🎧How to Embrace Change and ditch the fear
Navigate life's transitions more gracefully while unlocking the door to personal growth, renewal , new creations, new beginnings. Get unstuck with a personalized roadmap for navigating change.
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This week, we are diving deep into embracing change, how to break down the change into manageable steps, along with journal prompts to get to the nitty gritty, homeopathic remedies that may help you super fine tune, and last but not least, reassess and adjust your plan as the journey unfolds. But first, let’s start with this week’s travel adventure.
One of the exhibits I saw at the International Civil Rights Center & Museum in Greensboro, North Carolina, was a coke machine that not only infuriated me, but connected a ton of dots. During Jim Crow’s laws where state and local laws in the Southern United States enforced racial segregation everything came with specific laws from entering an establishment to drinking soda. I boycotted Coca-Cola products long ago when I wised up to it’s history along with what it was doing to my body and behavior. After viewing this coke machine, pictured above, if I had not taken coke out of my lifestyle, I would have. Coca-Cola marketed assiduously to whites.
In the photo above, this Coke machine would have had a partitioned wall on one side for whites and the other for people of color. Take a look at the price. On the white side it is 5¢ where as on the other side it was 6¢ and then a 10¢ sticker was placed on top. I asked the historian if Coca-cola allowed this. She replied that the company encouraged it and trained their sales representatives to encourage store owners to charge what they liked for people of color. In fact, Cocoa-Cola had Coke machines developed for whites only, so it is not a stretch to believe this was the case. Interesting to note, representatives from Coca-Cola have tried numerous times to purchase the machine from them.
As I allowed this infuriating message to sink in, for some reason, it was being blocked by the 1970’s commercial song Buy the World a Coke . The dots were finally connecting. The premise of the commercial was based on being delayed at Shannon Airport in Ireland and how people were getting along over a Coke. But, was that truly the message? Yes, it encapsulates the desire for a harmonious world where people come together despite their differences; I do not think the company was really coming from a place of a clean slate. Although the song has numerous renditions throughout the years, apparently the company still hid the the real thing, discrimination in the work place, finally settled in June 2001 at the tune of $192 million lawsuit. Cocoa Cola has done a poor job of accepting change. Imagine if they just excepted change? What would the world be like?
How to embrace Change
Change is the only constant in life, and it has the power to be a transformative force for personal growth. Embracing change is not merely about adapting to new circumstances; it's a powerful catalyst for renewal, offering opportunities for self-discovery and positive transformation.
This week, let’s explore the beauty of personal renewal through embracing change, guidance on navigating transitions and seeing them as gateways to personal growth.
When my hubby and I were first presented with living full time in a motorcoach my first initial reaction was “what if’s” followed by “what about” questions as fear…. no, terror set in. The hardest part was letting go of everything and accepting another big change in my life. Looking back, it was the most liberating thing I had done since moving to the United States.
What was it that had me paralyzed in fear? Stepping outside of my comfort zone? Even though I was bored with my life, did not like where I was living, and was seeking something, the resistance to change outweighed my desire for adventure. I have always been an adventurous person, what changed?
The older we get, the more stuck we become. Even though we may not like the stuck-ness we stick with it because we know what to expect, misery and all. Change is often met with resistance as it challenges our comfort zones and familiar routines. However, the first step in embracing change is to acknowledge its inevitability. Just as seasons change, so do the chapters of our lives. Resisting change can lead to stagnation, while embracing it opens the door to new possibilities, experiences and adventures.
As I allowed the idea of full time traveling to sink in, I did start to explore the idea of living in a motorcoach and how that would look. Then, it was time to let go. I think that was harder. But, I can tell you today, the weight was lifted off of me letting go of everything, the house, the contents in our home, my car, everything. It actually feels incredibly freeing to not own anything!
How can we cultivate a mindset of curiosity while unveiling the mysteries within to change?
When you are presented with a change however big or small allow the thought to just flow. Allow the racing thoughts to just happen without attaching to them or analyzing. This may take a day or two. Honor the time. Get out your journal and ask yourself;