The Advent Of New Beginnings

BEGINNING OF A NEW YEAR

The pressures that have mounted up on me over the last few months have seemed at times almost overwhelming. It appears to be more than a coincidence that today, an oppressive mood has lifted and somehow ironic that it's the 1st of December and the start of Advent - the countdown to Christmas.

The fourth Sunday before Christmas or the first of December also marks the start of the new Liturgical or church year and signifies new beginnings. So how apt that this Sunday marked the beginning of an end and today the start of a new period in my life too. Although I'm not religious, a follower of astrology or feel myself easily connected spirituality as other's are, there appears to have been some major cosmic events of late, which have affected those around me. This has all come at an important period for change, bringing powerful feelings and emotions to the surface.

After this difficult last few weeks, with all kinds of outside influences weighing on me, I've realised how I've also come up against some inner conflict. I know there's some tough challenges still ahead of me that need addressing, but today, I'm feeling positive and energised again, ready for the future and what I can make of it.

Inflexibility To Change

STUCK IN THEIR WAYS

As we get older, it's a sad fact that we are more likely to become less flexible in body and mind. According to a study made by Virgin Active, people by the age of 25 are already stuck in their ways. Choosing the same routines and even ditching the hobbies they used to enjoy, many people give up on trying new things. 

Change is difficult for everyone. Because we become creatures of habit, preferring our established truths about the things we know and lazily sticking to the same old things rather than looking for something equally as good or better. 

We should all try something new on a regular basis. There's so many new things to experience. If we can keep up these challenges for 30 days in a row, we end up forming new habits and suddenly, we have a new habit or routine. If we can choose positive changes and remove negative ones in the same manner, we will become a much more flexible and constantly evolving individual.

Resistance

ABANDONING ABANDON

Letting go of anything is tough when it's been all we know over extended periods of time. 

The summer has been fun. It's been a gift to myself to enjoy carefree abandon and enjoy having the reins off after a strict first third of the year. But now it's long overdue for a change back to a more disciplined regime. 

I can clearly remember resistance to the spring/summer mindset change back in May. I didn't want to lose my clarity and healthy regime. I didn't want to drink or have late nights. Now the reverse is happening and coming back into a tighter regime, is proving to be tough. I am experiencing resistance to a new mindset. This is normal behaviour in every change we make. It takes time to adjust and we always want to fall back on what we know and take what feels like the easier path.

Adjusting To A Yoga Way Of Being

I'm taking a level 1 yoga course at the moment. It's really starting to delve into a changing mindset as a positive move towards a more mindful and spiritual way - one that is not conducive to mix with the current party goer. 

I need to make a complete change to the new mindset if this is going to work and breakthrough these barriers of resistance if I'm going to make the necessary improvements in life. It may take more time, but knowing it has to change is a good start.