Doing Things Differently
Image via The New Yorker, by Arielle Bobb-Willis
Sometimes it feels like life keeps happening to us over, and over, and over again. Our actions (or inactions) are causing these consequences in our lives, however it’s within our power to do things differently in order to achieve different results.
Whenever I’m feeling anxious or low, I like to pause, get clear on what’s happening in my life, and then do things differently. Our logical mind can keep us in the discomfort of the familiar, rationalizing that doing a small thing differently won’t make a difference, however, your regular ways of behaving and daily habits are why your life looks the way it does. You are the one in charge of your destiny.
If you’d like to start doing things differently and switching up your regular patterns of behaviour, try the four steps below and watch how quickly new things unfold.
HOW TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY
Stop what you’re doing!!! Picture yourself getting up everyday and running on the treadmill of life. In order to do things differently, you first need to get off the “treadmill”. Add as much slowness and space to your life as possible. This could be as simple as taking 3 mindful breaths before starting a stressful project, reclaiming one quiet night in for yourself, or choosing to go for a solo walk without your phone for some space and peace.
Go slow. If you’re anything like me, you’re going to need to be a little less dramatic in your transition to doing things in a new way. Often we feel so far away from the lives we want to be living, but I promise, it’s the consistent small steps that make a difference, not the Britney Spears shave-your-head moment. Try walking a new way to work, making your morning coffee differently, or go to a restaurant where the cuisine is unfamiliar to you. Get used to new things which are out of your comfort zone.
Try something new every day. Make doing things differently a fun and easy part of your life, so that you’re able to grow your trust muscle and do bigger and scarier things differently with more ease. It can be as simple as listening to a new type of music, buying a vegetable you’ve always been curious about and trying a fun recipe, or setting the table and sitting down for a luxurious solo lunch.
Get curious, and stay open. The biggest part of doing things differently is opening ourselves up to new results. Allow yourself to be surprised at what comes! We lose out on so much joy in life when we’ve already decided on the outcome of our actions. Who knows what you’ll see, or who you’ll run into by taking a new route to the grocery store. Be open to miracles and surprises. The universe is always working to bring you new opportunities and adventure, so keep your eyes open and be available.