EMBRACING CHANGE AND FINDING FOCUS
Let this be a moment in your life where you create space to focus on what matters most. As if you were moving through a vast landscape with a magnifying glass with you, allow yourself time to explore and adapt, and look closer where you need to. And when you find yourself overwhelmed by distractions or unexpected change, remember that your focus can grow at its own pace. You have not wasted time when your focus has changed. As long as you're still breathing, there is room to find new ways through this landscape.
1 - When you find yourself in a new landscape, give yourself time to acclimate to what is new:
In the areas of life where you are faced with something new that requires a lot of courage, this might look like giving yourself time to zoom in, assess, and acclimate. Perhaps, where you once thought you only had to focus on being endlessly strong or unyielding, you can give yourself permission to say "A larger picture is still forming here." In the same way you would imagine a scene unfolding, you are free to move through this space allowing details to emerge and evolve naturally. Acting on courage here doesn't mean you have to pressure yourself to figure it all out at once. Continue to breathe deep in this space as much as you can, knowing you will learn as you go. Zoom in where you need to zoom in, and let go where you need to let go. Shift your focus where you need to.
2 - It's okay for you to acknowledge when you feel stuck or unclear:
When it comes to those areas of life that have been around for a while but perhaps, there's been a loss of momentum, remember that even familiar landscapes change with the seasons. It is okay to say "I feel like I'm in a fog" or "The path seems overgrown," while still creating space to rediscover the beauty in this familiar terrain. It might be time to take your magnifying glass to a different part of the landscape. Clarify what it means to focus in this space by asking yourself: "How might this pause in momentum allow me to approach this area with renewed energy or perspective?" Let the space you're in create room for you to explore how to find new ways to re-engage with the work.
3 - Create space to feel what you need to feel and explore new ways to change and grow, too:
In those moments where you are realizing the way you find support might look different from how you found support in the past, acknowledge that your focus can shift like exploring a new part of a familiar landscape. It's okay to say, "I'm learning new ways to reach out," or "My support system is transforming." It doesn't mean you've become less important or worthy just because things haven't stayed exactly the same through the years. Welcome the process of shifting your focus by reflecting: "What strengths have I developed that allow me to seek and receive support in new ways that fit where I am?" It may take time to answer this question, but that's okay. Because when faced with a changing support landscape, focusing on new ways to connect helps you understand what you need when it comes to the many rhythms of community life. Whether you've received support from afar or in a deeply personal way, may you know it's okay to feel sensitive to the way this has changed. Allow yourself to feel what you need to feel while also knowing the ways you've been able to focus and receive support, which can change as you grow and change, too.
These are just a few examples of how, when you find yourself in a place of needing to focus in new or intimidating situations, it's okay to create space to point out why it's been hard to stay focused while still being open to finding new approaches, too. It's okay to zoom out for a moment and shift focus to something else where you need to. Take time to process however you can. And as you do, let that become the space where you exhale and remind yourself that you do not have to rush forward in every instance. Take pauses wherever possible, and let those be the spaces where you redefine what focus and progress look like. Reimagine what it means to adapt and make changes, for these are key parts of moving through life's many varied landscapes.
