Article by Wendy McCance
In our household, my husband and I have been making some significant changes in our life. We are in a transition period of reestablishing ourselves in new careers. I have taken notice of some significant signs that we are on a good path. I have never looked so closely at what I truly wanted to do with my life. I had never noticed or experienced the physical and emotional events that occur when a major change in lifestyle is being made. After witnessing my husband go through the same experiences as me, it dawned on me that there are significant ways our bodies and mind behave when we push hard to break old patterns and establish new ones.
When I began blogging and realized that writing was what truly made me happy, I pushed myself to research the heck out of what it took to become a good enough writer to create an income out of my passion. I also started pursuing my dream job of getting into real estate. My husband has finally decided that it is time to pursue his dream job and he has been going through the same reactions that I have gone through.
This is what happened to us:
1. We got sick. I know this sounds strange, but we both felt ourselves go through a physical shift. Almost like the cells in your body are reorganizing themselves to accommodate a new way of responding to what we were pursuing. Stomach aches, headaches, general fatigue and an overall feeling like you have a mild case of the flu hit us. Moments when we were completely stepping out of our comfort zone and taking a chance, the physical symptoms began and stayed until our brains calmed down again.
2. Our emotions were just below the surface ready to spring out at any given moment. We became much more animated and talked about every feeling that began to develop. Our good moments were better and the bad moments were worse. We went through a period of time where we were more sensitive to all that was surrounding us while we pushed for significant changes in our lives.
3. Insecurity got stomped out by an increase in confidence. We began a new chapter in our lives and were scared to death of trying something that felt so new and bold. Who were we to go after our dreams? Weren’t we the same people who had become so accustomed to disappointment and a very average life? How could we possibly ignore our past experiences and dive into the unknown? This gave way to so much confidence. Once the ball was rolling and there was some light at the end of the tunnel, are confidence grew and grew. The more it grew, the more success we had. It’s become a fun and exciting trip.
4. People began to take notice. We chose to change some pretty major things in our lives, but didn’t discuss it too much with others. People still took notice. They saw two people who were happier, more content and definitely a lot more ambitious emerge. We began receiving positive feedback and a ton of love and support.
5. The path to a better future was much smaller than what it appeared to be. Once we jumped in and really worked towards our goals, the hard stuff fell away quickly. There have been plenty of moments that have popped up where we received solid reinforcement from unusual places that we were on the right path. No matter how much we tried to predict the outcome, we could have never seen some of the great opportunities that began to appear in front of us.
We are still pushing our way through to the life we ultimately want to live. We have moved farther, faster than we would have ever thought possible. The experiences we have had since working on these changes have been the most fun. From out of the blue, we have been surprised time and time again with what has begun to transform in front of our eyes. The fear of pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and into what would make you the happiest lasts for such a short time. Then the fun begins and the ride becomes enormously exciting.
I don’t know if you have experienced these signs of positive change when you have made major adjustments in your life, but I’d love to hear your experiences.
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Wendy McCance
To contact Wendy McCance about a writing assignment, interview or speaking engagement, please email her at: [email protected]
Latest posts by Wendy McCance (see all)
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Great blog post. It is always nice to know that I am not alone in my transitional phase. I have learned a great deal through meditation, yoga and energy healing about pushing past mental blocks and negative habits into a desirable state of being. Thanks for sharing!
What great techniques for clearing your mind. Love yoga!!
Excellent post and BRAVO for reaching down deep to clarify for you…and most especially for us. Sort of lights a path for all us undergoing similar changes.
Hi Jacqueline, thanks for the comment. I’m so happy to hear that this post has resonated with you.
Challenging the status quo can shake things up. It’s kind of cool to consider that even our bodies will join in and purge out the old, to allow space for the new! Great blog!
Thanks Susan.
Hi Wendy
I have been reading your blog for quite a time.
I was fascinated by the sheer idea of being able to recognize confirmations from our body to
a choice of way in life.
I posted your post on a relevant discussion on Linkedin in Hebrew.
Currently looking for methods to connect with direct higher sources, for verification of personal mission in life.
Your post comes as a sign to me :”Just In Time”.
Keep observing, and writing.
You do Get better and better.
Loved your pattern recognition in several articals. It is your differentiating ability
when compared to other writers.
Thanks
Shuki
Hi Shuki, thanks so much for your kind words and also for the repost. I am so flattered. You really made my day.
Thanks for sharing that. My partner and I are also going through changes, setting up as therapists. It is scary, and I find myself reacting strongly to the sense of insecurity and uncertainty. I am so pleased you have found your way through that phase, and that it doesn’t go on forever! Great story.
Hi Helen, thanks so much. Sounds like you are on track towards an exciting future. Wishing you all the best.
Wendy - Great article! Your title grabbed me and brought me in for a closer look and you are so right about point #1 “We Got Sick”. I will share your article with others also. If you’re interested in being a guest blogger on http://www.weddingloveknot.com let me know. Always looking for wedding related articles to post. Contact me: webmaster AT weddingloveknot.com - thanks! Marika
Hi Marika, thanks you so much for the kind words and repost. I’d love to do a guest post. I’ll contact you shortly.
Thank you for putting into words what has influenced my decisions to do something I love, and like you, it is writing for a living. There are days when I wonder whether I have made the right decision to forgo a regular pay packet and security, but then I read something like this and I know that I am not on my own. I have posted your article on my FB so that others can benefit too.
Thanks so much for your comment and the repost on Facebook. I am so glad that you have found the thing that makes you happy. The way I look at it is that we get one life. You can live that life and never find the one thing you are most passionate about. Find it and you have received a rare gift. Don’t worry about your choice, embrace it. If it’s what you want to do more than anything, you will find a way to make it work. The old saying goes, do what you love and the money will follow. I am truly thrilled for you. All the best.
I have posted a copy of this post to my http://www.facebook.com/beatredundancyblues page as I think it is relevant to people who have been made redundant. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much. I hope your followers find this information to be valuable to them.
Those physical changes you speak of sounds, well, neat for lack of a better word. It is interesting how our bodies react!
I don’t know why I never put it together all of these years. Maybe I needed to go through something dramatic to become aware of it.
It’s so good to see some one who is happy with the changes in one’s life…good for you and your husband! It is scary making changes……I’ve made a few myself….but I have never regretted a moment! Life goes on and we must grab hold with both hands and enjoy the ride!
Love this!!