040_ The ‘New Normal’ — How You Let Go of the Future You’ve Imagined, So You Can Be Happy In The Present moment.

‘The new normal’ is a buzz phrase we’ve all become accustomed to hearing this year. We’ve used it in discussing the transitions and making adjustments because of the pandemic. 

In today’s episode we’re talking about diving deep into our relationship with ourselves and how we come to terms with who we have become as we accept change and let it transform us into a new version of ourselves.

What identities from the past, about who you are, are you holding tight to, that is keeping you from transforming into a new version of yourself?

In order to be at peace and happy with our new normal, we have to let go of our old identity — what we imagined would be happening and reframe what is true for us, now. 

As everyone is now getting vaccinating, it’s like there is a feeling in the air that we’re getting back to normal. But to really let change transform us, we must let our past ideas of what who we are in our work, contributions and relationships — and who we are to ourselves.

We talk about when Lar was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and the internal inquiry we took living with the reality of having cancer in our lives. 
The question we found ourselves running up against was: How do I reconcile this new me and be in the moment and not attach it to an outcome that things will get back to the ‘old normal’ when the cancer is gone? 

How often do we sacrifice the living moment we’re actually in, because we have attached to an outcome we feel will be better than the circumstances we’re living with? 

We get news like we have cancer and we decide that the goal is to be cancer free, and it sets the fullness of our happiness off in an imagined future. Or Covid hits and we decide that when it’s over — when there’s a vaccine — this will be better than what is now and we can let ourselves be truly happy when that happens. It sets up an underlying dissatisfaction with what’s happening and diminishes our present joy.

I’ve noticed I’ve been doing this with the vaccine. As soon as people started vaccinating, I started making plans to get back to normal with travel and visiting. I found myself hoping I’d get that message for an appointment, and a disappointment when it didn’t come. This for me it is an invitation to surrender to the actuality of what is happening here and now and welcoming my current circumstances with an open heart and mind. Now I’m okay with however it goes. 
When or if I am to get vaccinated will happen when or if it happens. I don’t need to tie up my life force in a fantasy that that thing will make me happier than what I’m living with now. This frees my energy to appreciate the gift of the moment before me.

There is a contracting energy that comes with waiting for the thing we want to happen. It takes us mentally away from presence and into hope. 
When we lean into faith that life is looking out for us — that what is happening is a gift from life — we open ourselves to transform with the continual changes always occurring in our lives. 
Thanks for joining us. 

Have a yummy week & a yummy day!