Day 16: Embracing Change: Lessons from the Past Year

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(TW: Disabilities) @SoulfullyAButterfly this year wasn't great healthwise. I'm already paralysed from the waist down, but I lost the feeling in my upper left body, so for several months I could only move my right arm and head 🙁 two spine surgeries later, I have the feeling back in my upper left body and I'm doing well😁 this change in my health this year has showed me I'm stronger than I thought, I never have up on hope, I never altered the way I talk to people and my humour remained, even though i was in so much pain physically. and mentally trying to deal with this mentally. So yeah I think I'm pretty strong minded ❤

@SoulfullyAButterfly Thanks for the tag. In my studies, I have doing very well lately- better than I have all my life. Something learned is that when you put an organized and consistent effort towards something, you can achieve whatever you set your eye on (within reasonable means) 🏆. The next change in my life = graduating from university! I will try to find employment or volunteer work relevant to my areas of study, and potentially apply for further studies someday. I learned that there is always room for change or growth, and you don't need to be who you were in the past.

Thank you so much for this beautiful post!! Feeling so satisfied reading this!! A sense of gratitude for the year!!

Coming to the questions!

The most significant change that I experienced this year was letting go off the toxic people in my life who had a tendency to bring me down!

The lessons that I learnt, Oh god! They are so many to wrap up in words, but I actually learnt courage, courage to stand up for oneself, to understand what self esteem is, to be humbly assertive about one's boundaries. I experienced as if a new version grew out of my old self and that shy feary person just vanished! I learnt a lot about the relationship dynamics. And also, how to navigating the tough phases of life, how to let go off people who are not meant to be yours.

Yes, there were many moments of growth that surprised me! And I was all left with deep satisfaction and gratitude for those moments!

Well, to know what changes I have been resisting and I should embrace them in the coming year, a reflection exercise needs to be performed. However, what I do remember are 2 things: I have been resisting to join a reader's community for 2-3 months now. And I wish to join it. Secondly, I resist making calls and talking to my people because of an unknown reason. So I want to find that and also start communicating more!

@SoulfullyAButterfly

Thank you for this thoughtful post!

I experienced that I am stronger and could endure more pain than I thought. It made me feel safer and more confident for future challenges. 

@SoulfullyAButterfly

New Year's is my favorite holiday, I really enjoy reflecting on the past year and visualizing the year to come, thank you for giving us some questions to ponder.

• What was the most significant change you experienced this year, and how did it impact you?
  Moving across the country to work a seasonal position at a national park, it gave me the confidence that I can work & support myself after having living in a supportive housing program.
• What lessons did you learn about yourself while navigating this change?
  I learned that I can trust myself & make big leaps, I learned to trust the universe & my journey and I was able to work through crippling job anxiety to maintain my job
• Was there a moment of growth that surprised you?
  I have long suffered from self doubt, so I think I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to rely on myself and make such a drastic positive change in my life. I also learned that I am able to make community wherever I go. 
• Is there a change you’ve been resisting that might be worth embracing in the year ahead?
  I think just resisting the flow of life in general, I have been working to go with the flow a little more, because this is something that I'm not the best with naturally. 

1. One significant change I experienced this year was me trying to reduce mingling with people who put me down. And also trying to write things down in my journal. It really cleared my head of unwanted thoughts.It has positively impacted me.

2. I am really capable. Whatever people tell about me doesn't really define me. I learned to push myself during those difficult times to move forward.

3. Yes, I never thought I would be this courageous and strong

4. Another change I would like to embrace in the year ahead is to avoid taking things too personally, to continue practicing gratitude and other techniques to let go of negativity.

• What was the most significant change you experienced this year, and how did it impact you?

I am going through it now at the end of the year. I am going through a divorce which started just before the holidays. The whole year has been painful leading up to it, but now it is painful in a different way. Regardless of how bad things were, I still love him very deeply. I’ve never broken up with someone I still loved before. Sometimes I want to take it back, but the breakup is mutual so he wouldn’t anyway. I wonder if I had close family or friends if I’d feel the same. I feel very alone. I also sometimes feel like a failure.

• What lessons did you learn about yourself while navigating this change?

• Was there a moment of growth that surprised you?

I’m not sure I’m there yet. Things are going to get tougher over the next few months, so maybe there will be a moment like that for me then.

• Is there a change you’ve been resisting that might be worth embracing in the year ahead?

I have been resisting meeting new people. I feel very vulnerable, and sometimes people can be very cruel. I know I have to try though.