MaXIMIze - Change

Those of you who know me, know that in about a month I will be headed to Taos, New Mexico, to start a new job and be closer to my significant other.

You also know that I am a born and bred California girl, and this is the biggest change I've chosen to make in my life - yes, even bigger than bringing three beautiful children into this world!

As a result, in preparation for the move, I've been going through my apartment and decluttering - getting rid of those things that no longer serve and/or I no longer love and want in my space.

Thankfully, this is a process I started - albeit slowly - near the end of last year, when my significant other made his move and the determination to follow him intensified.

There were other factors for the decluttering and organizing as well - the death of a friend's loved one and the tangle of legal and emotional issues that had to be dealt with from that made me realize I needed to get my stuff in order so I didn't leave a mess for my kids to deal with.

I also considered this for the job I currently have - I started writing down everything I do on a regular basis and the processes I follow to do those tasks. At the time, I was the only one in our office who did some of those tasks. Now we have another analyst in our office, and I am sharing that information with her to make the transition as smooth as possible. And realizing just how many things I really do to keep things flowing smoothly - wow!

Change happens - whether it is a a big move, a new job, death, or relationship changes - and it can be very scary at times.

And yes, even when we choose the change, we still have that same physical reaction - that seizing of the gut that comes with fear - or with excitement - in reaction to a change in our life.

Our reactions can sometimes be involuntary - our responses based on those reactions are our choice - identifying that seizing of the gut as fear or excitement for example.

By identifying potential changes in our lives and being prepared for them - as much as we possibly can - allows us to accept and move through the change easier than if we have not considered the potential for change, or worse yet, deny the change is coming.

Change happens - how we respond to change is our choice.

So, how are you handing the changes in your life? Are you truly responding to them in a way that allows you to move smoothly through them, or are you reacting to them in a way that causes your boat to go up on the rocks?

If it is the latter - reaction versus response - why? What are you afraid of or want to hold on to that is feeding the reaction?

Until next time, Namaste!