With all the drastic changes and challenges that we have been facing this year, many people are happy to say goodbye to 2020. Is the new year bringing new hope or optimism for you, or is the intensity of life making you feel like there is no room for anything else?

One of the common themes I notice with this year is that life situations become more intense for many people. This in turn amplifies unpleasant thoughts and emotions like judgement, distrust, fear, anxiety, grief, loneliness, and so on.

I hear people expressing gratitude a lot, and I also hear complaints about how negative or destructive other people are. The comment is usually followed by a declaration of the importance of “staying positive,” with an undertone of not wanting to dwell on the “negative.”

There are tremendous benefits in focusing on what’s going well, being grateful, and celebrating our wins. But if we do so by downplaying or dismissing situations that bother us, being positive is a facade that hinders us from moving our lives forward in a powerful and authentic way.

I have seen people using positive thinking to mask their fears and anxiety. I have also seen leaders focusing on favorable business results and overlooking integrity or dysfunctions in their teams.

When we focus on the positives and avoid the unpleasant situations or uncomfortable feelings, we are not being honest with ourselves. Prolonging the denial will eventually erode our spirit, relationships, health, and other areas of our lives.

When we focus on getting by in life, there is no room to be aware of where we are not in touch with our feelings and personal values. It is easier to distract ourselves by being busy, doing things that will numb our feelings or help us feel good temporarily.

When we ignore or miss the early warning signs, situations intensify to shine the light on core issues that require our attention. The COVID situation brings up a lot of old wounds and issues that need to be cleaned up if we want to fully benefit from the new energy that is available to us.

Changes and challenges are valuable opportunities to reorient our attitude and relationship with life. Reorientation requires us to get in touch with uncomfortable feelings and listen deeply to what is not working and what needs to change. The initial effort may seem daunting, but the payoff in the long run is huge. 

If you want transformational changes, you must be willing to walk through the dark tunnel and be committed to let go of the old stories and baggages. You will come out of the other side feeling brighter, lighter, and liberated. Imagine seeing the world without triggers that cloud your perception so that you can be fully present and make choices that align with what is truly important to you.

We are at a pivotal time in human history, and we all have a choice to make: do you want to keep carrying the burdens and perceived limitations from your past, or do you want to rise up, create and live the life that your heart and soul have been calling you?

In my conversations with people in the past months, many revealed that they were at a life satisfaction level of 5 out of 10 (with 1 being very unhappy and 10 being highly satisfied). Considering all the suffering in the world, many considered themselves lucky and they did not think they should ask for more in life. As a result, they put up with relationships and situations that have been demeaning to them by looking the other way or forcing themselves to think positively.

If you have been complacent in life, do you dare to put a stake in the ground and claim what you deserve? Or is the sense of unworthiness or self doubt causing you to withdraw and settle for status quo? If you knew the universal energy were on your side, and the level of support you could get for your transformation would be magnified, would you settle for less?

I recently helped a woman who was diagnosed with COVID. In the midst of fear and anxiety associated with her acute symptoms, she decided that she was done with her old life, and wanted to live and do something different. It was amazing how much of the old energy got cleared out of her, and she considered her recovery “remarkable.”

I believe our world is needing more people to claim their gifts and talents instead of standing on the sidelines, and steeping into old stories and self-imposed limitations. When we are fully committed and claim our desires to change our old ways, incredible transformations will open us to experience so much joy that we don’t think is possible.

If you are ready to let go of old stories and baggages so that you can manifest a beautiful life that you deserve, contact me for a 1/2-hour free consultation and we will explore how I can help you.

To close out this year, I want to leave you with this quote by William Hutchison Murray:

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too.

All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favour all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.

Whatever you do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.”

May You Be Bold and Claim the Magic and Power In You!