As spring settles in my whole being is starting to feel more alive. I can feel myself coming out of hibernation on every level. I am waking up and naturally starting to feel like something new and fresh is right around the corner.
It started a few weeks ago when I began to feel this desire to clean and organize. I wanted to clear out some clutter in my room where I spend lots of time and just change up my view. It was time for a perspective shift.
Many of us can relate to that urge to purge and start with a clean slate. We are conditioned to believe that that’s what January 1 is all about and yet there are many people out there who feel that the New Year starts in the spring!
For me, spring has always felt more fresh and revived than January ever has!
For those of you out there who follow the planets or anything astrological, we are about to head into a few weeks where Mercury goes retrograde. And during this time, there is a perfect opportunity for all the “re” words and activities.
In order to experience a rebirth and a sense of revitalization, we sometimes need to take a moment to revisit and review.
Reflect
Reflection doesn’t always mean looking into the rearview mirror. Sometimes, it is simply about looking in the mirror in the moment so you can see yourself more clearly.
Everything is our mirror. That stranger on the street, the loved one at your dinner table, the song on the radio, the cherry blossoms dangling from the trees ~ everything we focus on is showing us who we are in that moment. Or maybe, better said, the world reflects to us what we need to know ~ what we are being asked to see ~ within our personal experience.
On those days when we notice the beauty around us and feel the joy of simply being alive, the world is showing us our authentic loving nature. On the other hand if the view appears grey and ugly and we feel a nagging irritation, the world is showing us what is in the way of connecting to our authentic loving nature.
You can choose to reflect on what has already happened and this can be useful in helping you to look over the path you are on and decide if it’s the one you will continue to follow or maybe, you’ll decide to get off at the next turn if that suits you better.
You can choose to be reflective in the moment to get your finger on the pulse of what is true and real for you right now and feel a deeper sense of presence in your life.
You can do both.
Anais Nin said, “We do not see the world as it is; we see it as we are.” In other words, no matter what is actually happening around us, we will interpret it according to our unique perspective. If you don’t like what you see, find a new view.
Reframe
The personal lens consists of a number of factors. Past experiences, cultural and gender influences, your attitudes, beliefs, values and your expectations, just to name a few. We tend to develop habits of mind and patterned ways of viewing our experiences and our interconnectedness in the world.
These patterns of thinking and habits of mind help us to make sense out of our experiences and to navigate the world. Through these processes, we learn what to expect and perhaps, feel more in control of what occurs in our lives. And at the same times, habitual responses and interpretations can become very dangerous and keep us stuck in a continuous spiral of struggle.
Taking the opportunity to reframe simply involves a willingness to see something differently ~ to take another look from a different angle in order to become aware of what might have been previously hidden.
Reframing is not about denying “reality” and sticking your head in the sand. Expanding our minds and wishful thinking are two very different things. To successfully reframe your experience you will be required to let go of what you already know as you open up to possibilities that you had never considered.
Notice those times when you find yourself attaching meaning to circumstances in the same old way leading to the same old feelings of disappointment and defeat. Pause and ask yourself if there is another way to view the situation ~ maybe, something you are not seeing. Asking this powerful guiding question will open up a whole realm of possibilities that you can sift through to see what fits and feels best for you in that moment.
You will actively step into a space where something new can happen, where resolution can occur, where an old pattern can be released. You will set yourself and often others free.
Rejuvenate
Now you can breathe new life into your day, your moment, and your practice in Service to others.
Choosing the best feeling interpretation of your current circumstances is an act of self-love and deep faith. It allows you to let go and open yourself to transformation.
You may receive guidance that points you to a belief system that could use an overhaul. You might become aware of a habit of interaction that seems to lead you to outcomes you would prefer to avoid. Maybe, you’ll stumble on a piece of your heart that you have been ignoring that needs more attention. You might discover a judgement or bias that limits your capacity to hold the vision of another’s wholeness.
Insights like these are like finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. It is in this space that miracles occur and something we never believed possible actually has a chance!
Rejuvenation is all about returning to the core of who you are and finding something new. This is where inspiration is reborn and there is nothing more energizing than that.
Let’s get started.
What’s up for reflection, reframing, and rejuvenation in your life today?
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