Always, we can begin again!

Beginning again can happen in myriad ways. But it always begins with awareness, and ends with an intention.

In any moment, we can begin again. This is great news!

This is great news because, in our humanness, we stray from our intentions. Sometimes we get lazy, or get triggered into a pattern of thinking that no longer serves us.

Well, maybe I should speak for myself. But I'm pretty sure this is a universal human experience!

I have an intention of loving-kindness. My intention is to relate to all of life with an attitude of warmth, goodwill, and compassion. But I can tell you right now that I do not always find myself in this loving-kindness state! Particularly mornings when I'm attempting to get my son to preschool on time. I am often alarmed by the un-godly early alarm. I drink coffee to activate. And then, caffeine running through my veins like a freight train, I get us packed up and out the door. I am sorry to say that often I'm a little grumpy.

But this is not where the story needs to end. Beginning again can happen in myriad ways. But it always begins with awareness, and ends with an intention.

Awareness. I notice I am acting like a grumpy freight train. At the noticing I pause. I take a pause. I take a breath. A nice full deep breath.

Awareness. Pause. Breathe.

This is a good place to insert some self-empathy. "Yes, it's hard waking up when my body isn't ready to wake up!"

And then, choice.

What do I choose? What is my intention?

My intention is to be a kind, relaxed, loving mother. My intention is loving-kindness.

And there it is! As simple as that. I am now oriented to my intention. My intention is my guiding light, my North Star.

I could take my beginning-again a step deeper. This is what we will do in coaching.

In this situation for myself I can look at the elements that are creating grumpy freight train mama, and deconstruct them.

I could choose to go to bed earlier so the alarm is not so alarming!
I could switch to tea? Drink half caff?

And for each of these there may be a deeper inquiry. For number 1, I may need to explore why I am staying up late. What needs of mine are being met? And how might I find other ways to meet these needs?

Our beginning again can happen on many different levels. Beginning again happens in a moment of awareness and choice. The choice can range from an immediate conscious shift in attitude, to a deeper structural inquiry into how we lead our lives.

Remember, there is always a clean slate waiting for us to choose it! What a gift!

Here are the steps again:

Awareness that you have strayed from your intention.
Pause
Breath
Self Empathy
Choice. Do you choose to orient to your intention again? Or does your intention need a little revision?
Intention. Creating a new one, or affirming the old one.

Happy beginning again!

Love,

Tahni