It's been on my mind a lot lately. Reinvention, that is.
I'm pretty sure we all think about a life or situation that is different from what we are presently experiencing. The question is: How do we make that ever-elusive shift between where we are and where we long to be?
I don't want to get too deep here, but I do have occasion to ponder such things, and being an opinionated, fairly intelligent scribe, I'm compelled to explore subjects that have impacted my life in an effort to connect with the universe and with you, my fellow humans.
It all starts with the idea of change. The very definition of reinvention is "the action or process through which something is changed so much that it appears to be entirely new."
It's a liberating thought, isn't it?
Empowering as hell. The idea that you can alter your reality by reinventing yourself.
What is it that prevents you from feeling a sense of gratitude for simply being alive or gives you that daunting feeling that you are not living your most authentic life? It's called self
-sabotage, my friends. And it's time to put an end to it.
The trick here is to venture back to the times when you were happiest. What were your senses telling you? What did the air smell like? What color was your dress? What girl made you feel so euphoric you forgot to shave that morning? What figure was in your bank account?
It may seem silly, but it's generally pretty simple. To reinvent yourself means going back to the basic principles of what makes you happy and finding a way to integrate and inject those feelings into your daily actions and goals. We are ever-changing creatures whether we fight for or against it. Our inner dialogue is hammering away at us all the time. We just don't listen. Or if we do, we're giving far more attention to the Negative Nellie's and Norton's in our brain and talking ourselves out of change before it has a chance to resonate.
Is it really that hard to imagine that we can consciously create a new existence for ourselves? It doesn't have to be. We just have to get out of our own way. And guess what? We don't have to step out too far.
Consider a few of these suggestions to put yourself on a beginners path to reinvention.
1. Change your hair color. It seems obvious and simple, but a physical change can really have an impact on how you view yourself. Go for something completely different, by the way. None of this "one shade lighter" nonsense.
2. Surprise yourself and do something unpredictable. It doesn't have to be monumental. Try the new mocha latte at Starbucks or wear something uncharacteristic to your style, like that silk scarf your sister brought back for you from Paris that's still in the overpriced box it came in. C'est tres bien!
3. Visit new places. Go to a trendy gallery opening for an artist you've never heard of or the local restaurant you've never eaten at. Baby steps.
4.Venture outside of your comfort zone. This is a tough one. But it's essential in your journey to reinvention. Just do it. Yea, Nike got it right. Try painting in oils, learn sign language, or strike up a conversation with someone who intimidates you. Overcome a fear you have. You will surprise and exhilarate yourself simultaneously. I promise.
5. Repeat steps 1-5. Then do it again. And again. Be brave. Listen to the "can do's" and flush out the "can't do's" or "shouldn't do's". They will sabotage you every time.
And what makes me the authority on this? I'll let you be the judge of that. I do make a pretty good living helping people discover their passion and the next steps in their journey. And I'm taking my own advice here as well. With each new day, it's a promise I make to myself. All it takes is a desire to evolve, the courage to execute change, and the will to envision a better tomorrow. Here's hoping you find it.
That's my two sense.....
Until next time,
Jennifer
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