What to do when you've veered into the wrong lane!

Perhaps it's about heightened awareness?

We are heading into spring, a time of new beginnings. Just like January it can feel like a fresh start. My question of the day is how far are you along the road you set out on in January? Do you feel like you've already veered into the wrong lane? How on earth do we stick to the road that's paved with good intentions?

image Shannon Fox Photography https://www.instagram.com/shannon_fox_photos

1. Believe you can change. Believe. 

I know that's an airy fairy concept but it's a foundational truth that you must have at least a shred of belief in your ability to pull this off in order to be successful.

The belief may, initially, seem outrageous like it did to me when

a) I decided to become a chiropractor (beyond the wildest scope of anyone’s imaginings except my own)

or

b) quit drinking (also a mind bender for most folks who couldn’t understand why on earth I would make that choice.)

Deep inside I knew.

Giving credence to the idea that you CAN do this thing takes effort. I’m not even talking about the actual action steps you need to be taking yet, rather I mean the mental energy & commitment to see the change you imagine in your head - every single day. Have you been doing that? It takes work to contemplate where you want to be so don’t fool yourself Darling. Make the effort to believe, even if it's just a teensy bit.

2.  Picture yourself having already accomplished the thing - then pay attention to the clues that may come your way.

This idea is based on a ton of really cool research that has come out in the last few years about the brain. Dr. Lisa Miller, PhD, a researcher from Columbia University, has explored the science of an awakened brain.

Scientists have shown, through the use of fMRI (very cool research I’ll be writing about more in an upcoming post), that we have two modes of awareness available to us at all times; achieving and awakened.

Achieving awareness is the perception that our purpose is to control our lives. I get an A+ in this department, control, control, control! An illusion to be sure so I’m working on it.

Achieving awareness is important and helpful for us to get shit done. It’s what helps us set that goal. But living with achieving awareness alone results in a narrow perspective. I believe this makes it easier for us to veer into the wrong lane because when we feel like it’s not working we either give up or feel lousy about ourselves, or both.

Awakened awareness helps us to integrate info from many different sources which results in a wider perspective. It helps us become more of a seeker on our path and possibly less of a control freak which helps us be okay when we take the roundabout way to our goal.

Awakened awareness allows us to release our stranglehold on how our journey should look and becoming open to what is being shown to us.

I love how the research on these two different ways of navigating the world couples the science and the unknown. Where I struggle the most is seeing where I want to go. It is very hard to get THERE when I don’t know where there is! But I’m wobbling away trying.

Getting back to your January goals…perhaps it was health related and now you’re feeling disgruntled because it didn’t pan out as you’d hoped. Try this simple life hack that combines both kinds of awareness. If your quest is for a healthier lifestyle stop wearing stretchy pants every day. Choose something with a waistband.

Belly fat is a big risk factor for many unwanted illnesses and the black stretchy, yoga style pants make it far to easy to ignore our belly fat. Say no to diet culture (please don’t buy into that BS) and yes to changing your lifestyle by visualizing how you’re going to rock those jeans. (Awakened awareness) Put on something with a waistband, add some salad to your meals and go for a walk. (Achievement awareness).

Here's the thing...there is a light in you that our world needs so you must keep going. Whatever it is that you want is awesome and doable, so tap into all your awareness and go do it! Thanks for being here, it means so much. 

xo Donna

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