In part 1, we looked at what cycle might take place before being able to take action and make changes. This essay will cover: the decision for change, is deciding enough, finding your why, accountability, discipline, vision setting, mindset, consistency, discomfort, self-sabotage, meditation and gratitude.

Action in the context of these two essays is the steps you decide to take for change. That change can be whatever you like, and the motivation behind the change is all yours. These essays illustrate what a journey might look like before a decision is made that change needs to occur and aims to offer the tools and insights to help when taking action to bring about the change. 

The difficult truths:

• Change is hard.

• Change takes time.

• Change takes effort.

• Change can be uncomfortable.

I spent a long time in awareness before I found the strength to make meaningful and positive changes in my life. In the period in which I had rational understanding and clarity around the areas of life that weren't working for me I felt incredibly frustrated and, at times, hopeless because I couldn't seem to take action and make lasting changes. However, with the beauty of hindsight, I can see the lessons I was learning, the work my subconscious was undertaking and the unravelling that happened, all to the benefit of now. 

These days I spend my life in a trusting partnership with the universe. I don't need or desire all the answers, I don't want to know what's around the corner, and I don't wish to control everyone or everything. I work hard on my mindset as my natural inclination is toward dark and depressive moods. Knowing that means I set time every day to get my mind on right so I can move through my day easily and joyfully and do no harm to myself or others. The daily time that I spend on my mind is non-negotiable for me. That doesn't mean everyone else has to work around me, but that I use my communication skills to ensure I fit this into my day. Living with my husband and three small children means I work around my responsibilities but always make time for my practice. I meet obstacles daily, and I see those as an opportunity to deepen my commitment to my practice and growth, looking for solutions rather than crumbling at the first hurdle. This approach has taken years to cultivate and wouldn't be possible with three children without my partner. He is my equal and respects family responsibilities with a shared interest. We support one another and practise regular communication and adjustments to ensure we receive time for ourselves and family time. 

Awareness changed how I view my past and my understanding of myself, but its taking action that changes the present and allows me to live the life I choose. The steps I take change depending on what I am trying to do, where I hope to grow, where I am in my life, and the resources available to me. 

If the idea of action intimidates you, spend more time in awareness, self-reflection and self-enquiry. Trust the process rather than fight it. If action is out of reach for you right now, understand there must be more to learn in awareness. Alternatively, you can change your perspective on what action is. It doesn't need to look one way. Action for you could be the conscious choice to find more moments of rest to rebuild strength. Whatever action looks like for you, I hope that some of the principles I present help you to find flow, harmony and enjoyment in this process.

The decision for change.

The decision to change comes easily for some, and others may need to make the same mistakes repeatedly until they have fully learnt the lesson the universe provides. Sometimes the decision for change is out of our hands. Change will find us if we hit a deep rock bottom and can no longer function in our daily lives. In these challenging situations, change may look like awareness and compassion or the willingness to go along with the help offered rather than going deeper into our rock bottom.

However it comes, at that moment, there is a clarity, a bright and direct flash of "I need to change" or "I've had enough", "I can't go on like this". It would be absolute gold if this moment of clarity could last, but unfortunately, the clarity we once felt can wear off quickly. Change is complex and requires consistent effort. By becoming aware of the process of moving from awareness into action, you will find a more grounded staying power and a framework for carrying the desired actions forward.

Is deciding enough?

Deciding to change is a great place to start, but more is needed. As mentioned earlier, the moment of clarity we feel when we choose to make a change wears off quickly unless we create a support structure for what we want to change. Thinking you can change something without support could also be deep programming around feeling like you can't ask for help. Remember, often, we are trying to change habits and behaviours that have been present for years, so changing them is going to be more challenging than keeping them. Therefore, we need to increase our support and not imagine the decision to change will be enough to carry us over the finish line.

Finding your way

When faced with that moment of clarity when you hear the call to change, the best thing you can do is pause. At this moment, we need to take stock of our reasons for desiring change. 

So take note here in this moment of feeling ready for change and ask yourself - 

• Why now?

• How important is change?

• What will happen if I don't change?

• What will happen if I do change?

• How can I remember this moment?

• How can I remember this moment in a month?

• What support do I need to ask for?

• What support can I put in place?

These answers form a foundation and a point of reference to hold close.

Accountability

Like everything I outline or suggest, there is no one-size-fits-all. The same goes for accountability. How you make yourself accountable for what you will change is up to you. When you share your plans with someone on a similar path or a friend or group of friends, the chances of meeting your intentions increase. If you don't have someone to play that role, group coaching programs or 1-1 coaching can provide incredible support. Having someone in your corner wanting to see you succeed is powerful.

Discipline

I bucked up against this word for a long time until I understood its origin. Discipline comes from the Latin disciplina (teaching, learning, or instruction), and discipulus (disciple, pupil). So it is an opportunity to learn and a reminder that I am a disciple of my purpose. So to commit and do something with discipline is committing to my purpose and, therefore myself. It is an act of kindness rather than punishment, as I have consciously chosen my vision and purpose.

Vision Setting

The process of vision setting has been around for a long time and taught by various teachers I admire. I began using the process formally around six months ago, and the change has been dramatic. Taking the time to consciously consider and craft a vision for a month, quarter, or year ahead sets up a channel for your energy. It is a navigation tool, a helpful map. It helps hold your clarity and your why close to your heart. Decision-making becomes easier as you can refer to your vision to understand which answer is aligned. My process with vision setting is I write my vision statement in the present tense as though I have already achieved it. I do this monthly. After crafting my vision statement, I match actions energetically. I teach this process as part of my group coaching membership. I also teach energetics and autosuggestions.

Mindset

You have the power to change your mind. It's not easy, but it gets easier with practice, and the cumulative effects help things along. It's not as simple as 'think positive', but not much more complex. Once you have spent time in self-discovery and begun to understand how your mind runs automatically, you can apply techniques to alter your natural ways of thinking and create new patterns from that space of inner knowing. 

It is important to remember that :

You can only think as good as you feel

So it's not about changing your mindset in the moment but creating a plan of action for maintaining a good frame of mind daily, and this process will look different for everyone.

Consistency

Consistency is vital, but so is accepting your imperfections. Create your ideal set of actions, believe in them and do them in the frequency you set out to BUT do not blow it all up when you miss a day or two. Just get back into alignment and continue. No need for punishments. Just accept you aren't perfect and then recommit. No drama.

Discomfort

Our brain is so clever - it will do anything to move us away from uncomfortable scenarios. Doing anything new will be uncomfortable for your brain. However, we can forge forwards even when our brain tells us to stop. Read The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks to understand this concept further. Meditation, cold showers, movement, trying new things, and breathwork are great ways to push ourselves into uncomfortable pockets for progress.

You can't do things the same way and expect different results.

Self-sabotage

When we do new things and begin to make changes, our mind struggles and will try to divert us back to the familiar, which is why when you shift in one area, you might find yourself self-sabotaging in other areas. To help minimise self-sabotaging behaviours, we need to regulate our nervous system whilst we are uplevelling and making changes. We need to signal to our mind that everything is ok so that the fight or flight response switches off. So find a practice that you enjoy that regulates your nervous system to do alongside any changes you are making.

Meditation

I have had an on-and-off relationship with meditation for eight years. It has been a life-saving practice in my darkest days and has become a non-negotiable daily practice over the last year. I have settled on a combination of Kundalini meditation and breathwork; the formula calls me back every day. Meditation is a vital component of nervous system regulation, and it also opens so much space in your heart for kindness, compassion, creativity and patience. There is beauty in stillness and wisdom in silence. Don't be afraid to sit with yourself.

Gratitude

Gratitude is the ultimate perspective shifter. It's easy to practise but produces seismic shifts. Even when you are at your lowest, if you practise gratitude regularly, you will begin to feel a change over time. Even if, to begin with, gratitude is mechanical. Feel gratitude in your body as you write your lists or give thanks if you can. Feel it in your heart, and let it expand throughout your being. If possible, get it in early in the day before your feet hit the floor. It can just be thoughts in your mind or written down. Keep the practice simple but do it with feeling. 

Side Note 

I want to end this essay by speaking to anyone reading this and feeling hopeless or lost. Taking action can sound intimidating and unrealistic if you are suffering in your mind. I have been there. I used to sneer at anything mindset-related, thinking it unrealistic when I was suffering from depressive moods. In those moments, no amount of mindset speak could have changed things for me. The help I needed was complex and layered, and the journey towards working with my mind was long. Reach out to Mind charity as a great starting point, and if you can, ask for as much help as possible.

Are you going through or looking for change in your life? Transformative coaching with me provides a dedicated space for self-exploration and reflection for finding clarity and accountability. If you proceed with 1-1 coaching, you receive complimentary access to my group coaching program SEASON.

Book a complimentary discovery call to find out more.