Change

There are many seasons that makeup our lives. We sometimes stay in one season way too long. We begin to feel stuck and unfulfilled. When this happens, it may be a sign that it is time to reinvent yourself. I know this feeling far too well. I was a single parent and a caregiver for my mother. When my daughter graduated from college and then shortly after my mom passed away, it felt as if my life had lost its purpose. Of course, that was not true, but it felt very real to me. Everything that I was used to doing was different. My life was different and that meant I had to become different and be willing to switch gears and change. If you are going through something similar and need to reinvent yourself professionally or personally then keep reading. This article will give you some ideas about how to find new and creative ways of doing things and changing your mindset.

The first step is self-examination.

Your journey toward reinvention begins with understanding each part of who you are and what you want. Take inventory of each area of your life. This is the only way you can truly get to know yourself again. This can include identifying who you are as a parent, sibling, employee, community member, and much more. Once this is done you will have the ability to discern what stays and what no longer serves you. It’s important to be honest about your emotions the good, bad, and indifferent. Make a list of goals that you want to focus on. Write down the positive and negative emotions you feel as you write. Doing this will help you weed out some of the things that you no longer like doing. Understanding yourself fully helps you deal with your feelings honestly, so you can discover your true authentic self. This is the only way that you will be able to move forward in an intentional and focused way. A good way to be present is to focus only on the now. Enjoy each day with excitement and passion.

The Second step is to Step outside of your comfort zone.

You can do this by observing some of your old habits and create a few new ones. This is important because when you continue to do what you already know and what feels comfortable, then you limit yourself and block the chance of having something new and exciting enter your life. A great way to get started is to place yourself in a new and different environment. Set out to meet new people. Another idea is to say yes more often. Say yes to things that you would have said no to before. Walk when you would normally drive and try to do something that you are afraid of. When you start to challenge yourself and face your fears a natural momentum begins. You will become more proactive about seeking out new and exciting things that will challenge you and make you feel alive again.

The third step is to Love yourself.

Before an airplane takes off, they give you clear instructions on what to do in case of a crash. The first is to put your own mask on first. This is not thought about as a selfish action but a practical one. The basic idea is that you can’t help anyone if you are suffocating. The same is true in everyday life. If the weight of the world is choking the life out of you, then how is it possible to help anyone else. So often we are depleted emotionally and physically and yet we still try to help and fix situations and circumstances for others. We must become selfish with ourselves. It is important to practice both self-love and self-care. Self-love and self-care may seem like the same thing, but they are quite different. In addition, being selfish is also different. Let’s take a look at all three. Self-love means showing kindness to yourself. Being gentle with yourself is crucial. Especially during this time of self-discovery and reinventing. Be patient with yourself and trust you. Self-care means taking care of yourself physically and mentally and spiritually. This could look different for everybody, but the idea is the same. The last is being selfish. This word may not sit easily with you, but it is important that you wrap your mind around the idea of being selfish when it comes to your time, your energy, and your money. Please understand that there is a difference between being stingy and being selfish. Stingy people hate to help anyone, and they rarely share with anyone even when they can. Being selfish with yourself means that you guard the things that are yours and share when and if it works for you. You simply must not give what you don’t have, and you cannot not give until it hurts. You must love yourself enough to know when to say no. Treat yourself as if you are totally in love with you and don’t let anyone interfere with the relationship you have with you.

The final step is to write.

This should have been the first step. It is especially important that you log your journey. When you reinvent yourself, you have to place pen to paper in order to see your starting point and then your final creation. Remember you are a work in progress, and you can have and do whatever you set your mind to. Welcome to The Ink Journey. We believe that you can change yourself and your life one word at a time.