I’m ready to dive deeper into my journey of transformation. There is a habit that keeps creeping back in and keeping me stuck. I thought I would be able to moderate my sugar intake, but I’m realizing that I need to cut it out altogether. I’ve tried giving it up for a time, but it creeps back in when I bake for my family. Or sometimes I get things like ice-cream to go with a dessert I’m serving. Or maybe I buy plant milk with sugar for some kind of latte. But whatever form of sugar I buy, it always throws me out of balance in one way or another. Then I waste time stressing about it and it really does not make my life better.
Why I Want To Give Up Sugar
Sugar makes me feel so different mentally and physically than the other food I eat. It makes me feel dissatisfied, creates cravings and gives me joint pain. It also makes me feel guilty. I realize that this is a choice to eat sugar and that it’s up to me to do things differently. I know that my body and mind literally become the things that I consume. I also know that I can only consume the things that I choose to bring into my environment. So, if I don’t want to embody it, I need to choose not to buy it. Surrounding myself with unnecessary temptations creates anxiety, unhelpful mental clutter and is in opposition with who I want to be. Although I am no longer addicted to it like I used to be, not having it in the house anymore is the next step in my journey.
I have successfully made other changes in my life, like becoming vegan and going alcohol-free. So, I know that there is a process that works for me. Now I’m ready to use this tried and tested process and eliminate sugar from my home.
The Decision to Change
The first thing I have to do is make the decision to change. The word decide literally comes from the Latin words meaning “to cut off from”. I can cut off from something when I really know that it is not in line with my values or my deeper dream. The only way I can get to that point of really knowing is through deep listening to my inner truth.
Tapping into Inner Guidance
This deep listening is the Yoga of mindfulness and awareness. The inner voice is very quiet and subtle, so I need to make space and time to be still. From that place of stillness, I can receive the new story that will guide me to transformation. Mindfulness and meditation help me to relax deeply enough to embrace my intention of letting go of that which is outdated and unhelpful.
There is inner guidance at the core of my being. It takes practice to access that guidance, and it is a lifelong process. Once I have mastered one thing, there is always something else beckoning me towards new growth and learning. That voice is always there, when I take the time to tune in.
To hear this voice, I need an attitude of wonder and curiosity. Having a beginner's mind is the only way that I can hear it and learn and grow. The attitude of wonder contains the seeds of marvel and gratitude. When I wonder about changing something, the process of transformation becomes possible. On the other hand, if I worry about not being able to change something, I stay stuck. Where energy goes, prana flows and this is the point of power.
Aligning Myself with Who I am Becoming Next
Then I have to align myself with who I want to become next. I can do this physically through my Yoga postures. I know there is a definite magic in getting into Yoga shapes on my mat. I don’t understand how it works, I just know it does! I can also do it mentally. This involves having a clear idea about how I want to evolve and then letting it go. It is good to know where I think I’m heading, but it is even more exciting to open up to the infinite possibilities that I’ve not yet considered. If I’m too caught up in the business of being right, I’ll miss the cues and clues for the magical opportunities that arise from not knowing.
How Do I Recognize My Inner Wisdom?
I know when I’ve tapped into that place of inner wisdom, because there is a certain quality to my breath. There is a sense of having more space in my mind and body. I feel more relaxed and less anxious. I feel like I have remembered something ‘obvious’ that was there all along. My mind gets a little quieter and the wisdom whispers can be heard.
The Outer Practice
There is an outer practice that runs parallel to the inner practices. This involves practicing the new things and letting go of the old things. This is usually fairly clumsy at first, and includes a number of failed attempts at change. I’ve learned to be forgiving and patient with myself. Eventually I come to a place where I’ve had enough and then I make a firm decision.
This is followed by a change of mind, a change of heart and a change of behaviour. The key is not giving up at the early hurdles and reassuring myself that deep transformation is possible no matter how many failures it takes to get there. There are a number of habit evolution strategies that I’ve learned and now teach that significantly speed up the process of change.
Getting Support
The other important part of the outer practice is talking about it to others. When I talk to people who are on the same wavelength, they help me to stay focused and hold me accountable. This is tremendously useful. It’s also good to know that I’m not alone. Working through a transformation process with a group is a lovely experience, it has helped me to free myself from believing that I was stuck with certain habits.
If you have habits that you are stuck with and want to change, give me a shout. I’d love to guide you through your breakthrough transformation!