Personal Revolutions for Change

"When you carry a revolution within you, every moment brings a new world, a new life . . . every moment becomes a new birth." Osho

We are creatures of habit. Habitual behaviors do help simplify our lives, but they also can put us into autopilot mode resulting in unconscious patterns that drain our energy. How do we recognize these routines? To attain an alternative perspective, try stepping outside of your comfort zone and ask yourself if your habits are beneficial or do they just hinder you. One way to begin is by asking questions such as: “What is and isn’t working for me in my life?” “Where do I feel change is needed? Am I ready for it?” Just by inquiring, you begin the process of transformation; you don’t have to force answers. Let them emerge on their own and then, use them to spark your personal revolution for change now and have a head start on the New Year.

You are unique, and your resolutions for change should reflect you and not done out of obligation to others. They must resonate within you, be specific, and connect with things you love. They also need to fit the current realities of your life. I am not talking about drastic change; at times less is more. Each choice you make, even a small one, takes you out of your comfort zone and resonates with all areas of your life. Begin by selecting one resolution each for your body, mind, and spirit. Once you’ve selected them, be sure your present thinking reflects the future you desire. Start right now to make new mental patterns and connections. For example, switch from saying, “I want to lose 15 pounds and weigh 120 pounds,” to immediately saying, “I weigh 120 pounds.” Notice the change in your being with this simple shift.

Here are some suggestions on how to begin. Exercise is usually the first thing that comes to mind when people think about changing their bodies. I suggest beginning easily and realistically. What’s better: completing a daily ten-minute exercise routine or not following through on your plans to exercise forty-five minutes a day? Your ten-minute exercise program (which could easily be done at home using your body weight) could change your life. After a few weeks, you like the way you feel, so you add five minutes to each workout. Then, you realize you have more energy and stamina, and suddenly, you add another day to your exercise schedule. Since you’re feeling so good, you begin to modify your eating habits by eliminating sugar from your diet. Without realizing, the small change of exercising ten minutes a day creates a ripple effect throughout your life.

Various alternatives exist to the above scenario; again, discover what would work for you. Not currently interested in resistance exercise? Replace weight training with walking for ten minutes a day. After some time, you might combine walking with jogging, then just jogging, and before you realize it, you’re participating in a 5K run. If you currently are not ready to exercise, you might decide to eliminate sugar from your diet. Then, this could lead to dropping processed food from your meals. Since you’re enjoying your new-found energy, you begin performing bodyweight exercises, and in time, you find you’ve added weights to your program. Again, each variation would create beneficial results touching all areas of your life.

Multiple opportunities exist for enriching your mind. You could opt to take a class through a continuing education program or select an online course that you can easily complete at home. By challenging your mind, you open yourself to innovative possibilities. You could also broaden your perspective by reading or listening to opposing points of views. For example, if you only read The National Review, then pickup a copy of The New Republic or vice versa. “Try on” their viewpoint and welcome the contradictions. What’s their view like? Have shifts occurred in your thinking? Who knows, you may realize that certain beliefs you hold no longer serve you, and they just might be holding you back. Upon reflection, you may still maintain your original perspective, but congratulate yourself on questioning your beliefs as well opening yourself up to contradictory points of view.

Or you might choose to attack the stack of books you’ve been meaning to read. Begin with just a chapter a day. If you need additional motivation, join a book club and perhaps, select one with different reading tastes—always reading biographies, try a group that reads fiction. Enjoy the change of perspective. Pressed for time, take ten minutes a day to write or even draw stream-of-conscious entries in a journal. If you don’t have one, begin by using loose sheets of paper you can place in a binder. Just let your unconscious play, but be sure to censor your inner critic at all times. The act of recording your thoughts, feelings, and ideas is more effective than just thinking about them. Your entries reveal powerful truths, patterns, and dreams/desires; they help to embody the story of you. These can easily become the springboard for change.

Spirit is a tricky word because of numerous connotations the designation carries. But one precise definition does not exist. What matters is the connection you make—is it prayer, meditation, energy? If you don’t connect with these, expand your thinking. Again, something simple could provide the catalyst for change. When you feel stressed or overwhelmed, try taking ten, slow breaths to shift your mind from the “fight or flight” mode to a relaxation response. Many find a walk along the beach or in the woods to be a renewing experience. The same could hold true for visiting a museum, listening to music, reading mythology, or keeping a dream journal. Select whatever moves you and step outside of your habitual routine.

A recent article in The New York Times states the importance of giving ourselves downtime from our various forms of technology. This provides an opportunity to disengage from the constant stimulation they provide. By taking such breaks, your learning and retention improves. Such time outs, provides your brain with the opportunity to process your experiences and allows new ideas to surface. We are not our electronic devices. Can you turn off your Blackberry or email for an hour, perhaps two? Give it a try. See what it feels like to be in the present moment. No thoughts of the past or future—just now.

Do you usually require road marks to motivate you to make changes to your life such as making resolutions on January 1? Consider making this the first habitual pattern you break right now—in this moment. Take some “Me” time (no, you are not being selfish); think about and write down the positive changes you want to make to your life. What is not working, and just as important, what is working? What beliefs no longer work for you? Whose beliefs are they? Do your choices enhance the life you desire? Can you choose action over reaction? Again, write your thoughts down—make them real. For the changes you want to implement, begin simply, make sure they resonate with you, and step into action. Think about the possibilities and all you have to gain.