SHIFT Happens by Thulani DeMarsay

Shift Happens
Strategies for Embracing Change
By Thulani DeMarsay
www.thulani.com

Shift happens. Whether it is changing jobs or starting a new career,
moving, sending kids to college, the loss of a loved one or the ending of a
relationship, we are all subject to change. The one thing about change is
that it is constant and often unpredictable, catching many of us off guard.
Other times life changes are conscious and deliberate, yet the outcome
may not be what we anticipated. To the degree that we perceive change as
being positive and beneficial, we may embrace it with open arms; however
if we perceive change to be difficult, negative or downright painful, our
human tendency is to resist.

Over the past several weeks, I have had conversations with a number of
friends and colleagues who are experiencing a myriad of changes in their
personal and professional lives. Some are considering a new vocation and
changing jobs, others are reevaluating their values, their mission and sense
of purpose, and several have experienced the loss of a job and the
ending of a relationship. In the past couple of months, I too have
experienced a shifting with the ending of two long-term friendships.

Despite its discomfort, change offers an opening for insight, reflection
and personal growth. It is an opportunity to clear out and excavate that
which no longer serves us so that we can welcome the new things that
seek to emerge in our lives. Rather than feeling resistant or negative, it
is beneficial to inquire, asking questions such as “what is being presented
to me here” or “what am I supposed to learn from this experience”. It is
in the quietude of your thoughts and the openness of your heart that
answers to these questions emerge and provide insight.

The ending of a business or the loss of a job may be a great opportunity
to embark on another venture that is in alignment with your values, your skills and gifts. Perhaps the ending of a relationship presents an opportunity for soul searching and discovering the qualities that are really important to you in a mate. As we align with our higher purpose and those things that matter to
us, we live with a greater sense of integrity and self worth.

Those who embrace change with enthusiasm and optimism, even in the face of uncertainty and discomfort, are more likely to be resilient; on the other hand, to resist and fight change leads to feelings “As we align with our higher purpose and those things that matter to us, we live with a greater sense of integrity and self worth of disempowerment and eventually causes one to feel like a victim. As we go through our individual shifts it is important to accept the transient nature of life, which means that everything changes. To the degree that we hold on tightly and resist, that is the degree to which we experience suffering and afflictive emotions and miss a profound opportunity to grow, develop and unfold.

May we approach our changes with care, respect and trust. Let’s get out of the way and allow shift to happen.

Questions for Reflection
• Is the change that is being presented to you beneficial and does it support you in achieving your highest potential?
• What are the benefits of making changes and how might these changes improve the quality of your life and/or your relationships with others?
• Have you benefited from a person or a place of employment? Have you reached your capacity to grow in this relationship? Have you given thanks and expressed your gratitude for these experiences and are you ready to let go and experience the next level of your development?
• Are there any consequences of not accepting the shift that is happening in your life? Is your relationship, child, job, or health at risk? If so, perhaps now is the perfect time to make a change.

All the best,
Thulani