“Sometimes in the waves of change we find our true direction.” ~Unknown
There have been some amazing waves crashing onto the Southern Californian beaches this past week. The recent full moon has increased the size and intensity of the waves and brought a powerful riptide pulling the water back out.
Water and waves are wonderful metaphors for change in our lives.
Just like with these strong waves, change often happens with external influences not unlike the full moon or a hurricane. We may feel pushed and pulled by the waves of change and as a result feel less than empowered.
But one thing we can count on in life is change. And we know that whether we choose it or it chooses us, change is often stressful.
“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.” ~Jon Kabat-Zinn
Negotiating change with grace and trust requires that your self-nurturing reserve tank is full. Having a self-nurturing practice is essential for the ongoing refueling of your reserve tank and for prioritizing nurturing activities in your day.
Often during times of stress and overwhelm, we forget to take time to care for ourselves. This is actually the most critical time to be intentional about nurturing ourselves and so creating a practice ahead of time is crucial for avoiding overwhelm, burnout and exhaustion.
Imagine being so filled up that you experience a wave of change in your life as interesting rather than threatening.
Imagine being so energized, peaceful and grounded that change does not knock you off your feet but rather invigorates you.
Imagine being so excited about the possibilities flowing in through the guise of change that you bypass anxiety about the unknown completely.
I believe that all of those scenarios are possible! It requires a commitment to caring for yourself, a tool chest full of self-nurturing activities and practices, and letting go of old beliefs that tell us it is selfish to care for ourselves.
As Audre Lorde reminds us, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation.”
What possibilities are flowing into your life right now?
What needs to be released in order to make space for their manifestation?
What intention could you set to start the process?
May you open to the waves of possibility flowing into your life and live authentically in truth and beauty, nurturing peace in the world from the inside out!
Please share your comments below to inspire and encourage others!
Sending you so much peace, love and gratitude,
Kelley Grimes, M.S.W.
Counselor, Author & Speaker
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Beautiful, Kelley! Such important reminders about the true nature of change and how we can “learn to surf the waves. I have many new things opening in my life right now and I’m riding the manifestations!
I love the idea that we can learn to surf the waves of change in our lives. I live in Southern California where surfing is a spiritual practice and there is so much honoring of all the parts of the surfing – paddling out, waiting for the right wave, surfing them, falling, getting back on your board and doing it all again! I am so excited to hear of all the new things opening in your life right now and I look forward to hearing more about them! Thank you so much for your comment!
Love this post, Kelley. Thank you. Yes, it’s so important to prepare yourself for times of stress by nurturing yourself ahead of time. I love your metaphor using the waves.
Thank you so much Lea! It is so fascinating that during times of stress we typically decrease our nurturing activities rather than increase them, when we could use them the most!
You can never have too many tools in your toolbox!
Isn’t that true Barb! It is so important to cultivate our tools so that we have many way to nurture ourselves when the waves ebb and flow! Thank you!