7 Ways To Navigate The Seasons Of Your Life With Grace & Joy

Remember when you were young, and summers seemed endless.  It always felt like there was time to do anything you wanted. Nothing ever felt rushed.  

As you got older, it felt like time moved more and more quickly. You suddenly hit the age when you start to think about what you will do after high school. The seasons of your life are beginning to move faster.

When you start to attend college or university, it feels like life is moving into the fast lane. With assignments, classes, clubs, sport and friends, you have little time for yourself.

As you begin new chapters of your life, there are always times of transition.  You experience these transitions when you:

·         Go to kindergarten

·         Starting high school

·         Going through puberty

·         Leaving home for education or a job

·         Starting a new relationship

·         Getting married

·         Firstborn child

·         Starting a new job

·         Kids leaving home

·         The empty nest

·         Death of parents

·         Retirement

·         The elder years

Here are 7 Ways To Navigate The Seasons Of Your Life With Grace & Joy:

1.      Radical Gratitude:

To move through the seasons of your life with grace and joy requires you to practise radical gratitude.  Take time every day to notice what you often take for granted.

Maybe you want to be thankful for having shelter, food, family, friends, your pet, a job you love, or whatever comes to your awareness.

When you take the time to be thankful, it is hard to be negative.

2.      Presence:

First, let's define this word. Presence is when you can notice the wisdom coming from your three centers of intelligence.  

When you are fully present, you are aware of the wisdom that comes from the sensations of your body which tells you how you are right at the moment.

When you are fully present, you can notice your emotions and the yearnings of your heart. The warmth and the openness of your solar plexus give you insights into the direction you need to be heading.

When you are fully present, you can notice the wisdom of your higher power that comes through your quiet mind, giving you insight into whatever the universe (God) calls you to live out.

When your three centers are open, you will know with ease the best ways to navigate through life; this does not mean it will be easy, but you will see the way.

Want to learn How to Cope with Life Transitions Even When They're Unexpected? Click Here

3.      Accepting What Is:

To move through the seasons of your life with ease necessitates your ability to accept what is. It does not mean you have to like it. 

When you can accept what has happened, instead of fighting something that you can not change, you can put your energy into the direction you want to move in.

For example, if you failed a big test. Accept it has happened and do everything you can to make sure you will do well on your next test.

4.      Intention:

If you want to create change in your life, setting your intention to make it happen can make all the difference.

Getting present in your three centers will help you know the steps you need to take.  You will discover your action plan, which might entail going back to school, doing some volunteer work, learning to meditate, and keeping the focus on the final goal.

5.      Self Care:

To stay energized, enthusiastic and positive, you will do well to take good care of yourself.

Keep your mind healthy through meditation and prayer. Keep your heart happy by making time to connect with people who light up your soul. Keep your body happy with good food and exercise.

Moving through the seasons of your life with good health will make it easier to find your balance.

6.      Nurturing your Spirit:

There are many ways to boost your spirit.  If you[RL1]  are part of organized religion, you might find it helpful to participate in spiritual practices to help you keep yourself centred. Ask your spiritual leader for guidance.

The Enneagram is a tremendous psychological/spiritual tool to help you re-discover your best self. The Enneagram symbol shows you nine different ways to survive in the world. Each of us receives one of these personality types early in our life to help us survive.

Your enneagram type shows us the box we get stuck in and how to get out of the box. Once you discern your ego's personality type, you will learn to watch out for specific habits and behaviours.

As you become more self-aware, you will eventually get to the point when you can recognize when you are about to get stuck in an old habit before it happens, and you will be able to make a better choice.

Want to learn more about the Enneagram? Click Here

7.      Play:

To lighten your spirit, you will benefit from learning to play. You may be one of many adults who have forgotten how to play.

Your inner child has probably been waiting for a long time to come out and play. Think of activities that bring out joy and laughter in you may be that it is playing a board or card game.

What activities help you to laugh and be goofy.  Find a child to teach you how to play. Play with your dog. Your pet will love you for the attention you give them.

Watch a funny movie.  Think of things that bring a smile to your face.  You will discover a new rhythm to move you gracefully through your seasons of life.

The reality is that you are good enough.  Everyone on planet earth has value.  The problem has been that your inner critic has tried to keep you in control by putting you down to prevent you from trying anything new.

With the help of a coach, you can learn to see yourself in a new way. With growing self-awareness and practice, you will learn to pay attention to your inner wisdom. You will find meaning as you move through each season of your life.

With increasing self-confidence, you will begin to reveal your inner strengths and a growing belief that you can make anything happen when it is in your best interest.

If you have had enough of never feeling good enough, Roland can help you to believe in yourself again. Roland Legge is a Certified Identity Life Coach and a minister in the United Church of Canada in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.  You can join my newsletter for free advice and get your free E-book and sign up for Your 30 Minute Discovery Call at no charge.