Four Ways To Make Space For Meaningful Change

With the year we have all just experienced, it is likely that you will now be looking ahead and contemplating what you want your life to look like. Embracing the process of inviting meaningful change into your day to day may seem like a complicated process, but it can be a simple concept that makes a big difference.

If you are someone who has found the challenges of the pandemic to be overwhelming and exhausting, then you are surely among the majority. So many people have had their lives turned upside down, and a return to normal life could still be a long way away for some.

One of the positives that we can begin to take from this collective experience, is how we have had time to take stock of what is truly important to us. We have all been able to see the parts of our lives that aren’t fulfilling us, and have been able to dream of a future in which our realities are different.

Making Meaningful Change

If you have been thinking hard about the parts of your life that aren’t working for you, but are unsure how to instigate meaningful change, then this post is for you!

We are all capable of creating positivity in our lives, and in turn we are all capable of finding ways to eradicate negativity. The difficulty usually lies in breaking old habits, and moving away from damaging thought patterns. Often we accept the situations that we are in, even if these situations are making us unhappy.

The simple truth is that we all have the power to overcome these negativities, and that the first step towards these changes can be made at any time.

Today I am going to share four ways that we can make space in our lives for meaningful change!

1.Find The Time To Think

We are all often guilty of trying to push difficult thoughts out of our minds, and focusing on the positives instead. And, although this can sometimes be better for our frame of mind in the moment, it can also mean that we aren’t always processing negativity properly.

When you don’t give yourself permission to think about the difficult things, then you are teaching yourself that avoidance is okay. You are allowing yourself to ignore unpleasant thoughts and uncomfortable feelings.

Spending time with your thoughts might sound like a strange concept, and can initially be a difficult thing to do. However, this doesn’t have to be a deliberate act, such as a seated meditation, and can be as effortless as simply tuning into your thoughts.

You might try doing this when you are walking, or when you are lying in bed before you go to sleep. Allow your mind to go where it wants, and let your thought patterns unfold naturally. If something difficult appears, then try to think through it, and to truly explore what is happening and why.

When you work to process your thoughts, and to appreciate the value in every thought process, then you can create a clearer state of mind for authentic positivity.

2. Live In The Moment

Mindfulness is a word that gets used a lot these days, but what does it actually mean and how can you make it work for you?

Living in a mindful way can be as simple as doing your best to live in the present moment. This means keeping your focus on the moment in which you are currently living, and giving your full attention to it. You will notice how you feel in the present and give greater prominence to the sensations that your body and mind experience.

Practicing mindfulness in this way can help you to gain a deeper appreciation for the world around you and to feel more connected to all that you do.

When you consistently live in a more mindful way, you will naturally find that you have more capacity for making meaningful changes. Your mind can become more balanced as your thoughts become more coherent and deliberate.

3. Practice Forgiveness

There are many different ways that negativity can weigh on our minds and hold us back. Ongoing tensions or complicated relationships with other people can be a huge contributor to this, and can be a persistent drain on our emotional energy.

Extending forgiveness to people who have hurt you in the past might not be something you’re excited about doing! But the truth is that doing so can actually be a huge relief. This can lift an invisible weight from your shoulders and remove clouds from your mind.

When you have unresolved conflicts with people, you may notice that your mind occasionally (or perhaps even often) wanders back to these incidents or situations. When this happens, you are continuing to refresh these memories, and to bring them to the forefront of your mind.

Letting go of the past will free up so much more energy and clarity for the present day, and will enable you to move forwards feeling lighter and more optimistic.

It’s important to be aware that these gestures of forgiveness may not always be well received, and you should prepare yourself for this. If you believe that these conversations might actually lead to more conflict, then you can practice this forgiveness within your own mind. You can decide to move on from these things, and release yourself from them.

4. Visualise Your Future

One of the most prominent reasons for making meaningful change in your life right now is to create a better future for yourself. Visualising what this future looks like can be a great motivator for encouraging yourself to make changes right now.

When you begin to visualise your future, try to focus on what the positives will be. Imagine what kind of relationships you would like to cultivate, and how you can connect with people who share the same outlook as you. Think about how you will spend your time, and how you will be able to prioritise doing the things that you enjoy.

Perhaps most importantly of all, try to imagine how you will manifest happiness and joy for yourself, and how you will be able to extend these things to other people.

Making Positive Change For The Year Ahead

As you work to make space for meaningful change, you will surely encounter obstacles with your enthusiasm and consistency. If you are the kind of person who makes resolutions, but then finds it hard to stick to them, then it might be time to address where you motivation is coming from, and where it is lacking.

Check out my past blog post on Making Positive Change For The Year Ahead for some inspiration and encouragement for 2021!