Reflections on Change: In Full Color

I was in my car waiting to make a left on the main street of our small New England town. I took a few deep breaths as I looked around, taking in the sea of fall color. The trees are once again clad in red, rust, and gold. As the wind blew gently, leaves began to waltz all around me. I smiled.

Looking at them, I felt quiet and peaceful. My heart felt the coming of change again. Winter will follow fall and spring will follow winter. I remembered how reluctantly I observed the first signs of fall, trying to hold on to every minute of warmth and sunshine. Fall signaled the inevitability of winter. Not a promising thought for someone who craves sunshine constantly. Yet, here I am today, welcoming the sight of the trees surrendering their foliage.

I feel a sense of excitement and adventure bubbling inside. What will this fall and the coming winter bring? As you think of changes that are happening or have happened in your life, what do fall and winter symbolize for you?

The changing seasons provide valuable insights about our personal transitions and how they progress. What will this fall and winter bring? I see these two seasons as an opportunity for deeper reflection and contemplation. During fall and winter my need for quiet and introspection increases. When I look around I find that I am pulled to a different direction. For years I have lived through the conflict of having to be too active during the time when I feel the need to slow down the most. Holiday celebrations, family gatherings, school events, and work demand my attention and claim my energy with a sense of urgency. I continuously face the dilemma of creating the time to go within while balancing life’s realities.

It is not easy to carve time for solitude and introspection. But we need to be able to process our experiences and reflect upon our journey, our insights, our relationships, and our emotions if we want to be fully present in our lives. How do we go about creating the inner space for guidance and clarity to come in?

Why not begin by creating a sacred place for ourselves, a room or a corner, where we can go and just be? Why not take fifteen minutes, thirty minutes, one hour each day and practice “being?” Being quiet, thoughtful, and introspective, listening to our own inner voice and breathing in relaxation. It can be done.

I remember when my children were infants, the long waking, working hours, and the feeling of exhaustion. The days and hours would just blend into each other. Every day around one in the afternoon they would take a nap. After many attempts at being productive at that time, I realized that what I craved the most was stillness. So, I did just that. I would make myself a pot of tea and serve it in my favorite tea cup. I would light a candle and sit in front of my biggest window, put my feet up and allow myself to take it all in. Sometimes it was thirty minutes and sometimes it was one hour. At the end of this break I felt rested, excited, ready to go hug my kids again and experience joy. I still remember how I felt.

I envisioned my business during those times. It did not happen suddenly. Rather it happened over time, slowly. The vision came in first as a “what if” question, then as a daydream, and finally as clear knowledge of what needed to happen next.

I believe it is in honoring our deepest needs that our intuition, self-love, and true respect find their expression. What good are we to anyone when we ignore our needs and allow exhaustion and resentment to settle in? To walk our path with trust and confidence we need to learn to listen to our inner voice and allow it to guide us. As we enter one more fall, one more winter, let’s make a promise to ourselves. Today I will listen to my body, I will listen to my heart and I will do something about it.

Article written by Yota Schneider
www.openforsuccess.com