Does a need for change cause anxiety in you?  Change one thing that you know needs to change for life to get better.

Sometimes it seems like nothing works the way it should. If you’re a human, you have probably hit that point where work is no fun, relationship is a struggle and you don’t even feel comfortable in your body.  

So, what irks you the most?  What one step could you start with today to move in the direction you want to go?  Write down a list of a few of the changes needed.  Prioritize them.  Prepare to take on the first task.

At times of stress, changing your life can seem overwhelming. There’s so much to do…where do you even start?

 
It’s quite simple, really…just change ONE thing.  I remember going to a beach up north.  I'd sit for hours sifting through the sand, finding the tiniest shells and rocks.  I would focus my attention on my task with the sounds of the ocean calming my thoughts.  That focus, that calm would bring me answers.  I would return home knowing my path forward.

 
Read a magazine article you would never typically even consider. Try a new type of restaurant. Take a different route to work. Any simple change of scenery can shift your perspective, and has the potential to drastically transform your life.

 
It’s like a ship at sea…if it changes course even one degree, 100 miles later it’s in completely new waters.  You can be like that ship!

 
Of course, the most profound shifts are the ones you make on the inside. Annoyance can easily be turned into fascination. Frustration can be flipped to become gratitude. Even anger can be transformed if you simply turn it into a song.

We may not have control of the situation, but we do have control of ourselves and how we view that situation.  Deep breathing can relax and anxious mind.  So can meditation, formal or informal.  My sifting through the sands for tiny shells was my mediation.  The mind has to be calmed to give us direction that is meaningful.

 
You don’t have to tackle the whole enchilada, just make one simple shift.  Pick a time frame and make another shift, and another.  If the mind is calm, you can even enjoy the choosing of your shifts, and where they take you.

 
And the best part is…it’s all experimentation. If you don’t like your new perspective, you can always go back to your old one.  But, I'll bet just trying out a few shifts will bring about some internal changes that you will incorporate into your future.

 
What “one-degree” shift can YOU make TODAY?

Linda Mac Dougall
[email protected]