Our life journey is but one of the billions of journeys happening simultaneously on this grand globe. However, even though this weighty reality may seem to minimize how powerful our engagement and choices are as we move through our days, it is precisely how we move through and engage in our everyday lives that creates energy. Energy that directly affects the world, but also the opportunities that will open up as we step forward. The question is, what energy will you give the world?

It is often shared here on TSLL blog (and podcast) that necessary life lessons repeat themselves until they are learned; they just may appear in a different form or medium if we have yet to pass the course. I thought about such truth recently as I chose to approach a personal situation differently, hold myself open, being more vulnerable than I typically am, and engage with integrity and loving-kindness rather than doubt or cynicism. While both of the latter feelings raised their heads as they had been long allowed to do so out of habit in the past, my new self pushed back. I continued to remain open, to step forward bravely, yet without promises into the unknown. While having hope, I did not have expectations.

The details of all that happened will be kept private, but after giving myself time to understand all that had unfolded, and why it had occurred, I have learned this much so far: Even when what we hope might materialize does not, gifts present themselves to us that we had not expected.

What I received was indeed an unexpected gift. No, my naive ‘hopes’ did not materialize, and that was part of why, I now realize, what happened occurred. I needed to be reminded that the box of possibility I held myself in was too confining, too limiting. As well, I learned of my own ability to remain open, and when indirectly or directly denied, all will still be quite well. I will be more than fine. And most importantly, I learned that it is never a bad idea to step forward, remain open, and be vulnerable; otherwise, how will the universe know what you truly desire?

Such life lessons were significant ahas for me, and in many ways, a renewal of sorts.

Often events, moments, people come into our lives simply to teach us a valuable lesson that will, if we permit it to teach us what it came to proffer, enable a new chapter in our lives to begin. However, if we push back, if we refuse to learn because it is not offering what we want it to give us, we remain in the same chapter of our lives, a cycle that repeats itself until we choose to open ourselves to new possibilities we may have never imagined.

A few other lessons were gifted during the above-mentioned ‘denied’ events: (1) my trust in my intuition deepened significantly, and while I did not act upon it as much as I will in the future, I do know that what I intuited, but didn’t want to accept, was accurate; (2) words reveal an immense amount of truth when you listen closely to not only what is being said, but also what is not being said; and (3) the marrying of actions with words – do they align? And if they do not, take note, and don’t make excuses nor accept excuses. Each of the above three are lessons applicable to both my professional and personal life, and I now know the universe needed to confirm I had indeed learned them. I did my best to pass the test, even though at the time, I didn’t know that was the test or that there was a test, but now it is quite clear.

You may be wondering, What does this have to do with self-renewal?

Simply put: We cannot be renewed if we are not changed.

And we only change when we begin to live differently, apply new knowledge, and think now with said new knowledge known in our consideration of any new situation as it is presented to us.

Self-Renewal can happen due to a cause of abrupt, visibly obvious life changing moments, but I dare say, the most significant self-renewal is not perceivable with the naked eye by an onlooker. No, self-renewal is felt within, and you will know when it is happening. People, regular moments, events, behaviors, etc. will be viewed through a new lens; you will engage differently, perhaps no longer engage at all in past events you once did and move on to new experiences and connections, and you will feel differently as you move through your days. You will feel changed and changed for the better – closer to your true self which feels more grounded, and thus you feel more at peace.

Self-Renewal is a conscious choice as you chose to learn the lessons that are presented to you. Your feeling renewed is a sign you passed the test administered. It is time to celebrate! Even if that celebrating is only something you do in your own company, knowing you have grown, knowing you have learned something significant to living more contentedly is indeed reason to celebrate.

3 Key Actions to Engage In to Start Anew

• Begin by celebrating – as mentioned above, revel in such a way that consciously gives awareness and gratitude for this new chapter beginning. It may be by taking a full day to do as you please, or simply an evening partaking in your favorite rituals. Whatever you choose, engage consciously as to why you are doing so, and revel, revel, revel, so as not to forget your capabilities for change.
• Understand there will be moments regression to your previous chapter or old self will arise. Be prepared. How I prepare is something my counselor advised. All of the books that helped me along my journey (or blog posts/podcast episodes which condensed down what I learned in the books) and continue to help me, are readily available for me to return to, to reground myself and return my mind to my “Sage Mind” or Brain 3.0. Below are the books I shared earlier this year, and already I have added to this list. Stay tuned for those to be shared in upcoming podcast episodes and/or blog posts.

• Focus forward. A common question I have received from those whose who know I was a teacher who recently retired is how I am adapting to the new schedule/do you miss teaching/etc. ? And the truth is I haven’t even thought about my previous schedule, nor do I miss it as I made the decision intentionally knowing why I decided to step into a new chapter. This is not a ‘dig’ or a slight, but the truth, as in fairness, for the past two years of my teaching career, we weren’t adhering to a typical school day schedule what-so-ever due to the pandemic. So in essence, I had a helpful nudge into a new normal because nothing was normal for the last 18 months of my teaching career. With that said, as soon as I retired, three projects simultaneously took off and needed my full attention – TSLL’s 3rd book, blog redesign and the final home customization projects. There was no time to think about what ‘used to be’. I had to establish a new schedule that worked well with what I was setting out to accomplish tout de suite! As you step into your new chapter, dive in at a pace that suits your new self that enables you to feel productive at the end of the day as well as rejuvenating as you move through each day and each week. Finding a rhythm that works for you requires your full presence in the now and where you hope your energies will lead you. This cannot happen if you are looking in the rearview mirror.

Spring gifts us with an awesome opportunity in so many ways, and one such way is to live in awareness and learn the lessons the universe wants us to understand so that we can move on to the next chapter of our lives, a chapter that requires us to know something we currently do not, but absolutely have the capable of learning. When we learn the valuable life lesson, we give ourselves a priceless gift and our life elevates in ways we may never have been able to imagine. Once the new chapter begins, hold the above three pieces of knowledge close to heart and be confident you will do well in this time of beginning anew. Enjoy and bonne courage!

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