From crisis comes an opportunity to change…the bigger the crisis, the bigger the opportunity.
As we take this time to self-isolate, are we continuing to do what we have always done – distracting ourselves with news, social media, busyness, even getting lost in fear, anger and judgement? Or, are we taking the time to go within, to get to know ourselves better, and to look at what no longer serves us? Are we continuing to fight ‘what is’, or are we willing to surrender and allow ‘what will become’?
The gift of this crisis (and all crises) is for us to take the time to redesign the parts of our lives and work for the better. We can take this time to reexamine what brings us joy, fulfillment, flow, abundance, and also, what blocks us. Its a wonderful time to reconnect with our true self – the one that got lost in the busyness of our life.
After my husband died ten years ago, I closed my business and took time for myself. In a way, I self-isolated, like most of us are doing now. The deepest insight I gained was the realization that with the loss and breakdown of the life I knew, I had the opportunity to redesign my life in any way I desired. I found renewed purpose in this idea. In a sense, I didn’t want the biggest crisis of my life to go to waste. So, I started exploring ways that I could create a new future for myself, that would have a positive impact on my community.
This pandemic will alter our external world, how we conduct business, socialize and travel. But, the important question is: will it make a fundamental shift on the inside?
I started by drawing on what I already knew from my life experiences and work. In the past, I had helped businesses define the vision and direction for their organizations. I began combining this expertise with new knowledge I was devouring in the areas of self awareness and personal leadership. This became the birth of a new business – Designing Transformation. Before long, I started helping others do what I had done for myself…find their deeper calling, and awaken more fully to their lives.
Before we know it, businesses will start up again, people will return to work, even travel will resume. This pandemic will alter our external world, how we conduct business, socialize and travel. But, the important question is: will it make a fundamental shift on the inside? Without that, nothing really important will have changed. Our lives only transform when we change on the inside. Our thoughts, emotions and state of consciousness drive how we show up, create and contribute in the world. So, why not take this opportunity to profoundly relook at our lives and ask ourselves, “What is life’s highest expression of itself that wants to manifest through us?”
A study was done by a palliative care nurse who asked hundreds of her patients the main regrets they had at the end of their lives. Here book is called: The Five Regrets of the Dying. The number one regret was: “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”
According to Ware, “When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.”
This crisis is raising awareness of our need to change on so many levels (health, economic, environmental, societal, and spiritual), and it’s bringing into focus our own mortality, hence the need to act now. So, will you take advantage of this time and reimagine what could be a higher expression or your life? If so, we would love to support you in this.
For the next 4 weeks (starting March 30th), we are thrilled to offer the online program, Thrive in Uncertain Times: Fostering Community and Wisdom for Positive Transformation.
This is a completely donation-based course, focused on supporting you to go beyond simply surviving, to positively transforming your life and work.
The four themes of this program include :
- Week 1: Cultivating a positive mindset to alleviate suffering and move into creative solution development.
- Week 2: Supporting self-awareness and discovery to uncover new possibilities for your career, business and life.
- Week 3: Fostering virtual community to share wisdom, inspiration and support.
- Week 4: Identifying practical steps to overcome current challenges, and to realize a new vision for your work and life.
Please feel free to share.
Begins the week of March 30th, 2020.
Please let us know what you think!