Changing Perspective

I’ve been feeling discouraged lately.

So much has happened over the past two years.  I have made so many changes in my life! Just about two years ago I quit my job and committed to my shamanic, coaching and author work full-time. Then about a year and a half ago I gave up my San Francisco apartment and spent most of a year traveling around the world.  A year ago I found a piece of land in Guatemala and designed and built a home.  Six months ago my house was finished, and I moved my belongings out of storage down to Guatemala so that my home  here is my spiritual sanctuary.

At the same time, I fully expanded my business and what I offer. I defined the six steps to living a courageously authentic life.  I rebuilt my entire website…twice. I created an online course.  I set up my first retreat.  I launched my weekly radio show. I wrote my second book and recently sent it out to publishers for consideration.

I have been extremely busy and very much on the move.  Until recently.

In the past couple months, things have slowed down considerably for me.  I haven’t been traveling as much.  My “to do” list has gotten shorter and is basically filled with maintenance activities rather then creation activities. And while it is expected – I can’t always be creating – it is a bit disconcerting.  Our society reveres people who are “go, go, go” and constantly doing.  Right now I’m more in the “being” mode than the “doing” mode.

It has been such a sudden shift that I have been struggling with it.  I am used to being very busy, and I work quickly and want everything else to work quickly around me as well.  And now, things have basically just stopped.  So I’ve been feeling discouraged, frustrated, stagnant and just all-around off-kilter.

I was talking with a close friend the other day and explaining how I was feeling, and he reminded me that this (extremely!) slow time is just as important for my growth and development as my fast-paced doing time.  And he reminded me that this time is also an opportunity for me to continue to trust the universe as I move down this relatively new life path.

As we talked, we decided that the most important thing that I can do during this time is change my perspective.  Instead of feeling discouraged and disconcerted, I needed to reframe this time for what it really is: a time for me to adjust to a new way of living and working, a time for me to “catch up” to myself, rest and recharge, and then get clarity on what I need to do next.

I’ve been focusing on this, and keep reminding myself that this time is a gift.  Things will get crazy busy again, but right now, this quiet time allows me to do things like chaperone a school trip or visit with my mom without worrying about all the work that isn’t getting done.  This time is an opportunity for me to learn to work and live with more freedom and flexibility.

In short, this time is all about me looking at it with a healthy positive perspective…and having some well-earned fun along the way!

How has changing your perspective helped you in your life?