As you engage on this adventure of finding work that is meaningful for you, it may not always feel as if you are at choice. Especially when you encounter situations that look different from what you expected or hoped for. In those moments, you may feel frustrated, discouraged, surprised or curious. It can sometimes be challenging to welcome all these emotions and allow them to flow through you. However, when you do, you open up more space to choose your next step in alignment with your deeper wisdom.
I was reminded of all this as I recently started a new adventure: creating short videos on youtube to complement my blog posts. It’s a lot of fun to share inspiring messages and helpful tools through videos. I usually book my hair appointment on video production days, so that I feel ready to step in front of the camera.
One clear, crisp morning, I walked to my hair stylist, who lives just a few blocks away from our home to get my hair done in preparation for video production. When I arrived, the door was locked and it was dark inside her studio. As I later found out, there had been a family emergency.
Allow Yourself to Feel Your Emotions
After waiting fifteen minutes, I slowly walked home. I felt disappointed and frustrated about the unexpected change in my day. It felt as if my whole plan for the day had just evaporated.
As I allowed myself to feel the frustration and disappointment flow through me, I felt a tightness in my throat and a heaviness around my heart. When I gave myself space to breathe through all these feelings and sensations, they naturally dissipated.
Take a moment now to allow yourself to feel all your emotions about a recent, unexpected change. Notice the sensations in your body, such as tightness, warmth or coolness. Breathe through the emotions and sensations. Then witness how both are changing and settling.
Choose Your Next Step
Once I had moved through my emotions, I realized that there was nothing I could do about my hair stylist’s absence. However, I was at choice about video production. What did I want to do about it? Did I want to reschedule my hair appointment and postpone my video production accordingly? As I asked myself these questions, I noticed a readiness within me to create videos. Once I made that choice, I felt an invigorating surge of energy move through my body. I was now even more excited about the production. After I styled my own hair, I stepped in front of the camera.
Now, that you have moved through your emotions, it’s a lot easier to distinguish between the parts of the situation that are out of your control and the ones that you have choice about. As you imagine different scenarios, notice which of the possible choices feels most invigorating for YOU.
Take Action on Your Choice
It was such a joy to produce videos that day. My hair appointment disappointment transformed into an opportunity to share an inspiring story about choice. This was the first time I created a video on the spot, based on an experience that had just happened. It was so invigorating! I felt energized for the rest of my day.
Now, take action according to the choice that feels most invigorating for YOU. As you do, notice how powerful it feels. What are you sensing in your body as you follow your inner guidance and step into action?
Acknowledge the Power of Your Choice
This experience opened me up to the possibility of planning video productions without hairstylist appointments. It also dawned on me that I could just step in front of the camera, whenever I experience something worth sharing on the spot. What seemed to be a set-back at first sight turned out to be an opportunity for me. As a result, I feel a greater sense of freedom and flexibility.
Once you have taken action according to your choice, take a moment to reap the learning and expansion. What kind of new opportunities are opening up for you? How did this experience help you stretch beyond preconceived limits? What’s the impact on your level of confidence? How will the learning from this choice be helpful next time you encounter sudden, unexpected changes? Take a moment to journal about how this experience helped you grow and expand.
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