally got it herself! She told me she KNEW that she would be happy at this place she had visited, she just KNEW it! And from that moment on things unfolded beautifully for her and she has healed from the physical ailments that put her in the rehabilitation center. Her resistance faded and life force energy was able to help her to heal. She is stronger than she has been in quite a while.
I have learned that we all have to come to conclusions ourselves about our own lives and making changes. It might be easy to look at someone and think they should get a divorce or change their job or go a certain direction with their health. However, we all have our own internal timing regarding change. The best thing we can say to anyone is to let them know we trust in their judgement and that they will know when the time is right for them. We can still make suggestions but making the suggestions from a place of love and trust in the other person has greater impact for them. That way, when someone makes a change, they will do it on their own timing and the change will be that much more powerful for them. And the interesting thing that often happens when you tell someone you trust them, they come to conclusions on their own more expediently. If someone is not healthy enough physically or mentally to make decisions on their own, than sometimes we have to step in and assist in making changes for them. However, if at all possible, providing them with loving insight so they can come to the conclusion for themselves that the change is a good thing will be beneficial.
My wish for all of you in this New Year is to embrace the energy of change. No matter what is happening in your lives, especially if it is difficult, know that life is swirling around you to move you in a direction that is for your highest good. If you have a question about your health, a relationship, a move, close your eyes and feel the energy moving and sense the direction it is taking you. As much as possible, trust in this energy. This movement is life force supporting you. I believe in all of you and know that you will make the changes you need to when the time is right. My hope is that any change can be made with ease and grace by allowing the energy to unfold for you and resistance to fade and magic and miracles to appear!
Namaste,
Rosemary Veilleux RN