How to deal with change?

I would like to start this post by emphasizing that change is actually a very good and necessary thing; something we should not fear or fight against. It is the way our soul communicates with us, yearning for growth. It is desperately trying to take us through magical routes towards everything we have ever desired and more. This universe is eternally expanding and so are you, but when you prefer doing things habitually because of fear of the unknown, your soul will push you towards evolution, and this will come in the form of change. We currently live in times of extreme uncertainty, a time where the whole world is trying to deal with a pandemic. A lot of change is happening; people losing jobs, some leaving marriages, others relocating to other countries, and the list goes on...

We were presented with an opportunity to move to Leichtenstein, a small principality just next to Switzerland, and leaving Dubai which is were I lived the majority of my life, and the place I call home. I was however very excited to go, I felt I manifested it and it was a calling I wanted to follow. It’s been 5 weeks since we have arrived. I was so ready for this move, and had prepared myself so well physically, emotionally and mentally and yet adjusting was not a walk by the park. So this post couldn’t have come at a better time, not only to write about how I am personally managing the change, but to all of you out there going through some kind of change and are looking for some tools up your sleeve to make the transition easier. So, let’s get into it.

CREATE A ROUTINE:

One of the first things that change makes us feel is insecure. Your brain literally starts sending messages to your nervous system that you are approaching an unknown territory and puts your system in alarm mode. You can become anxious, irritable and confused. This is where developing a healthy routine for yourself that you can follow everyday becomes handy. Create a routine that suits your specific lifestyle, needs and personality. When the body and mind know what to expect, they relax, and to help them know what to expect , you need to create a routine. This may include a morning routine of a 5-10 minute meditation, a workout or yoga practice, a bath, listening to your own favorite podcast, even your morning coffee can give your brain a sense of security. Eat your meals around the same time daily. This too will give your body a secure feeling because the body likes to know when it will be fed. Create an evening routine before bed time. Mine definitely involves a daily evening walk, this just helps me process the events of the day and my emotions before I get ready to sleep. Pick a daily routine that suits you and try to stick to it. This allows you to relax and creates space for you to work out the new changes happening.

MINDFUL MOVEMENT:

No two people can disagree that some sort of movement and exercise gets the adrenaline going and almost always makes you feel better. However, when you’re going through a major change, it would be helpful to stick to workouts or movement that are more grounding in nature. HIIT workouts and other high intensity training can aggravate your restlessness at a time where you can make use of some grounding energy. Forms of movement I recommend would be walking, swimming, hiking, cycling, yoga and pilates. Even if you practice yoga, go more for a Hatha, Yin, or Restorative practice as opposed to Vinyasa, Ashtanga or Power. Any form of movement that will make you more present and calm you down is your go to.

PLAY AROUND WITH FOOD:

I hope by now you do acknowledge that food has a direct effect on your mood. AYURVEDA, the sister science of Yoga, talks about how to use food to balance yourself depending on what elements ( ether/space, air, fire, water and earth) are out of balance in your system. During times of change, you tend to feel more insecure and anxious (air and ether are out of balance). This is the time to balance yourself with grounding foods. Example of grounding foods are root vegetables, sweet fruits, good quality grains if you can digest them well, nuts and seeds, and natural oils. Also, opt for cooked and warm food, they’re easier on the digestive system, and can give this overall feeling of being secure and grounded. Spices are powerful and I can swear by them and their ability to calm your mood, and ground you. Ginger, cinnamon, saffron, cardamon, cloves, turmeric and many more. Try playing around with these spices while cooking or make your own herbal tea or elixir and sip on it before you go to bed for a better night sleep!

TAKE IT EASY, THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO BE PERFECT:

In a world that values “perfection”, everyone is trying too hard to be perfect, but this is not the right time for it, or ever actually, but especially now. This is not the time to be the healthiest you, not the time to be the fittest you, not the time to be the most nurturing mother, loving partner, or supporting friend. This is the time to take it easy and opt for easier options that make your life easier NOW. Once you’re settled and feel more balanced, you can go back and revisit those areas and set goals to up the game in whatever area you desire. My younger son has been giving me the hardest time when it comes to food, he is such a picky eater, and would not eat anything he doesn’t know. Food here is not the same we used to eat back home. I struggled and created unnecessary tension, and for what? Just because there are certain foods I did not want him to eat. I then realized, this is not the right time for this. I relaxed and took it easy with the food choices, knowing that once we’re all settled, I can go back and see how I can improve the quality of his diet.

SELF CARE:

This is a major one for me, I can write a whole post on it. Self care is way more than just having a massage and taking a relaxing bath. Self love is knowing when to say no, it is knowing how to ask for help, it is knowing how to be assertive, it is blocking people out whose energy is not serving you, it is nurturing your body, it is feeding your soul, it is resting when you need, it is caring more about being happy than being right, it is talking kindly to yourself, it is praising yourself and celebrating your achievements no matter how small, it is treating yourself like you would treat your own child. It is simply an act of compassion, appreciation, self respect and self love. I personally found it very useful to also surround myself with grounded people, who can be more objective and see things for what they really are. During times of uncertainty and insecurity, your perspective may be distorted, so having someone who can re-centre you and show you a more balanced perspective is very useful. In my case, this would definitely be my sister; our daily talks have been crucial in helping me adjust. And yes ladies, why not go for that massage, take time for a relaxing bath, do your nails, style your hair, put on that nice dress and take a selfie, that too goes a long way!

I hope these tips can be useful, please feel free to share more tips in the comments or feel free to drop a question below.