Awakening Not Midlife Crisis

A woman stopped by jolie the other day to share her art.  Having been a psychologist for many years - in her awakening, she decided to devote herself to creative, uplifting art for others.  Loving to serve, but her practice of psychology no longer had her jumping out of the bed in the morning.
I loved how she purposely referred to the change, not as mid-life crisis, but as awakening.

Awakening is the courage to realize something isn’t working the way it use to.  We are all alive, changing and evolving.  It doesn’t make sense that everything we chose 10, 15, 20 years ago still is going to work for us.  

As many of you know, I grew up in the Bible belt and Sunday School meant memorizing Bible verses.  One of my favorites, I carry with me still is “I came that you may have life more abundantly.”

Abundant.  That is what life is.  

Boring. Dull. Draining. Exhausting. Stale. Do not describe abundance nor should it describe life.  When we find ourselves not jumping out of bed, not truly happy, it’s time for awakening.

Awaken to what your soul truly wants.  What is it that makes you feel alive? What do you want life to feel like? How would you live your day?  
It’s a tricky question sometimes.

You don’t know what you want? Maybe you haven’t even allowed yourself to consider the question. Maybe you can’t see any options due to work, kids, education.  Or perhaps, you feel past decisions set you on a road you can’t exit.
Awakening begins with listening.  

So here’s how we can listen:

Sit in a quiet place.  Invite clarity and light in.  Begin to focus on your breath. Continue the focus on your breath until you feel quiet inside.  Now ask yourself the following questions. 
Where am I now? Write down where you are physically, emotionally, financially, spiritually - positive and negative.  

Then make your wish list - here’s where I want to be. What would life look like? Think of the feeling you want to have.

From here create a no thank you list of any negative feelings, negative situations, unhealthy relationships or coping habits you have.

The keeper list is last.  List all you want to keep what makes you feel good, alive, and fills you.

Now from listening to action.  Create more of what’s on the keeper list and where you want to be.  In meditation, ask how -  the answers will slowly come.  
Begin to house clean your life by looking at the no-thank-you list.  What can you release now? What can you replace in terms of more positive habits or thoughts? What can you experience less?
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Begin baby steps to unwind yourself from the negative thoughts, relationships, habits and situations that keep you stuck.

Love,
Julia xo