Do you ever wonder why you experience challenges went you make changes in your life?
Recently I became very aware of the purpose that existed in something I was growing through. I share that experience and tie the learning into everyday life changes. I felt you may benefit from seeing how those moments where we feel so challenged could actually be preparing us for something even greater than we know. You are invited to journey along with me.
Monday I entered the Toastmaster’s Humorous Speech Contest. This contest had to do with speaking, humor, timing and how they all come together. Little did I know what was ahead! As it is with any growing opportunity for me…my physical body was guiding me along the way.
Preparing for the contest involved more than just knowing the words…or so I learned. I set out every day to practice my speech. As I practiced I started to be very aware of the different pain type sensations in my physical body. I experienced days where my face would feel uncomfortably tense…mostly in the area of my cheeks and mouth. There were days where my hips were unbearably sore; a day where I had a pounding headache; days where the sensations in my back were quite extreme. Part way through the week I thought to myself I should just back out of the contest!!!
In no time I noticed how the pain type sensations I felt related to specific challenges around speaking! To feel the pain where I felt the pain…at the same time I was aware of the challenges around my speaking presence…was like connecting the dots. I moved through aspects of rushing while speaking; cleared through staying present when I got excited; cleared through incongruence around the humor and being serious. Those were just some of the challenges that surfaced helping me resolve issues I had with speaking.
I participated in the contest and was greatly rewarded! I could feel how I was present the whole speech and never missed a word I intended to share. People laughed and giggled as I spoke. Moving through my reactions or the things that bothered me brought me to a beautiful peaceful place in my speaking. Today I can now see how I’m more focused in conversations and my breathing is much easier as well. I’m even standing straighter! Who knew my posture would change…what a bonus! I didn’t win the contest and I’m so proud of me for all I learned along the way.
As I look back, I’m reminded my passion in life is to speak and facilitate group learning for companies around emotional intelligence…more specifically how to deal with everyday life challenges. All I experienced through this past week helped me to align with my passion. This was an unexpected gift in the end.
I share that story to give you some idea of how the learning and growing plays out in our day to day lives. When you embark on a change of some kind, you may go through a stage where your fears come up. You may question your decisions and may even give up on yourself along the way. Any reactions will be expressed in relationship to the growing involved! Reactions are normal and can surface as pain type sensations…as mental struggles…as unrest in your heart.
Here is an example. Let’s say you were asked to lead a major project for the first time. You may be used to working with one or two people…and now you are leading a group of many people. You may experience huge growing around things like ‘not being able to control anyone’ or recognizing that you can only go as fast as the people you work with or communication type things around listening and speaking. To lead a team as opposed to working alone with one or two people does require different people skills. The processes you go through in leading the team will move you into a more empowered place as a leader. This whole experience ‘prepares’ you for something else in your future. Play with what that could be for you.
Here are some more examples of life changes which involve growing opportunities…
- getting married…going through a divorce…taking your dating to new level;
- becoming a parent;
- applying for a promotion or a totally new job…retiring;
- serious health issue;
- loss of loved ones…or even loss of co-workers.
Regardless of where you are on your journey, life changes whether they are by your choice or not, cause you to learn and grow. Whatever you learn along the way benefits ever relationship around you. This is one example of what it is to live with purpose. The unexpected gifts always show up.
May you find what works for you…find your own truth…and you will always be guided to feel at peace inside.
Sheila Unique, The Relationship Coach
