A SEASON OF LIFE’S CHANGES

As spring turns into summer, it seems to be a time of year when there are a lot of shifts. The school year ends and for many, especially teachers and moms, the routine changes to accommodate summer schedules. For some, like myself, a child is graduating. Which is an even bigger change. Another bird leaving the nest.

Now, this isn’t my first rodeo… I know my 18 year old is not yet ready to be completely done being parented; and, I will still have one more child at home after my graduate moves out. But with one less person in our home, our upcoming move to Texas, and another child moving to Wisconsin, we are currently experiencing A LOT of change. And I know I’m not the only one going through a major life change. Which has gotten me thinking a lot about life’s shifts and why and how we are so affected by them.

Humans are creatures of habit. Our brains are wired to recognize and appreciate patterns – the familiarity is comforting to us. Shifts in our lives (even good ones) require us to adjust and adapt by learning new skills, habits and gaining new knowledge. Which is why we get temporarily uncomfortable when we encounter life shifts, because our normal patterns and habits are interrupted with change. In addition, there are also other factors, like fear of the unknown and being unprepared for what is to come.

So, how do we proceed without allowing ourselves to become paralyzed by the discomfort and fear? We start with a plan. Rather than just figuring it out as you go (leaving too much room for anxiety, stress, etc.), it’s important to create a plan. Will your daily routine look different? If so, write down what you would like your new routine to look like so that you feel more in control and have some certainty. This will help with those comfy feelings in your brain ;).

Will you have more time than you did previously? Plan for how you will spend it so that you don’t feel lost or end up filling it with unproductive or even harmful new habits. Set goals for yourself – do you want to focus on your career? prioritize and grow in your relationship with your spouse? start dating? make friends in your community? improve your health and fitness? Create goals and daily/weekly/monthly actions to help you work toward them.

Also, you’ll want to plan for fun stuff. Are you stressed about not seeing your kids as much as they get older? Make plans to visit or connect with children who don’t live at home so that you know when you’ll see/talk to them next. Another thing that helps is connecting with others who are going through or have gone through a similar life shift.

Pay close attention to where your thoughts are focused, particularly if your current life change is something you are anxious about in a negative way. If you spend the majority of your time thinking about all the big, unfamiliar things that scare you about this change, it will grow even bigger and scarier. Now, obviously there are shifts and changes that are not obviously and immediately positive. It might be hard to find the good in it at first, but if you challenge yourself to look for the possibilities and opportunities, you will discover it’s a lot easier to find the positive in it.

Challenge yourself to embark on a journey to self-discovery. What things do you enjoy (what things did you enjoy pre-kids? Maybe try again?) How do you like spending your time? What have you been wanting to do but didn’t have time to do in recent years? No matter what changes you’re going through, know how important it is to prioritize yourself. It’s not selfish, it’s self-care. You have to put your oxygen mask on first.

If you are going through a shift similar to mine, I want to tell you, I’m here to support you! This is YOUR time – embrace it! When you are the parent of young kids, your wants and needs aren’t the first priority. That’s just the way it is. You sacrifice your resources - time, energy, money and others, so that your kids can have every opportunity to learn, grow and succeed – which is wonderful! But as they get older and require less of these resources from you. Although it might feel strange at first, it means you’ve done your job well, mama ;).

What change are you experiencing? Is there any way I can help? If you have any interest or curiosity about Life Coaching services, I am a Certified Transformational Nutrition ® and Life Coach and I’d love to book a completely free consultation to discuss further!

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Check out my latest Podcast Episode: https://anchor.fm/lucie-mitchell6/episodes/02-06-A-tribute-to-the-best-dog-ever-e1k51k7

xoxo,

Lucie Mitchell, CTNC & CTLC

Fierce and Beautiful Wellness, LLC

Disclaimer:

This blog post is provided for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical, mental health or healthcare advice. The information presented here is not intended to diagnose, treat, heal, cure or prevent any illness, medical condition or mental or emotional condition.