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Dealing with change can be hard. I recently took on a huge change in my life. One that had me really anxious, worried, and overthinking what will happen. It is hard to change, especially when we get attached to the way things are.
So, what is this big change you ask?
I recently decided to move towards a more minimalist lifestyle. This meant going through most of my material possessions and deciding what I no longer wanted to keep. I separated all of my clothes, shoes, and purses into three piles. Keep. Donate. Discard. The reason I was so hesitant is because it was not just a material shift of goods, it was also a mind shift for me. As a kid, I grew up in a lower-income neighborhood and as a result, when I became an adult, I always wanted more “things”.
“The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude”
~Oprah Winfrey
The struggle with accepting change is tied to attachment. Attachment to the ease and comfort of how things are. Letting go of attachment is a key teaching of yoga and is called Aparigraha (non-possessiveness). When we cling to something that no longer serves us, we will never move forward towards what is waiting for us. By releasing what is no longer useful, we open ourselves to fresh ideas, new relationships, and more harmonious ways of living and being.
For me, I decided that possessions take up space and energy—in my head as well as in my home. Going forward, every time I buy something new, I will let go of something old—give it away or toss it out. By letting go of things from the past, I hope to live more fully in the present.
Tips to Deal with Change
Here are a few tips to help you deal with change:
- Remind yourself that change is a part of life – When you surrender to the fact that you are always evolving, change comes much easier
- Look ahead to the future – You’ll be able to better deal with the past and accept it as something that had to happen for you to move forward.
- Create positive outcomes – Choose to believe that what you want is possible.
Remember, accepting and embracing change allows you to adapt better to change and become more flexible. Change can be a lot harder on someone us when we resist and reject it. Accepting change makes dealing with change a lot easier.
The more we deal with change, the more used to it we become, the easier it becomes to deal with it. Rigidity and resistance can cause unnecessary stress and blind us from the good that new situations, environments, and people can bring. If you find yourself a bit stressed and unhappy, check out my article on 7 Ways to Be Happier.
Amazon favorite: How to Do the Work: Recognize your patterns, Heal from your past, and Create Your Self
