Adult Baby Steps Through Challenge and Change
Adult baby steps. Do you take them, or do you tend to just bull your way through life? Perhaps you hold yourself back and crawl? Or, do you cower in the corner?
I hope you find value in the following article, adapted from its original publication in the September, 2017 issue of Luminous Wisdom: Sophia. I’m honored to be among those selected to guest author. Did you get your copy? If not, click here so you don’t miss another issue: Sibella Publications – Luminous Wisdom: Sophia.
Do you forget?
As children, we instinctively and courageously take baby steps as we learn to navigate the world. But, do you, as I do, forget that deep inside our mature adult selves that same child still yearns for love, support, understanding, guidance, and the simple successes born of baby steps?
My inner child still welcomes small safe steps, but feels somehow expected by my adult self to move confidently in leaps and bounds. Yet, my adult self has learned to fear the consequences of “failing”. No wonder its hard to change!
As much as I heard growing up, “You can do anything you put your mind to”, no one really taught me how to do that. And, I have no recollection of hearing, “You can do anything as long as your HEART’s in it.” Wouldn’t a little passion help when my rational mind says “be afraid because ______”? And, wouldn’t a little “gut instinct” have value? If learning to walk was just a head game, I doubt many of us would try it lest we risk a terrible fall…. Then where would we be?
One of My Biggest Adult Baby Steps
One of my biggest adult baby steps came on my birthday in the mid-‘90’s. I drove 3+ hours one way for a department meeting in which each of us was told whether or not our job was being eliminated. My co-workers were nervously sharing contacts and leads. I smiled to myself because I intuitively knew I was being Divinely guided to something greater. That knowing made it easier to handle the news, though trusting that intuition wasn’t so easy. I walked into the room where my boss and the HR person were waiting. My boss said, “Well.” I quickly responded, “No s**t. Where do we go from here?” Thus ended my corporate employment, and began a priceless future. I’m glad I trusted my guidance.
I’ve had to learn on my own to navigate the unknown, often re-defining baby steps while falling. While talking with a colleague recently, I realized how much more I expect of my adult self. No wonder change IS harder.
What if….?
What if we were to be easier on ourselves? Imagine treating that often overlooked inner child with the same compassion she was shown when her body was small and less experienced. What if we remembered to honor and use those most important tools still within us? You know, actually follow our hearts, trust our guts, and show our fearful minds it isn’t all that bad, just like way back when….. And, let our rational minds chime in when appropriate.
I still need support from my team of coaches, peers, and wellness pros. They help me connect with those tools when I can’t alone. My support team holds space for me to breathe, be calm, go within, and ask the big questions: “What do I need to know? What are my next baby steps?” They help me LISTEN, and trust.
What are your next adult baby steps?
Are you ready to go forward with courage in your adult baby steps? Do you need support to listen, trust, and take them?
If you could use some support finding and taking your adult baby steps through your challenges and change, apply for a complimentary Discovery Session today to see how we may work together to give you the needed direction, and courage.
Tough times help me to grow. Life’s about change, which can be difficult, as I fear the loss of the familiar, cherished, and loved, while opening to the new. Being an inefficient system, I may not heal completely and continue to live with “dis-ease” even after adopting healthier ways, perspectives, and habits. It also may be part of my journey to live with challenge, symptoms, dis-ease, etc.
I invite you to first consider what “extraordinary” means to you. It means different things to different people. Some, because of their “definition” don’t believe they’re meant to live an extraordinary life.
You feel stressed. Yep. Stress is an indicator that you’re out of alignment with your Purpose. Any stress, i.e. any sign of living less than an optimally healthy, high quality life is an indicator.
Is stress interfering with my quality of life?
Additionally, deciding to “lose weight” can set you up for feeling guilty and upset with yourself, especially if your head is in charge. You may have an ideal diet, size and weight in mind. All numbers, and very heady. And, if your head is in charge, you may be setting yourself up for failure because you are missing the underlying issues. Your heart is what really provides the momentum to carry you to your destination. Your head should follow your heart’s lead for optimal success.
This boils down to receiving sufficiently from Source, whether that means prayer, and spiritual connection, or general self-care and nourishment. Quality food, hydration, sleep, rest, meditation, and exercise are also ways of refueling from Source energy. If nothing else, in the moment, breathe deeply to relax and refresh.
Remember, mindset is everything. A positive outlook can help maintain your commitment and determination as you create more energy in your life.