By Susan deCaussin
I recently had a conversation with somebody about the holiday season, and they spent the entire time pining over and longing for the holiday experiences of the past. They were complaining about how things have changed and how nothing will ever be the same as the “good ole days.” It triggered something inside of me, so I decided to look deeper into why I felt that way.
I came to realize that it wasn’t so much about that person’s inability to live in the moment that irked me; it was about having an outlook on life that wasn’t open to accepting change. When we find ourselves unable to evolve through the changes of life, it can leave us with an uncomfortable feeling of resistance.
What are you resisting in your life? You may think, “I’m not resisting anything”. But if you are allowing yourself to feel angry, anxious, or discontent about any aspect of your life, you ARE in a place of resistance.
Have you ever heard the saying, “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans”? (It makes me chuckle each time I hear it.) That may sound like a cute or silly statement, but it’s very true. Many things impact our lives, which seem to come out of left field, leaving us uncomfortable and unprepared. How do you react at those times? Are you able to move beyond those moments with grace and acceptance, or do you move into anger and resistance? Do you believe that every aspect of your life is meant to provide opportunities for soul growth and powerful lessons, or do you see those difficult times as undeserved punishment?
The important thing to know is that no matter how you choose to react or define those life events, it’s not going to change what has happened. Choosing to move into victim mode or holding anger over any situation doesn’t ever change that circumstance – it only changes you! In other words, you begin to move gracefully through life by releasing resistance to something that may not be pleasant and moving to a place of acceptance (trusting that everything is for your highest and best).
So, I’ll ask again: what are you resisting? What’s holding you back from living your best life? Why not decide to start the New Year off with a new approach to living? You can decide right now to lovingly accept all that life dishes up and move easily with the flow. Let’s face it … the choice is yours. You can resist and choose to struggle against the current or accept what comes your way and decide to release the need to control everything.
Nothing in this world is exempt from change. Everything is constantly evolving into a different version of itself. Once you accept that fact, you have a decision to make. Will you gracefully accept life’s unexpected experiences or choose to exist in a constant state of resistance? Regardless of your decision, the world will continue to evolve. For myself, I choose to release control, accept change, and trust in the process of life.
