97. Trying To Make A Shift? Get Clear On These 2 Things
We’re going back to basics in this episode, because sometimes the most foundational things are the hardest to integrate (and the most impactful!).
Anytime you’re looking to create a shift in your life there’s two things you need to get clear on. Otherwise it’s really easy to feel confused, disoriented or to get burned out.
Listen in to hear the 2 things you need to get clear on when you’re looking to start a new chapter or to feel differently in your life.
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Did this episode spark an interesting reflection or a question stirring in your heart? I love hearing from you!
Instagram: @meghanljohnston
Email: hello@meghanjohnston.com
Website: meghanjohnston.com
Episode Transcript
[00:00:00]
Welcome to episode 97. of With Heart and Wonder. Every time I introduce an episode now I will [00:01:00] be really honest. I keep thinking about just how close we are to a hundred episodes and how wild that feels truly. Um, I'm so grateful for you being here and being a part of this community and this journey. It honestly means so much to me.
Today's episode is going to be in a way, really basic, but sometimes I think it's those really basic things that can really stump us up. And it can be so helpful to be reminded of those foundational blocks. That actually can make things so much easier. So this episode I was inspired to share because there's these like two sticky areas that show up a lot. Whether it's with coaching clients that I'm working with or just people in general, like people that I'm talking to. And it's it's [00:02:00] when ever we're trying to create a change or a shift in our life. When we want to feel differently. And we're undertaking this journey to get there.
And I really liked the metaphor of a journey because I just think there's something like any time that we're. Looking to shift or create change. There's an element of what it is we're we're expecting. And I liked the idea of a journey because there's also a lot of things along the way that can surprise and delight us.
I think about like, if I'm heading out for a hike and there might be some landmarks that I know, I'm going to see. But then there's also so much beauty in these little moments that I never could have predicted things like how the dew drops glisten on a leaf. Or seeing a bird [00:03:00] that is, moving through its migratory pathway and that I wouldn't normally see. There's these little things that are unpredictable, which sometimes can be even more beautiful than, than the thing that we're expecting. And also that it's like a process that, you know, our desire to create a shift or to create change, never happens instantaneously, but it's, it's, it's a process that has ups and downs and, exciting things, and also sometimes challenges along the way. Um, you know, like the steep hill of a hike, but you get the view at the top. Um, there's an element that sometimes we have to kind of work for things and that Isn't necessarily a bad thing. Um, but it is something we can be prepared for. So let's talk about this desire to create a change and the two foundational things that are so important for you to get curious about. And to start to [00:04:00] work towards clarity on now, I say that.
And I know like even in my body I can instantly feel like, Ooh, that feels like pressure. This idea of clarity. But I'm really inviting you to get really playful. And curious. An open-heart ed about clarity. Like we don't need to be like laser sharp. But there is a way in which we have to have like a general sense of, of these two different areas.
So let's talk about them. And like I said, it's so basic, but I'm going to share the two areas and then I'm also going to share what happens. When we're leaning more towards one or the other. Which basically we're always doing, but how that can manifest and then how you can start to work with this awareness to support yourself. So the two super basic things that you need to get a sense of.
If you're [00:05:00] looking to create a shift or a change in your life, or to feel differently. Is. Where you are. And where you want to go. I know, so basic. Right. But let's talk about this for a second. Because it can be really challenging. To hold space for both at the same time. It's so common for us to be in this space of, just like, oh, just like really in our current experience so much that we can't even envision a different way of being. When, when we're in that kind of a place, some of the things that can happen are, um, a lot of resistance showing up to doing things differently. This can be like a place where there's some excuses and justifications and analysis that's coming up [00:06:00] where we're justifying, where we are.
Which is always okay, but, but in a way that justification and those excuses can block us from connecting to a possibility of doing things differently. And so sometimes when we're like really in like our current experience, and we're not letting ourselves dream and envision what could be possible or how we want to feel. What that ends up feeling like in our bodies, is this feeling of like stuckness or stagnancy? And feels almost like there's like a wall in front of you. And it can feel really disheartening. And it can make it really hard to take any sort of action forward because which direction do you go in?
If you don't know where you're trying to go.
And this is where that paralysis and inaction can set in. Or sometimes what can happen is [00:07:00] we through like sheer willpower and force we move forward. But then, because we can't see the bigger vision of where we're going. There's this tendency to then stop. It's like start, stop, start, stop. Because we can't necessarily connect to the why. Why are we taking this effort of going through this journey?
We don't entirely know where we're trying to go. Now on the other side, what happens when you know where you want to go? But you're not paying attention to where you are. So in this scenario, there's a desire and a connectedness to what it is that you're trying to achieve or go after. But almost this like willful ignorance of your current state, your current energy capacity, your current needs. And when we [00:08:00] bypass ourself and our needs like this, it. And don't pay attention to like, where am I right now?
We can set these really lofty expectations for ourselves and it can be really inspiring. But then what happens is, as we go after that thing, it becomes often unsustainable.
Because we're not necessarily being realistic about where we're starting from.
Let's use a silly example here. So let's pretend that I'm trying to make a journey on foot. Like we can think way, way back in the day, I'm trying to make a journey on foot, where I end up in Los Angeles. That journey is going to look entirely different in terms of the pacing and my expectations and how I prepare for it.
If I'm traveling from San Diego, or if I'm traveling from New York city, or if I'm [00:09:00] traveling from Florida. Or if I'm traveling from Canada or Mexico.
There's a way in which direction and proximity, and length and all of these things can play into our ability
to get where we're trying to go. And if we're ignoring where we're starting from, it's really hard to plan in an intentional way. Like the amount of food and sustenance that I would bring with me on that journey would be entirely different if I'm traveling from within the same state, where if I'm traveling from another country,
And so this is why, when I'm working with people in a coaching capacity, the two things that we start by figuring out are, where they are and where they want to go. And then the in between that, that is a thing that can kind of evolve and be in [00:10:00] process like what that journey looks like, but we need to have those two coordinates, generally speaking on a map. Now I say generally, because we don't always know exactly where we want to go or even exactly where we are. But having a general sense can be enough to start to help us map out that journey, and more clarity can come.
There's a way in which, right.
Like sometimes you don't know how unique your situation is or was until you start to experience something different. And that's okay. Why I bring up these two areas is, is really just an invitation. Again, if you're someone who is looking to create a shift or to feel differently, it's an invitation to get curious. If you've been focusing more [00:11:00] on where you are right now. Or where you're trying to go. In any given moment, we're usually favoring one over the other. And so this doesn't mean that you need to switch to the other. That's not the point at all. It's more just, how can you hold space for both? How can you check in. With both where you are and where you're trying to go so that you can create this change or this shift in a way that feels empowering, where you feel like there's direction, but also sustainable, where you're truly taking into account your energy and your capacity. So that you can make the full journey. Rather than going super hard and then burning out.
I'm so curious myself. To hear if this episode sparked any realizations for you. In particular, I would love to hear if lately you've been favoring [00:12:00] more that vision of where you want to go or more that awareness of where you are.
You can reach out to me either on Instagram, it's @meghanljohnston. Or via email hello@meganjohnston.com. We'll be back in two weeks with our next episode. Where we'll be exploring a really fun conversation about the way in which creating time and space for the things that bring you joy and delight can create more connection in your life. I can't wait to share that with you until then keep living With Heart and Wonder.