Are you ready to transform?

Spring is a time for transformation, change, and inviting whatever you want to grow in your life. How does it look for you? I know that some people will feel excited about it, but others might feel terrified. And, of course, there are infinite possibilities in between. I like the idea of change, inviting good things into my life, and leaving behind what is not working well; it all seems like the right and most excellent thing to do. Let's be honest: the process is not easy; there is a lot of work to be done regularly that involves noticing automatic habits (not always evident) and consciously substituting them for a new habit. It's okay that it's not easy, but you can accept the challenge with an open mind and start to make it simple.

A few steps that are essential to this process

1. Trust—Trust is a crucial element in this journey of transformation. Trust in yourself, in your abilities, and in the Universe. This trust will empower you to navigate the changes confidently, knowing that you can handle whatever comes your way.

Have you ever observed the beginning of spring? I live very close to nature, and I have to walk my dogs every day a few times a day. This allows me to observe and learn from nature. When spring starts, it seems that the white magic of winter is gone, and you see black dirt and snow-filled with gravel. The trees still appear dead, the ground is wet and muddy, and even the colors seem faded, especially on gray days. While walking around in this not-so-pretty landscape, I noticed a little purple spot: a tyne flower coming up in the middle of the rocky flower beds. It's still cold, and I thought the cute little flower won't survive the cold spells…I was wrong. A few days later, there were two little flowers, and that's how spring arrives, slowly, carefully, with patience, and suddenly, we have a vibrant explosion of colors. The same intelligence that is behind the seasons, nature also created you, and it's here to support you always. Developing trust will change how you deal with life's challenges.

2. Accept that you are 100% responsible for what happens to you - Taking 100% responsibility means understanding that we have control over our actions, decisions, and responses to the events and circumstances in our lives. It requires us to let go of excuses, blame, and a victim mentality. Instead of pointing fingers at external factors or other people for our setbacks or failures, we acknowledge our role in shaping our reality.

This is a crucial step. The first time I heard about this principle was while studying yogic philosophy; I immediately adopted it into my life. After all those years, I can tell you that you will feel it's true in certain situations. You try to figure out what solutions you can bring to the table, but other times, it takes work to apply this principle. As a parent of two adorable teenagers, there are many times that I feel I did everything I could or knew to achieve a desirable outcome, and I didn't have it; my first reaction is always to point out that I'm not the only one in the equation, that there are some limitations to what I can do. In those situations, I pause and come back to this principle till I figure out what I can do differently; I also use step one (trust) 

3. Work on your Awareness. -  Heightened awareness helps you make more conscious choices, understand your motivations, and connect with others more deeply. As you expand your awareness, you become better equipped to navigate challenges, appreciate the beauty in everyday moments, and live with a greater sense of purpose and connection.

Mindfulness is probably the most used path to increase awareness, but be creative about things you enjoy and be very mindful and present when doing it. Think about the outer world (everything around you, people, things, places) and connect to your inner world (once you start accessing it, you will see how magical it is). I love spending time by myself relaxing and doing simple things that I enjoy a lot, like cooking, coloring, reading, and writing. Learning to be yourself is the first step to connecting with your inner world. Once you glimpse it, you will never want to move away from it.

You can decide how deep you go, take your time, and move slowly

In conclusion, embracing the spirit of spring invites reflection on personal growth and change. Trust in oneself and the process empowers us to navigate challenges confidently. Taking 100% responsibility for our lives means shaping our reality without blame or excuses. Heightened awareness through mindfulness helps us make conscious choices and appreciate life's beauty. Let's embrace change with an open mind, trusting in our ability to grow and evolve.