CREATING THE SPACE
'To gain knowledge, add something every day. To gain
wisdom, let go of something every day.' Lao Tzu
Creating space for the things that you value in life is
as much metaphorical as physical.
I've observed this often this year - or maybe I've just
been paying more attention. I think it began when Meg (our
younger daughter) decided that she had outgrown her job at
the coffee shop. After fifteen months, she knew that
hospitality wasn't really her thing so she started looking
for a new casual job. She's the arty one and since she was
about five, has known that she wants to work in fashion.
Getting a foot in the door wasn't easy. She applied for role
after role and dropped resumes in to all of the places she
knew that hired students. Meanwhile, she continued to work
at her old job which was making her miserable. I suggested
she quit and give herself a bit of a break for a while
(after all, she was only 16).
We went down after school one day and handed in her
resignation and as we walked back along the street, saw a
sign in the window of a boutique advertising for casual
staff. We looked at one another and laughed - and went in.
She was hired on the spot and has worked there now for seven
months and loves it.
It's not the first time that I've witnessed what occurs
when we create the space for something better. I've watched
many of my clients make the decision to 'pass up good for
great' and I've marvelled at what transpires in their lives.
Not everyone lands on their feet as readily as Meg did.
Sometimes once you've created the space it's as though the
world challenges your decision by making the transition
difficult initially. If you stand firm in your conviction
that you deserve something more fulfilling and believe in
yourself, it always comes eventually.
Creating the space for something better is simply about
conviction. You make a decision that you want something
better and you make room for that. Whether it be ending an
unsatisfying relationship, leaving a job you don't love,
shifting house, moving away from a friendship - until you
make room for something better, it may never eventuate.
A good place to begin creating space is in your physical
world. Tidy your desk, clean out a wardrobe, get your filing
in order or do your tax. These things can drain you mentally
and spring is the perfect time to throw open the windows and
let the fresh air in.
Create space for something better:
- Set aside an afternoon to spring clean one room in
your house. Donate your unused blankets and clothes to
charity.
- Set up a better filing system for your paperwork so
that you can easily handle each piece of paper less
often.
- Buy the files, drawers, boxes or other storage
solutions you need so that you can put things away
and retrieve them easily.
- Eliminate one habit that's not working for you and
replace it with something better (e.g. drink herbal tea
after midday rather than coffee if you have trouble
sleeping).
- Be brave. Quit your job, ditch your boyfriend (or
girlfriend), transfer to a different study program...do
whatever it takes to put you back on your true path in
life.
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