February 4, 2012

On Fear and Changing Plans

lakeontario_smallI’ve been doing a lot of soul-searching over the past few days, and it seems that my plans are changing once again. It looks like I’m staying put here for a little longer, but for the first time in years I’m okay with that.

While I was dealing with the idea of not moving this spring, one of the questions that kept coming up over and over was “Why am I holding on to a goal that no longer fits who I am in this moment?”

I realized that while I have changed a lot in the past year, I hadn’t made any new goals to go along with the new me. I was still holding on to the goals of the scared, abused person years ago. When I really questioned why it was that all of a sudden moving east didn’t feel quite right, when it had been my driving force for so long, was that when I set that goal I my only desire was to hide myself away in the smallest, most remote place I could find where I could sit on the beach and lick my wounds, as it were. And at the time, I needed that solitude, that time to heal and to find myself. If I’d been able to make the move at that time, it would have been the right one. Now, with all the changes I’ve made in my life it doesn’t feel right. And until it does, I’m staying put!

Don’t get me wrong. I still want to move. And getting out of here is still one of the main motivations I have for getting up and working each and every day. I feel like I’ve outgrown this area and my reasons for being here, but have stayed because I was afraid to make the change I wanted. Now, I’m more than ready to embrace the change but I want to make sure that it’s the right change. When I came here years ago, I knew absolutely in my heart, in my soul, and in my head that it was the right thing to do at the time. It was such a good feeling to know that I was in the right place doing what the Universe intended for me to do, and I want that feeling again! I know that this upcoming move (and I have no doubt it will happen before the end of the year) is going to be another life changer for me, and I intend to do it right.

Getting back to my original question of why we hold on to goals that no longer serve us… (sorry I got on a bit of a rant there)

I think that for me, (and I can only speak for myself) it was a security blanket of sorts. The decision to move east was the first goal I set for myself after coming out of years of abuse and not being allowed to have dreams and goals of my own. I wanted to go as far away from here as I could get, and start completely over in a place of my own choosing.

Even after I started to build up my self-confidence and live again, I hung on to that goal because it was still the one thing I had that was truly mine. Although I was questioning the rightness of it, I brushed the uneasy feeling aside and wrote them off as self-sabotage. It really wasn’t until I was talking with a friend about it the other day, and I accepted her assertion that I’ve been putting way too much pressure on myself to do this now, that I really started to rethink my plans. I needed to hear that message that the right thing to do will make itself known at the right time again. After all, listening to that little voice is what got me to where I am now.

What I’ve learned through all this is that it really is okay to change your plans. Letting go of old goals that no longer fit you is really freeing. There are so many options out there that open up for you, and each time you make a change more doors open. Sure, some close too, that’s part of life. But when you accept that you yourself have changed enough that your old goals no longer fit, and you allow yourself to consider new possibilities, you will be amazed at they way things start to flow again. Don’t let fear keep you in the place you’ve worked so hard to get yourself out of. You really do owe it to yourself to embrace new experiences and opportunities that are a better fit with the new you!

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  • Anita Fiander

    Its a “refreshing change” to read posts where folks are “transparent”. It is a challenge to push past the pain of yesterday and move forward.

    You have chosen to stay for now until the time is right to leave,that is admirable. We humans often times think that a change of scenery will be the quick fix to the problems we are facing. It is not the problems.It is how we perceive them.

    Our lives are full of change and its scary sometimes.These times when we are “pushed past our comfort zone” are times of growth. Just ride with it! You never know where it will take you!

    Be Well!

    • Lena

      Hi Anita,

      Thanks for your comment and your wise words. I honestly don’t know how to be anything but transparent. I’m a lousy liar and have such an awful memory I’d never be able to keep the story straight! :)

      It was really hard to give up on the idea, even though I know deep down I’m not ready for it. And you’re right… I’ve focused so much on the getting out that I haven’t really worked on fixing the problems that make me want to leave. And I really don’t want to carry them with me any longer. So here I stay and work on them, and know that something really good is waiting for me just around the corner :)

      Lena

  • http://www.changeofheartstresssolutions.blogspot.com Marianna

    Well stated, Lena.

    One thing I get from this post is that you’ve developed faith. Faith in yourself to know that you will make the right decision for you when the time is right.

    That is heart-based living. Quietening down “the gang” upstairs long enough to listen to the song that is in your heart. Belt it out or sing it softly! You’ll know when the music starts.