Imagine every situation you encounter as a puzzle piece.

This is the first part in a free mini-retreat series based on my Wisdom of You workshops.

​What has life shown you so far? During this pandemic, we’ve had to cope with new ways of living, learning, working and communicating. Old establishments that were the bedrock of our society are breaking down and it can feel painful, scary and disorienting as we search for answers. If you settle into a quiet space you may feel a collective consciousness rising, begging us to ask some “big life” questions– “what in your life is no longer working,” and “what changes need to be made to help you?”  
 
We may not know exactly how the story will end but we know that our world will be very different moving forward. Is this a bad thing? Depends on how you internalize this powerful change. Some may view it as painful and sad as we leave the “old normal” behind. Others welcome it with the hope and belief broken systems will be redeveloped and offer new opportunities for all.  Both viewpoints lead to the unknown but for certain there will be change. Change can be scary but some of the most profound moments of our lives come from change.
 
Close your eyes and settle in for a moment. Find a comfortable position. Take a deep breath in through your nose and out through your mouth. Repeat this five times, deeply inhaling and exhaling. Ask yourself, what would it feel like if I let go of my old thought patterns that are keeping me stuck and unable to move forward. What if I gave up the negative, scary stories I’ve been telling myself. And replaced it with an inquisitive mind that fuels itself with gentleness, hope, ease, and the knowing I am not being punished, I am supported by life with new opportunities? How would it feel if I let go of the need to control and plan my every move and instead became an observer, seeing my life as a puzzle with each piece building upon another? How would my outlook on life change and what are the possibilities I might see for my life?
 
Letting go of the outcome, having a new willingness to let life flow, breathing more into the spaces that are constricted and scared and asking to be supported and guided through these tough moments. Sometimes, the best thing we can do to support ourselves is to not overthink, but to let our heart, our intuition, that inner guidance we all have, lead us down the right path.
 
Even with the hard lessons, there is a silver lining.  These defining moments help us understand how those painful lessons were there to teach us and help us grow even stronger and more resilient. They may even put us on a whole new life path that otherwise we would have never discovered. Challenges teach us who we are. And if you aren’t changing and growing, you aren’t evolving and life becomes mundane and often times, meaningless.
 
Retreat exercise:
Open a journal or writing pad, sit comfortably in a chair with meditation music and soft lighting. Maybe light a candle, make yourself some tea or your favorite beverage. Let your answers and ideas flow and try not to censor yourself. Remember you are the only one reading this journal entry and it doesn’t have to be complete sentences or grammatically correct. The idea is to just start jotting down thoughts as they enter your mind. This exercise allows you to explore journaling as a means of creative expression, documenting your journey and alleviating stress as you express yourself. Get started with these questions and see where your journal entry takes you!

1. What’s your big dream for your life?
2. What’s holding you back from this dream? Is it your thoughts or beliefs?
3. What’s your greatest fear around this dream? Is it fear of change or something else? Has this fear come true or is it a story you are making up in your mind to protect yourself from change?
4. What one thing or action can you take today to get you closer to your dream?

 
It is my hope that this little retreat exercise helps you focus on the present moment, keep your thoughts and feelings dialed in on what you want to experience, how you want to feel and what you want to accomplish as we move into a new and exciting transitional time. If you would like some support, please contact me at [email protected] and I will get back with you to set up a time for a complimentary transformational coaching session.

Peace, love and pear!
Christine

P.S. These questions and more can be found in my Soulful Connections card deck and my new book, The Wisdom of You; A Transformational Journey to Creating an Extraordinary Life.