Spring is about Change

This page is found at http://www.awomanscomfort.com/spring.html

Depending on where you live the trees are starting to bloom – or losing their leaves. Shops are telling us to get a "New Look." There’s an "itchiness" in the air. You might be feeling Eager or Adventurous or just a sort of Mild Irritation with Things in General. That’s part of Spring too.

Lots of us made lots of New Year’s Resolutions in January, about three months back. Now is a good time to look and see how they are doing.

Even if they were all down to Zero by Day Three, keep reading.

Years ago I found a tiny book called "Spring is a New Beginning," by Joan Walsh Anglund and I still love the peace and serenity found there. At the end she says:

"It is a gentle farewell
To yesterday
And the birth of new hope."

Gently

Please note the word Gentle. So often that’s exactly what we are not when we try to make any changes in our lives – and so often that is the only way to make those changes.

If someone came after you with a Big Hammer, what would be your first reaction? Well, why should your Habits, those actions that have become a part of You, react any different?

Isn’t that what we want - for those habits to say "a gentle farewell."

Your Habits have been a part of you, probably for a long time. My Dad was a Meat and Potatoes Man, and Mother was a Lady – and Ladies Never Sweat! Guess what my eating and exercise patterns are?

So how can a habit be broken and be replaced "Gently"?

The First Step

The first step is to Notice.

That’s all – just Notice.

It doesn’t make any difference what the Old Habit is; eating chocolate, biting your nails, or never planning ahead. It doesn’t make any difference what you want for your New Habit; eating more vegetables, taking stretch breaks at the computer, taking better care of yourself.

Choose one thing you want to Change

Notice when you do it – and when you don’t. Be a Detective and find about all you can about this particular part of you. How you feel? Are there any outside triggers that seem to make a difference? Do you have any thoughts from the past? Use all the "W" words – What, When , Where, Why, and How (OK! How isn’t a “W” word, but you know what I mean) Maybe keep a Journal or Diary about The Habit.

But don’t try to Change anything yet. For now just Notice.

Trust me on this. There will probably be several surprises, and you will come to a kinder understanding of yourself.

I dragged my copy of "Spring is a New Beginning" by Joan Walsh Anglund around the world with me. It is no longer available new, but here are some others of hers that are. Click on the covers if you would like to "Look Inside" and/or read the reviews. She has several titles in print.