Therapy!

And not the retail kind either! This may appear to be a random post, but stay with the words and you'll see how this post matches the theme of change!

I haven't worn heels since a Dixie Chicks concert in 2002. It was around this time that I recognized I had something wrong with my left toe, I could barely bend it back into place. It wasn't until last summer that I decided I needed to do something about it! In November I had a bone spur removed. It was painful to say the least. I've stretched it daily and it is doing better but I'll be the first to admit that I am not naturally inclined to inflict pain on myself on a regular basis!

What I noticed was that stretching and bending REALLY HURT at the time but after a couple of hours or so, the constriction eased and I went longer without noticing pain. I made it a point to stretch my toe when I was typing, reading, brushing my teeth, and even eating! I worked it good but it still wasn't enough. What I needed was to have a "mold" that would hold my toe in an uncomfortable position for longer periods. What to do? What to do...........the answer: ORDER HEELS!

I found these cute "retro/vintage" looking ones and straped them on. The right foot feels....perfect. The left....OUCH. I found that I could only wear them for short periods of time at first. I've increased the time daily and today.......I've worn them since 8 am.

How does this support embracing change? What is your life feels painful and constricting? What might you be avoiding? When we sense pain, we tend to go in the opposite direction. Yet, sometimes, simply stoping and being willing to feel a bit of discomfort can actually reshape our thoughts and attitudes.

It is when we stretch, moving past our comfortable boundaries that we begin to grow. This growth need not happen all at once, it's more important that is happens continually. It's easy to become complacent and accepting of ourselves, the routines and relationships that we've created. None of us wish for discomfort and pain, yet in some ways, those less than supportive emotions and situations can open us to greater posibilites and postive changes. Just because something feels painful now doesn't mean it ALWAYS will. Sometimes we have to take small, calcuated steps toward a goal and intention. Great risk often implies amazing results. And if the results are not what you anticipated, rest assured, there will be a valuable lesson, either way.

One of the techniques I've learned is rather than avoiding and running from fear, we can stop and face it, head on. There's nothing more empowering to admit that something scares us or that we really hurt. Admitting how we feel, in any situation is vital for clarity.  When we recognize the value of our thoughts, feelings and emotions, even if no one else feels this way or can understand our viewpoint, we can connect the dots and see what we have to work through. This is not an obstacle, this is a stepping stone! And rather than feel guilty, we can celebrate the fact that we have the ability to feel pain, as well as joy. We can't clear out old patterns, habits and beliefs if we don't know where they are showing up and holding us back in our daily lives!

Step intot that which hurts, physically/mentally/emotionally. It may feel like a large wall, but there's no reason that it can't be dismantled brick by brick. Become the architect of your life. Create new foundations. If there is pain, welcome it. Focus intently on where it is showing up. Breathe and relax into it.........in small doses of coarse. Listen to the body, it will tell us when we've had enough for the day. Honor your efforts, even the smallest ones. And if it makes you feel better, buy yourself a new pair of heels (or whatever footwear suits you best). There's no reason why you can't look great paving your own path. I doubt I will wear these out to the chicken coop/goat pen, but when I take them off and slide into the good ol Muck boots, I notice that the pain is significantly less than the time before and the time before that.

Where is pain showing up for you right now? What can be done to make it your ally? Drop any resistance. Open up, breathe and if the mood strikes, go ahead and KICK UP THOSE HEELS!