start where you are

Day 6: 365 Days of Gratitude

“How can I do this”? “It’s been like this all my life, why change it now”? “It is too late”? “I am too old”. “We have been together since high school”. “I can’t loose weight.” “I wouldn’t know where to start.”

Then we enter a new year, and along with the new year comes the traditional and antiquated resolutions. “I will be serious about working out”. “New year new me!”. “I’m going to get more organized”. “I’m leaving my bad relationships in the past!”. “I’m going to party less”. “I’m going to get more serious about my career/schooling”. “I’m going to loose weight and eat better”. Along with the inspirational pep talks and posts; “You can do it”. “You got this”. “Don’t give up.” and so on. What is the next step? How do you reboot your life. Where do you even start? How?

You start where you are. Whether you know it or not, you are where you’re supposed to be. Wherever you are reading this, is where you are, and where you should start. You do not have to travel to another space to make the changes you desire. It complicates things when we do this. When we complicate things, we will loose interest and feel defeated.

For instance, I do not sit cross legged on the floor to meditate. If I did, I would never meditate, for someone like me, it is not practical to follow this textbook pose. I actually choose to meditate in the shower and during my hikes. What is meditation? It is a deep and careful focus on something. I have weak lungs, so I meditate on my breathing. Giving it the focus it deserves, carefully pulling and exhaling breath. I meditate during my hikes. I do this thing where I pull in an upsetting memory, one that has me stuck. I revisit the memory. I bring it frontal. I meditate on it, I dissect it, I accept it. This memory now has my full attention, if necessary, I accept accountability, but let it go with a prayer. It frees up more space in my soul, and makes room for the new and improved memories.

So we start where we are, no need to move, no need to complicate or follow the text book, we start the process of change. First we accept that we are worthy. We are not bad. Unhappy relationship, anger, addiction, jealousy, obesity, infidelity, whatever your thing is, they are only temporary clouds blocking the sun. They are worthy of forgiveness, we are worthy of identifying and removing them. Our body, is still wealthy, no matter how terrible you feel about it. Once you realize that the other stuff, the bad stuff is only temporary, then you are open to enlightenment.

Take today and put yourself in the moment. Do not try to escape, in fact, look in the mirror and identify the good that you see, then identify the clouds that are blocking your sun. Once you do, take the smallest of steps to begin the process of change.

Do not beat yourself up. Do not allow the clouds to make you loose sight of your perfect being. Focus on your wealth. Our core is full of wealth. Question yourself daily. Start where you are, but don’t stay where you are not comfortable. You are a beautiful package. You are loved. You are worthy. You are not broken.

This is my personal experience with change. This is not for everyone. I am giving you the Readers Digest version of what I have learned over time. This is a book I hold close to my heart and one that I always revisit. It is called, “Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living” It is available in print or audio book.