change – Ruthann M. Wilson

Embrace Growth: Stop Shrinking Yourself

“Don’t shrink yourself to fit into places that you have outgrown.” —Anonymous

Life is always inviting us to reach, stretch, and grow. Sometimes we accept the invitation with a wholehearted yes, and sometimes we decline the invitation through indecision and inaction and stay in places (e.g., jobs, relationships, situations, etc.) that we have outgrown. Although these places may not be ideal, they are familiar, comfortable, known.

We usually know it’s time for a change long before we take action. Inner promptings for change are often experienced as restlessness, dissatisfaction, or a desire/longing for something more. If you relate to any of these feelings, take time to listen to your inner voice and be willing to find new places to grow. It might mean finding a more challenging job, new friendships, or new ways for you and your mate to grow.

Progress requires change, and change begins to happen when you leave your comfort zone.

If this post resonates with you, I invite you to reflect on the following questions.

Where in my life am I shrinking myself to fit into places that I have outgrown?
What do I need to believe and do to grow?
What is one thing I can do [today] to support my growth?

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All the best,
Ruthann

Creating Change in Your Life: Clarity, Commitment, Courage

In this video, I highlight the power of clarity, commitment, and courage in creating change in your life.

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All the best,

Ruthann

Embrace Change: Be Willing to Change in Order to Grow

“How does one become a butterfly?” she asked. “You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar.”

—Hope for the Flowers

I recently re-read a wonderful book titled Hope for the Flowers by Trina Paulus.

It is a light-hearted story about two caterpillars (Stripe and Yellow) and their journey to become butterflies. It has become one of my favorite gift books about trust and transition/letting go.

The process of becoming a butterfly begins when the caterpillar responds to an internal urge to grow and evolve. In order to fulfill its potential, the caterpillar must give up its life as a caterpillar to be reborn and serve a different purpose. As winged creatures, butterflies provide hope for the flowers’ reproduction through the process of pollination.

The journey of the two butterflies in Hope for the Flowers is a great reminder that we too must trust our inner urges/promptings to grow and evolve in order to reach our full potential.

This week, I invite you to pay attention to inner urges/promptings to do something different/make changes in your life and be willing to step out of your comfort zone.

One of the best ways to step out of your comfort zone is to set a goal and begin to take action. Fear of the unknown will keep you stuck until you put fear in its place through action.

Life is a series of endings and beginnings for the purpose of growth and evolution. Our challenge is to trust the process and be willing to let go of the ‘old version’ of ourselves in order to grow.

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All the best,

Ruthann

Navigating Change and Life Transitions: Reflection Practices for Clarity

If you have read my book, you know there is a recurring theme that the nature of life is change and transition for the purpose of growth and evolution. Change is an inevitable and necessary element of life. It can be self-initiated or the result of external factors that might be out of our control (e.g., death of a loved one, loss of a job, health crisis, economy, sociopolitical environment).

Change is difficult whether we initiate it or not because it requires us to release/let go of something or someone and venture into the unknown. The unknown can be exciting or frightening depending on your perspective. Being able to reflect on the changes and transitions that have occurred in our lives enables us to learn and grow from our experiences.

As a part of my year-end process, I look back at the changes that occurred over the course of the year. I put the changes into two categories: 1) changes that I proactively initiated and 2) changes that were in response to external factors. I look at them separately for two reasons: 1) I am committed to personal growth and it is a way to hold myself accountable and 2) I recognize that some events/circumstances are out of my control, however, they provide me with an opportunity to learn more about myself, as well as others, and make changes accordingly.

I invite you to look back on the year in the context of the changes that occurred in your life. Look back with the following questions in mind.

What did you learn?
How did you grow?
What did you do for the first time this year? How did it make you feel?
Did you proactively initiate any changes in your life? If not, why not?
What did you learn about yourself and others as a result of external factors that were out of your direct control?

If your desire is to create your life from the inside out, commit to setting goals and proactively making changes in your life. Choose how to respond to external factors that are out of your control and stay focused on your goals.

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All the best,

Ruthann