Embracing Change in 2012 - January 2012‘‘What in the world is going on?’’ By Lyndsay Blais
 Can you feel it? Impending change is all around us, and it is constant. Admittedly, at the beginning of a brand new year many of us long for change, a new beginning - a fresh start. Nonetheless, the change I am talking about started long before the count-down to midnight on December 31st.
We have been in a transition for years, globally in the macrocosm, and personally in the microcosm. We have been preparing ourselves to birth a new way of being in the world, a more conscious way that includes the well-being of the planet in our daily decisions, and one which demands that we be our greatest selves in the world and for the world. The way we will manifest this will be by creating new habits, and living out our daily actions in how we treat ourselves and those closest to us.
Over the years there has been much musing about 2012, urging us to purge, to forgive others and ourselves, to be in service, to stretch, to grow and in doing so, to face our deepest fears. It has been the norm over the past year especially to hear stories of struggle and angst, illness and tragedy and I have often asked myself : ‘‘What in the world is going on?’’
&nbs p;
Ask a question, and receive an answer, and I did in fact, receive many answers. Through deep discussions with mentors and friends, as the eternal optimist that I embrace myself to be, the conclusion that feels the best is to look at these challenges as platforms for personal transformation, which in turn impacts the planet on a larger scale.
- Tired of the dead end job where you are disregarded and treated poorly? Chances are the mistreatment you experience and witness lately has been amped up and in your face so much so that you can’t ignore it any longer. It could very well be the catalyst that moves you to make a change in your career, despite the fear that has been holding you back for years.
- Fed up with feeling sluggish, carrying extra weight and battling the scale? You may find lately that nothing appeals to your appetite, or on the other end of the spectrum, perhaps you have allowed yourself every indulgence, only to feel the deep emptiness of dissatisfaction that cannot be filled by consuming more. This experience could be the gift that gives you pause to contemplate healthier ways to get your needs met; asking directly for what you really want in your relationships with others, while listening to your body and choosing to fuel yourself with wholesome foods that nourish your body from the inside out.
- If you have put your relationships, your finances, or your health at the bottom of the priority list for too long, perhaps you have experienced a wake-up call that has you realizing that nothing is to be taken for granted…and now is the time to face your fears, let go of what hasn't been working and implement new strategies that will lend new results.
Whatever it has been for you in the past, whatever your story has been, it has likely been magnified and amplified, begging for you to pay it some attention. As painful as that can be, the only way out is through, and the only way through is to embrace the catalyst for the gift that it is, and to cling to the shining light of your support system, be that your faith, your partnerships, your rituals, unconditional love, your mentors, or your deepest inner knowing that you are on the right path. Do that, and you will get through.
I often use the imagery of a chrysalis in teaching about life transitions. I once heard Dr. Deepak Chopra speak about the process the caterpillar goes through in order to experience it’s metamorphosis into a beautiful butterfly. As a young caterpillar, it has all of the DNA present to become the butterfly, but if you were to compare the two insects, there is very little in their appearance that would lead you to believe that this worm-like bug could become so beautiful. Instinctually, when it is time, the caterpillar eats and eats, consuming all it can, then it creates a tight and secure little cocoon that will protect it from whatever goes on outside, while it's doing it's important transformational work on the inside. Inside the cocoon, the caterpillar eventually liquifies, in essence dying to itself, and in that process activates the DNA for the butterfly, which in Mother Nature’s brilliance begins to re-organize itself inside the cocoon to form all of the new pieces, from the long antennae to the fragile wings. Once it's work is near complete, the butterfly will have the urge to emerge from its safe haven, first by poking a small hole through the cocoon, and eventually, fighting its way through that small hole, so that all of the excess liquid is removed from the wings and once dry, they become light enough to float through the air in flight.
Now if someone were to notice a new little butterfly struggling to emerge from a cocoon, and in an effort to help it along made the hole just a little bit bigger so it didn't have such a struggle, that poor butterfly would be helpless upon it's arrival in the world, the wings would be too heavy to allow it to fly.
I think we have been preparing ourselves for our own personal transformation and as we approach 2012 I believe we will find ourselves dying to what no longer serves us, the old stories of unworthiness, self-reproach and looking for peace and contentment outside of ourselves. I don't suspect it will be easy, but it will definintely be worth it.
I imagine our guardians, our guides, our angels; those who have passed before us, watching us as we struggle to emerge from our cocoons, and I ask not that they make it easier for us, that work is an essential part of our transformation, what I ask is that they cheer us along on our journey, giving us guidance to know we are on the right path, and the courage and strength to keep going!
Carpe diem, Seize the day!
~ Lyndsay
 Lyndsay's Bio: Lyndsay Blais, creator and facilitator of the Embracing Change Program; Assisting Individuals through Career and Life Transitions. Contact Lyndsay in Penticton, B.C. 250-809-5399 - Email
Copyright © 2004- 2011 OKinHealth.com. This article is of the copyright of OK in Health and the author; any reproduction, duplication and transmission of the article are to have prior written approval by OK in Health or the author.
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER
This information and research is intended to be reliable, but its accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All material in this article is provided for information only and may not be construed as medical advice or instruction. No action or inaction should be taken based solely on the contents of this newsletter / e-magazine / website. Readers should consult their doctor and other qualified health professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being. The information and opinions provided in this newsletter / e-magazine/website are believed to be accurate and sound, based on the best judgment available to the authors. Readers who fail to consult with appropriate health authorities assume the risk of any injuries. The publisher is not responsible for any errors or omissions. OK in Health is not responsible for the information in these articles or for any content included in this article which is intended as a guide only and should not be used as a substitute to seeking professional advice from either your doctor or a registered specialist for yourself or anyone else.
|
 |
|
|
Connect with Us
 | Lots of Diets | | Did you know that 65 million Americans go on a weight loss diet each year? And that as many as 48 million Americans are on a diet on any given day? Try on this idea: Dieting is not the solution for being overweight or obese. At best, diets are only a very temporary fix. Adopting gradual, but sustainable improvements to your eating and exercise habits are what can last you a lifetime. |
|
|
 | Health is Bliss |  Specialty: Health Clinics & Wellness Centers
Shannon Bliss is a Holistic Nutritionist who specializes in Live Blood Analysis and is committed to helping people take control of their health. | | View Details |
|
|
| Meet the Prophecies of 2012 Head On! - Ireland |  Date: Jun 16, 2012
Location: Ireland
Meet the prophecies of 2012 head on! STAND YOUR GROUND, EMBRACE YOUR FEAR! in Ireland.
An inspirational and empowering presentation with Christine Stormer-Fryer from South Africa | | View Details |
|
|
| Christmas Holidays and Pets |  Holiday hazards abound at Christmas time for pets and now is a good time to warn you of what to be careful of. The more obvious hazards include chocolate, tinsel and electrical cords, but there are others. | | Full Article |
|
|
 | Curried Quinoa Lentil Salad | Category: Vegetarian Entrees
Description: This is a great lunch or dinner side dish, full of protein and vegetables. Lentils are loaded with fiber, folate, iron, protein, and other vitamins and minerals, lentils are a nutritional fountain of youth. Researchers who studied the elderly found that eating these earthy-tasting seeds (and other legumes) is the single most important dietary factor in longevity. When it comes to fiber, a mere half cup of lentils provides around a third of your daily requirements. Whether you purchase lentils prepackaged or in bulk, look for those that appear largely unbroken (bags with broken lentils appear "dusty") and when you get home, don't mix newly purchased lentils with older ones; the older they are, the longer they take to cook. Keep them stored in a cool, dry place, and they will stay fresh for several months.
| | Full Recipe |
|
|
|