Change is often very stressful, and most people don’t initiate a change until they are so uncomfortable that they can no longer stay in their current situation. This means that when change happens, it’s like an earthquake, shaking the foundations of your life or career. But change does not have to manifest in such a way. Change is our natural state – nature is constantly renewing herself in a perpetual cycle of living change. We are part of this cycle, though we often imagine ourselves and our situation to be static or fixed. But just as we can’t stop the spring from springing forth, we cannot stop the natural cycle of change in our lives.
How can you integrate this natural cycle of life into your way of being – into your mindset and habits – so that change flows naturally and comfortably from your own initiative and imagination? That’s what self-innovation is all about. More than a 4-step formula for success, the art of self-innovation is a process you can use daily to engage in transformation and renewal. Start by letting go of old notions of who you are and who think you can be. Extrapolating your experience to define your destiny limits your potential. So begin by letting go so you can be open to receive.
The cycle of self-innovation is mirrored by the practice of walking the labyrinth. A circular path toward the center and back out again, the labyrinth instills a person with a sense of peace and clarity that is rare to achieve in our busy modern lives. The ancient practice of walking the labyrinth teaches us about the process of self-innovation, guiding us to trust ourselves, to release worries, to focus our minds, and to open our hearts to new possibilities and new opportunities in our lives. Any meditative or mindfulness practice can help us with this process of shedding our old skin and opening up to the new. Nature is also a wonderful teacher, and springtime is the perfect time to learn about change.
Simply go outside and find a fruit tree, rose bush or other flowering plant that is just beginning to bud. Notice the details of the emerging flowers and leaves – the textures, colors, shapes and scents. Each day spend a few minutes observing the same plant and watch the rapid changes that take place. Watch how the leaves and flowers shed their protection and unveil their fragile selves to the world, inviting bees and butterflies to alight on them. This process of releasing and receiving is how nature propagates herself. Imagine what it might be like to be this flowering plant. Sense the openness and vulnerability of it’s delicate flowers. Feel how being in this state also brings with it a sense of abundance and possibility. When you are truly receptive, you are able to see abundance and possibility in everything you meet. You release expectations and welcome opportunities. Try starting your day this way and see what blooms.
Understanding and engaging in the process of self-innovation will bring you a sense of relief from the stress that resistance to change often creates. This process gives us permission to reinvent ourselves without causing an earthquake in our lives.
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