No one warned me that, on my path to becoming a healthier, more fulfilled human being, I'd have to change nearly all of my behaviors. I'd have to change my mindset, learn new things that were hard ("everything is hard until it's easy" is one of my favorite sayings), and even create distance in some relationships.
Some changes, like learning to cook delicious, nutrient-dense food at home, have been mostly fun. Letting go of some relationships? Not so much.
Once you're deeply committed to your personal growth and evolution, you will (yes, definitively) have to let go of some relationships, in addition to letting go of old behaviors and habits.
This is a necessary and often painful part of growth.
It's not unlike the decluttering work my team and I do with Simplify Home Organizing clients, though processing emotional attachment to our fellow humans is certainly more challenging than donating some old t-shirts! Letting go is hard, ya'll, and I think it's important that we take the time to honor our emotions and mourn in whatever way we feel is best. Expressing gratitude for experiences, people, and things is my go-to method, which often involves lots of tears shed. Embracing impermanence is so much easier said than done.
I've found that, as my priorities shift, I no longer connect with as many people as I once did. My most valued friendships are the ones that involve mutual encouragement, uplifting support, and a dollop of tough love when necessary.
Has any of this been true for you? How have you grown and evolved recently?
May you find moments of ease and joy on your path to becoming your healthiest, happiest self.
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As always, if you're ready for loving encouragement and skilled support, let's plan a quick chat to see if we're a good match for Happiness Coaching, virtual organizing with yours truly, or in-home organizing via me and my growing Simplify Home Organizing team. :)
Quote I'm Pondering:
“True freedom is impossible without a mind made free by discipline.”
~Mortimer J. Adler
Do you agree? I'm slowly adding more structure into my schedule including planning time for rest and socializing.
What I'm Reading:
Much to my surprise, I was recently diagnosed with PCOS. It's a collection of symptoms, really, so not an actual disease per se, but this news still shook me. Since I'm studying to become a Functional Health Coach, and have two wonderful Functional Health doctors on my care team, I'm excited to learn more about this common syndrome and the delicate balance of hormones.
What I'm Listening to:
Chris Kresser has been hosting this podcast for 11 years, which was long before podcasts became a common thing, and says this is the most important episode (out of more than 300) he's ever done.
He and Cal discuss the future of humanity - yes, you read that right - and how our fragmented attention presents an existential threat to innovation and our evolution. Are we devolving as a species due to the way we interact with technology and each other? How can you do more "deep work" and reclaim your innate potential for creativity? Yes, this is two hours long but I *swear* it's worth your time. This could change the very way you function in our modern world.