Are You Choosing Change?The best conversations with my kids happen on a mountain or in the car. This past week, while driving my son home from basketball, he began sharing how he failed himself during practice. When he started tearing up, I asked what he needed from me: Do you want to vent, or do you want me to provide some encouragement? His response was, "I don’t know." Encouragement it was! I'm happy to report the conviction of encouragement was enough to battle his negativity spiral. So, why did I ask him and not just encourage him? After fourteen years of parenting, I've mourned the loss of many stages in my kids' lives. The child before me leaves, never to be seen again. The updated version is as valuable as the previous one but needs something different from me. Taking the time to uncover their needs at each stage is the magic bean for healthy parent-child relationships. These transitional stages in our children's lives are drastic and impenetrable. We couldn’t stop them if we tried. Conversely, adult developmental changes are not so obvious and require effort. Life patterns, core beliefs, and biases dictate our behaviors, relationships, and self-care. In The Mountain Is You, author Brianna Wiest asks the reader, “Are you willing to change completely and never be the same?”. Like my children, I want impenetrable change thrust upon me without any choice in the matter. Sadly, this is not our reality. Significant change will only come through our attempts to transform our own lives. And, while I long to rise anew from the ashes of my old self, all the death, pain, and sickness I’ve become accustomed to in the past feels safe and comforting somehow. So, I feel inclined to answer Brianna Wiest’s question, “Are you willing to change completely and never be the same?” much like my son answered mine: I don’t know.
I have to appreciate how I've contributed to becoming who I am and also recognize that I'm “...no longer equipped to carry me onward” (Wiest p. 8) As I do for my children, I need to consider what my new self needs rather than respond as I have grown accustomed. Why is it so damn hard? More than anything, there are preconceptions I have engrained within me. I can certainly envision the woman, mother, or professional I want to be. Unfortunately, the vision of who I want to be is not as powerful as who I think I am. I have to consider the habits I’ve developed that support my current identity, the way my brain will naturally resist what is unfamiliar, and the unhealthy beliefs I hold. “What you believe about your life is what you will make true about your life.” (Wiest, p.18) What Do I believe?Surprisingly, I found many parallels between The Mountain Is You and Biblical scripture. Most significant was the author's declaration that “Your new life is going to cost you your old one.” (Wiest p.26), when compared to 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new one is here!”. More than anything else, I believe in Christ's power to transform me. I've seen Him work through me in the past and know He will again. I also believe the mountain ahead is long and arduous. It's not like the gradual mountain hike I frequent with my family. It looks more like a gentler version of Frodo’s journey to Mordor. There are lonely valleys where I overstay my welcome. My desire to stay safe and hidden outweighs my desire for growth and development. Mountain plateaus will leave me exposed and vulnerable, unable to press ahead without battling past trauma. Moments where I run for my life turn out to be moments where I’m running from myself. Deathly discomforts of my past try to lure me back. Steep and strenuous climbs remind me even slow progress is progress. Fortunately, gentle moments with conversation and support will replenish me along the way. No matter how lonely I feel, I will not be alone in this journey. Also, I will never have to persevere without being equipped to do so. A new shiny version of myself will not be handed to me. It is attained slowly, with great effort, and long obedience. The misconception about finally arriving as your future self will taunt me. I will never really arrive. I am always en route. Wiest says, “The objective of being human is to grow.". If she is right, this means two things:
Knowing this provides me a more concrete answer to Wiest’s original question, “Are you willing to change completely and never be the same?”. Yes, I am willing to change and never be the same. Living in opposition to change would contradict my human identity, adding unnecessary complications and conflict. Yielding to change, albeit scary at times, offers the most potential for advancement and simplicity. And, aside from Wiest’s argument, God also asks me to grow. Where do I Begin?My long, arduous mountain journey isn't timed, critiqued, or scored. While disguised as pain, torment, effort, and exhaustion, it provides freedom, light, life, and love. My highest potential self can impact this world in ways I could never imagine. While it may seem nonsensical to hold myself back from becoming this person, it’s part of the human condition. However, I don’t have to skydive into the thick of my mountain with limited supplies. I need to take one step toward my future self. Then repeat, without ceasing. One of the exercises Wiest shares in her book is to meet with your highest potential future self. In doing this, you can examine the core values and life principles needed to find your way to her. Unfortunately, we often waste time in battle with ourselves because our values and life principles are misaligned. Our core values try to will us toward the vision of who we want to become, while our faulty life principles hold us back. We mistake a step sideways or backward for a clumsy step ahead. An illusion of progress becomes more harmful than acknowledging the reality of our incongruent selves. Without the ability to see the truth, we become stuck without even knowing it.
the greatest gift I can give. As adult drivers, the car may no longer be our sacred space for conversation, but we will always have a mountain to meet on. Life Alignment WorksheetIt seems there are three crucial steps toward positive and healthy personal growth and development:
I created this worksheet to structure these three steps. Working through them will outline what is next for you. The only thing left will be to take action. Taking action will require you choose change.
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In autumn last year, I experienced a moment of pure peace while walking my dog. At the time I was feeling heartsick for a simpler life. I wanted a stronger connection to God and nature. I wanted to love myself and others better. I started praying to shift my thoughts from the chaos and complexity of this world. I wanted my racing and tangled mind to experience peace. A moment later, I looked up and saw a colorful fall tree and heard, “Just as this tree cycles through life, so do you.” That was it. For one split-second, I experienced pure peace. I have lived 43 years and not truly grasped, until now, the natural and purposeful power of cycles for humankind. For myself. At that moment, I was suddenly freed from all expectations and reminded that all creation, including humankind, is cyclical. My season of hardship is momentary and causes me to rest and reflect, something I need. I began to think deeply about trees after that. More specifically, color-changing, leaf-dropping, and deciduous trees. While strange, I believed greater simplicity in my life lay beneath my understanding of theirs. There are three primary lessons I’ve learned. Three characteristics I will try to emulate in my own life.
Where am i rooted?A tree’s root system is not complex. As the tree grows and matures above ground, so do the roots underground. Tree roots run as deep and wide as needed to anchor the tree. Tree roots also draw in nutrients and water from the soil. Together, these three life-giving elements enable trees to fulfill their purpose: to give life to others. Without a healthy root system, trees will wither and die. Surprisingly, even in death they keep giving. Where am I rooted? This past year has been a challenge. I have rooted myself in sorrow and self-pity. I have tried to live on superficial nutrients: approval from others, unhealthy food, and isolation. I’ve been battling depression, hunting for joy, and searching for a greater sense of purpose. Hebrews 6:19-20 says, “We have this hope as an anchor for our soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.” It is easy to forget that Christ has already experienced all we experience. There is no sense of empathy greater than that which He offers. I long for a firm and secure anchor in Him. Without it, my life will lack purpose and my soul connection. Living in a world with constant change means any worldly anchor we cling to can disappear in a moment. Instead, I will anchor myself to an unchanging and ever-present God. As I mature, my roots will deepen and widen. Growing in Him will bring healing, restoration, and renewed strength. Being deeply and firmly rooted in the Lord will insight a grander impact than I could ever imagine. What is my purpose?Trees live out their purpose every moment without doubt, insecurity, fear, or heartache. They never waiver, even when they lay dormant through the winter months. In fact, dormancy is a necessity for trees to thrive. Without a season of rest, they are vulnerable. However, dormancy, like every other stage in their annual cycle is deciduous; temporary! Deciduous means to last only a short time, to drop a part that is no longer needed. Deciduous trees are in a constant cycle: dormancy, new growth, and fruit-bearing. Regardless of the stage, they always give life. Even when dormant, their branches and roots provide shelter. Their season of new growth provides nourishment to other animals, including humans. In the autumn, their beauty is a marvel as fallen leaves nourish the soil beneath them. What sense of purpose could be easier to emulate than that of a tree? I want to be so connected to my maker that I never waiver in my sense of purpose, no matter what is going on around me or happening to me. I want to embrace each season life offers with the belief that it will bring forth new life, even if I lack hope. I want to recognize and accept all seasons of rest. Yielding to those seasons will restore, strengthen, and heal me. I want to remember my life is also temporary, along with every season I live through. Most of all, I want to love and care for myself enough to also fulfill my purpose as a life-giver. what is my impact?The life span of healthy deciduous trees can range from 0 to 500 years. On average, a mature leafy tree produces 260 pounds of oxygen annually, enough for ten people to inhale. If it survives 100 years it will give life to 1000 people. A full-grown tree will also contribute to the health and longevity of our planet by absorbing nearly one tonne of carbon dioxide in this same 100-year period. Nuts, seeds, and sap provide sustenance for tiny critters and humans. Fruit trees will average 150-300 pounds of fruit a year. Trees provide shelter to thousands of animals in their lifetime. Even in death, trees offer refuge and solace for hundreds of species. The impact of a mature, healthy tree seems unmatched! Our impact can be even grander. We will not live as long as a tree. But our mobile bodies and complex minds provide power to transform life. While trees are living out their purpose to sustain life, humans have the ability to change it. Additionally, without human impact, even trees would suffer. Through human intervention, trees are pruned to spark new growth, moved to more hospitable environments, protected from disease, or enhanced to create something new. The power of transformation we wield can also damage the life of a tree and our planet. We have seen this first hand. This brings me to the final lesson: we will ALL impact this world. Transformation within us and around us is inevitable. However, we determine whether our impact is positive or negative. A positive impact will give life. A negative impact will bring death. Final thoughtsI've never been in awe trees, but there's a first time for everything. The perspective gained while reflecting on the life of a tree has been refreshing. While I have a greater appreciation for the fruit, shelter, and oxygen trees provide. The innate and unwavering ability trees have to impact the world, brings great joy. It's proof such a feat is possible! Trees naturally give life. Their impact is always positive, even in death. A characteristic I can only aspire to achieve. As I strive to do the same, I will remember my greatest impact will come when I'm:
Your TurnMy life of wisdom and folly is like yours! Humans are fallible. However, our ability to transform means every moment presents an opportunity for change.
Where will you anchor yourself this year? How will you care for yourself and give life to others? |
AuthorLife is complicated! Complexities are inescapable. Sadly, we make it harder on ourselves than it has to be. We are our own worst enemies. I am a nonprofit Founder & CEO, a mother, wife, avid volunteer, and so much more. I am a visionary, creative expert, and I LOVE learning. I strive for perfection that is non-existent, want to be all things for all people (which is impossible) and carry peace with me wherever I go. This, my friends, is exhausting! Aside from the heightened complications I provide myself, endless choices, opportunities, and change heighten the complexity around me. My Search for Simplicity in 2023 is an authentic pursuit of three specific criteria: my relationship with God, my relationship with myself, and my impact on this world. This blog will be a conduit for me to share my personal journey and the tools & resources I build to support it. I invite you to take part in this journey with me. To access all our tools and resources as they are developed, follow our Facebook Page. Alternatively, you can pop on the site week-to-week for new content. Finally, I am not in this space alone. If you are ready to simplify your life as well, let's connect! ArchivesCategories
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