3 Techniques to Help You Embrace Change

People tend to be wary of change. We try to keep our daily routines consistent and predictable. A last-minute visitor or unexpected dinner plans can put us into a panic. Bigger changes such as a sudden or even planned change in jobs or move can send us into a tailspin. But they don’t have to.

Certain personality types accept change more readily than others. Kapha personalities are the most resistant to change of the three doshas, followed by Pitta. Meanwhile, Vata personality types seem to thrive on change.

Regardless of how well you accept change, you can be certain that it will happen. Life is forever moving forward. So why do we panic when it occurs?

People resist change because they might feel out of control, fear the unknown, or because their ego makes it difficult to let go of how they identify themselves such as a mom, wife, or CEO of a company.

The next time change occurs in your life, try one of these three techniques to help you transition easily and effortlessly.

Observing Nature

Nature is our most powerful guru. Everything going on within us is also happening out in nature. Observing it can provide a powerful insight into what you’re experiencing inside.

A meditation in nature can provide a visual lesson and calmness for your next change. Find a comfortable spot outside, set a timer for 15 to 20 minutes, and observe. This observation meditation requires you to have your eyes open. Ask yourself these questions as you meditate.

1. What is the complete picture before me? Take a mental note of everything you see: the sky, the animals, color of the trees, and items on the ground.
2. What is happening as I watch? Are leaves falling? Do animals come and go? Do the clouds stay the same? Maybe the weather has even transitioned.
3. How does the picture differ from when I first sat down?

Breathing to Alleviate Anxiety

A short meditation to give awareness to your breath can be used in the moment of anxiety or resistance. Often when we get stressed, our breathing speeds up and gets shallow, and we often don’t even notice it has changed. A mindful breathing exercise is all you need to restore the balance in your breath and slow it down.

With your eyes closed, follow these steps:

• Take your attention to your nose. What do you feel/hear? How long is a normal intake for you? Increase the length of your inhale while the attention is still here.
• Move down to the lungs. How wide do the lungs expand?
• Lastly, show your belly some awareness. Can you imagine what the belly must look like?

Now open your eyes and observe the changes happening from a mere breath.

Guided Meditations

Change can stir up your emotions and cause you to rock off balance. Guided meditations are a great way to regain the sense of balance in our lives, even when life gets uncertain.

Pair this exercise with your guided meditation:

• What is your mindset before you begin listening to the guide?
• How does the pattern of the words make you feel? Notice that just going from word to word in itself is change.
• Does the guide speak until the very end? Or did they choose to end in silence or music?
• What is your mindset at the end of the meditation?

Don’t wait until the next change swoops into your life before you try these techniques. Daily meditations and self-observation make these sudden changes to your life seem less traumatic. Remind yourself that whatever change you might be fighting against could be a new opportunity.

Find ease in times of transition with Embrace Your Life, a five-part program with Devi Brown, available now on the Presence App.