The ability to change our minds is one of the many wonders of being human. The ability to catch our thoughts in the palms of our minds is more than a gift: it is a skill that we develop by being mindful and creating opportunities to watch our emotions ebb & flow.
Even more astounding is our power to sustain this practice when we are being challenged. To remain present enough to change our responses in the moments we are being pushed takes so much COURAGE. It’s a practice of digging deep and finding space to see that choices are always there. We just have to learn to see them.
This is a practice that is transformational.
When you’re in your car and someone cuts in front of you, narrowly missing you, and you choose to slam the horn and wave your middle finger out the window, it doesn’t solve anything and likely leaves you feeling empty and angry. What if you changed your mind in that moment? What if you chose to drink in a deep breath, to relax and see that this “offender” may also need some tenderness rather than being shown that they were wrong (which they likely already know and over which may be already feeling angry with themselves). Your assault may leave them feeling even more depleted and small.
It takes courage to change your response to any given situation, to move out of the automatic response in your body. To not react when your husband, lover, partner pushes your buttons. Or to finally stand up for yourself after being silent for too long.
You already have so much courage within you. I promise. It lives deep within your cells, and it knows how to come forth. Call on it. Ask for it. Ask to be shown where it hides; ask your courage to guide you. Your strength will respond to this call. It will show up. Trust me. It’s that support you’ve been seeking for outside of yourself but you never needed to look any farther than you.
Change your mind, change your career, change your reactions. Do something that has always scared you. Take that course. Have a child. Open your heart to love. Go out to the party that you said no to. See what magic comes to your life when you learn how to change automatic responses. We get transformational opportunities all the time and practicing conscious choice-making with little things lays the foundation for those bigger moment.
Go into the world; seek out moments to change.
with love
Noelle