Many of us begin the new year with a sense of relief that we have completed something and optimism about getting to begin anew. Many people begin the new year with an intention or resolution to change things in their life. Unfortunately, many people end up being unable to follow through on their resolutions and end up feeling discouraged with themselves.
Creating lasting change in ourselves takes commitment, clarity, practice and support. A commitment is a "container". It is something that holds us in our intention when the seas become rough and we want to abandon our own ship. Some people are afraid of commitments because they feel that they may loose their freedom. Actually, the opposite is true. Entering freely into a commitment is a liberating experience because it allows us to do what we want to do without the distraction of looking elsewhere for our happiness. It also keeps us going on those hard days when we want to give up. And, it gives us a way to be with what arises as a point of inquiry not a reason for reactivity.
Clarity is important because it helps us to keep our focus on our intentions or goals. Having clarity be a goal in life is in itself a liberating thing. When we are clear minded we make better choices, feel more empowered and balanced and have more energy to do the things that matter to us. Confusion, fog, indecision, sleepiness etc. all take away energy rather than enhance it. Clarity increases our vitality.
Practice is very important. We can not make lasting changes without practice. Most of us do not get good at things without regular practice. Practice takes us out of the realm of ideas and places us in the domain of action. Action is empowering. It gets us involved, it moves energy and builds confidence. Practice in the spiritual sense is a tool for empowerment. When we commit to practicing something on a regular basis, we are saying we will do it whether we feel like it or not. We are saying we will do it because we want to wake up and know ourselves deeply. We are saying that we will do it because we want to meet and greet the parts of ourselves that make us uncomfortable. Through practice we can embody the changes we wish to make while working through our fears and limitations. We change with the added benefit of becoming less afraid to change while simultaneously feeling more courageous in our life.
Making changes is much easier to do when we have and can receive support. We are tribal animals. We need each other. We need support when our resolve weakens. Making changes is easier when you are doing it with others. There is an energy that is available from friends and community that can sustain and encourage us to stay with our dreams. We can use that energy to help our progress. We are so interconnected! There are times to be supportive of others and there are times to allow others to support us. Living in balance in giving and receiving is an important skill to embody. There is of course a vulnerability associated to this. Vulnerability is just a undefended state. Getting acquainted with our own vulnerability and the vulnerability of others is a powerful tool!
So go ahead and aspire to the things that really matter to you. With these things in place, you will succeed although probably not in a linear way! The practice of Aikido is a beautiful way to come together to practice embodying positive changes in a supportive community. We can learn so much about ourselves and embody tools that will support us as we navigate these turbulent times.
Come to our open house on Jan. 9th at 11am and see what it's all about. Then, take the next step and sign up for Aikido!
