Sunday, May 21, 2017

Embracing Change & How I Deal With It //

Dear Readers,

Today's post is being written whilst I stand waiting for my train at Clapham Junction, the busiest station in Europe.


ProjectHappyPlace.com
It's quite interesting to watch the way people go about their commute to their final destination. Some of those people rush through the crowd to the opening doors of their delayed train, with no care or awareness that their briefcase has hit three commuters as they have walked by. Then there are others who stand amongst the crowd so carefree that they have opened a can of premium lager and are sipping at it as if they have actually got on board the train already.

All of this seems to be a prime example of how people getting on board the same 'train' that is life, embrace change and in some cases how they deal with those bumps in their journey. Now, you can follow along with the metaphor I have chosen and use it to depict it as a literal example, or you can apply this to pretty much most things in life.

I feel as though change has become something so frequent in my life that I fear it far less than I used to.

I was so used to a strict routine as you do when you are in school and living with your parents. It wasn't until I started university that I realised there was so much out there for me to try, that conforming to a routine I had known and felt 'comfortable' with, wasn't helping me grow as a person anymore.

A turning point for coping with change came when I got my place at Kingston University. I had no intention of staying in halls. I didn't like the idea of being away from home comforts and was particularly put off by the fact that halls of residence looks as though it hasn't seen an interior decorator for at least 15 years (is magnolia even a colour anymore?). 


But I somehow convinced myself I had to do it as part of the "uni experience". Ok, so I may not have appreciated halls at the time, but it pushed me out of my comfort zone. I never thought I could overcome the intense feeling of homesickness that I felt during my first year, but somehow during the entirety of my second year I felt like I didn't need to go home. I look back at it now and see it as such a breakthrough. Had I not just gone for it and embraced that change, I would have prolonged the inevitable need to move out.

Change is constantly present in our life whether we choose to see it or not. Going back to the image of trains, sometimes no matter how fast we run down those stairs to the platform, we might still miss our last train home. That is something I have been learning to deal with in life; missed opportunities, diversions and cancellations of something we long for, may seem like the end of the world at the time, but there is always a solution and a chance to find something better. Perhaps the train you missed would only take you to a nearby station, but the train an hour later will take you directly to your stop. It was meant for you.


Change your perspective: 

Over the past six months I have been working on my outlook on life and the events that happen in my day-to-day life. I always deemed myself a bit of a pessimist, forever lowering my expectations or predicting the worst outcome. I was often seeing things from a glass half empty perspective.

The thing that has pulled me out of that fear of change and the negative energy which surrounds it, has come from daily meditation and exercise. Those two things combined have shifted my mindset completely. I am growing less fearful of plans not working out, friendships drifting apart or on a more trivial level, missing my last train home. 

It doesn't mean I no longer care about what happens in my life, in fact it is the opposite. I just see things from a much more positive stance and boy does it feel good. Someone pass me a lager. I'll have what he's having!

So what's changing for me now?

Well, seeing as we are on the exciting topic of change, I have decided to develop my website further. I am hoping that by the time this post is live on my blog you will be viewing it in a completely new layout. I have had the existing layout for over a year. That layout lead to such an increase in my growth and the number of hits I was getting on my blog. My global ranking out of circa 1.5 billion websites is now at 13,405,628, moving 6,517,718 places in three months. Although it does still sound like a ridiculous figure, my position is constantly improving. I am so thankful for every hit on my posts, for every comment, like and share on my social media pages. Without this continuing support from my readers I would not have seen such a development. Thank you.


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What resources do I use?

I can't do a post on embracing change without giving you some actual advice to take away with you, now can I? Below are some of the best ways I take time out of my busy day to access those fearful or negative emotions and feel good about all that is happening in my life. 


My Meditation Favourites

Gratitude Meditation:

I do this meditation every single night and it sends me off into the best sleep. I close my eyes thinking about all the things I am grateful for that day.



Law of Attraction:

Another one I like to do whilst in bed is the LOA meditation. It really brings my mind clarity, ready for the next day and I am left feeling focused and aware of my immediate ambitions.



Positive Morning Meditation:

I do this one whilst I get ready to leave for university or in my case at the moment, before I leave to my internship. It takes those morning anxieties away quickly and gets you mentally dressed for your day.





My Workout Favourites

For Home:

I have probably mentioned this app about a thousand times to you guys but it has been such a game changer for me.
According to the apps summary it is 'the best exercises for regular people just like you and me, you can do a quick-fit workout anytime anywhere. It only takes 7 minutes. This 7 minute workout has been highlighted by the New York Times as offering "maximum results with minimal investment".'

Some days I use it as a full mini-workout, other days I do a couple of the workouts as a warm up. It is all controlled by you.

For Gym:

Boom Cycle:
I fell in love with Boom Cycle after I tried it at Balance Festival. It is uplifting and energising and the instructors are amazing at motivating you to smash your workout. 

BoomCycle.co.uk

Boom Cycle states on their page that 'with the lights low and the world class sound system kicking out high energy music you'll be swept away into an immersive experience where the world outside will cease to exist and it'll just be you, your bike, your goals and at the end, your accomplishments.' 


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I really hope you can continue to follow me as my blog develops and I am looking forward to finding out your thoughts on the new layout, so let me know on Instagram or Twitter.

Stay Sweet,

Alice xx


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