You finally get to the point of deciding you want to change something in your life. Maybe you want to make some changes in your business. You have an epiphany and decide “it’s time”! You announce it to the world and you’re fully committed. Hooray! And so the work begins. You’re completely excited and jazzed about the new you. To paraphrase Dr. Seuss “oh, the places you’ll go”!
And then nothing. If you’ve gone anywhere at all it feels like you’ve gone backwards. All the theories you have about yourself seem true. “I’m worthless”. “Good things don’t happen to me”. “Nobody appreciates me”. On and on. Trust me, I have several. If not dozens. Enter The Work of Byron Katie. Ms. Katie is one of the most brilliant thought leaders in the world. What she created called The Work is so simple it’s brilliant. It’s four simple questions to ask yourself at those times when you are convinced you are any one of your self loathing theories.
1) Is it true?
2) Can you say with ABSOLUTE certainty that it’s true?
3) Who would you be without the thought?
4) Can you turn it around and say the opposite is true?
Remarkably simple and it works. Eventually we realize our theories are just that- theories not truths about ourselves.
When we embark on change it stirs up a lot of energy. The deeper the need for the change the deeper the mud you’re going to stir up. But like a lotus flower you can and will blossom even when your roots are firmly planted in mud. Be with it. It’s ok. It’s part of the process. And know that while we change the world and universe around us hasn’t caught up with us yet. We can get frustrated with the lack of results. It’s all a test of our commitment to the change we are making. Be grateful for those tests and prevail. And know that you’re not alone. If we’re growing we’ve all been in this situation before.
