The Change Created by Making Changes

What happens when the new and wonderful changes we’re making in our life makes what we used to do and who we used to do it with feel off? Have you found yourself in times of growth and change, struggling to be around the old, familiar situations or the old gang? It happens, especially at the beginning of our journey, and it can be complicated, confusing and creates doubt that we’re even on the right path.

Basically, we feel off and what used to feel right, doesn’t. I’m not talking about toxic people or places that we need to remove ourselves from immediately for our mental, physical, or emotional health. I’m talking about our usual friends and places we’ve enjoyed in the past. Typical life as we’ve known it, that’s done nothing wrong and hasn’t changed, feels all wrong. No, nothing’s changed. We have!

Nothing ever grows to its full potential by remaining the same.

It can be hard to put a finger on it, but it could be something like we don’t enjoy the same activities as we used to with our crew and maybe we’re saying “no” to invitations more often. It’s possible that we notice we hold back what we really want to say in the conversations. Things feel different and not a “good” different, more like “this is uncomfortable” different.

Well, it’s likely we aren’t enjoying the old, familiar activities because we are seeing things differently now. We have different goals for ourselves emotionally, physically, spiritually, and mentally. Our new direction may be completely opposite of our past, so why would we continue to enjoy it?

When we consciously and deliberately develop new and better habits, our self-image tends to outgrow the old habits and grow into the new pattern

Maxwell Maltz

If we’re holding back in conversation, it’s because we “know” our new perspective, new beliefs, and new attitude, will shine through and it most likely won’t be understood, shared, or respected. We know our friends well enough to know what’ll happen if we break formation and go rogue with thoughts and ideas that may be-seen-as controversial or weird. This is the hardest part because it goes against living authentically. We’re hiding who we really are, and it feels so fake!

We say “no” to invitations we used to say “yes” to because our priorities have shifted. They may be more family oriented, career oriented or health oriented. At the moment, we’re giving more time and attention to our internal world than the external world. Perhaps we’ve neglected our inner state of balance in exchange for a long-list of worldly distractions for much too long and the time is now to do maintenance, repair or build new in our personal, inner-world landscape. Social invitations are no longer at the top of our list of “to-dos”. Not at this moment.

When you are transitioning to a new season in life, the people and situations that no longer fit you will fall away.

Mandy Hale

I’m going to suggest something that, deep down, you may already know. It may be time to let go of the “old way of life”. We’ve gravitated towards different likes, wants and ways of engaging the world. People come into our life to teach us something, to accompany us for a short while and the special few, for a lifetime.  It’s time to let go in love and gratitude. Be appreciative of the people and places in our lives that’ve brought us joyful experiences and been part of the person we’ve grown to be today. Now, it’s time to move on to what’s been waiting for us to discover. It’s ok. It’s part of living and growing. The truth is, nothing ever grows to its full potential by remaining the same.  ❤

Keep it Simple,

Just Teri

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