=sum(experience+context)

It might be true that sometimes the right thing floats into your life at the right moment. Just when you least expect it, as they say.

Today watching this Ted video was the perfect prescription for my day. Lately I have struggled with my compulsive behaviours. The binge that was December 2011 seemed to have set my frontal lobe on high-drive in January. And just like with every new year, lots of change is occurring. Change that I didn’t want to face. All change for the better, but occurring for me like it is for the worst. I needed something to kick me into appreciating transition fast so I could get back to roping in my emotional impulses.

We are the sum of our experiences. It’s an interesting distinction to look at ourselves not as someone who has experiences, but who is their experiences. So often we complain about our circumstances affecting us, but what if who we were was just a collaboration of our experiences? If I truly believed this every day, I would welcome each experience with acceptance and grace because that experience creates who I am.

Our brain is a powerful thing. So often we don’t give it the chance to reshape our lives in a moment. To catch the destructive thought pattern we are travelling down, and switch it. I see the power of this organ on days where I am so tired I could pass out on the subway- and then something happens that perks me right up again. The only difference there is experience. And the ability to create new contexts for life on the turn of a dime.

Stop-Change-Start is what I always say it’s like to alter brain patterns. Change your perspective, change your environment, change your context. Whatever you need to do to get started again; do it. Actions truly do speak louder than words. 

better late than never.

What I love about brain science is how it shows that it is possible to change ourselves (or our tendencies) at any age. What I love about New Years is that it helps us shape who we want to change into.

A year ago today I had recently experienced heartbreak, misdirection, and an uprooting of sorts. I knew it was time to change into who I want to be, and take different actions. Today I sit here having just written out my accomplishments and disasters this year, and I now hold a whole new perspective on life in general.

What I noticed in writing my year in review for 2011 was that the accomplishment list far outweighed my list of emotional car crashes. But what’s more is that things that occurred as disasters 6 months ago were now sitting on my trophy stand of learnings.

All of this made me think of an amazing little book I read a few years ago that taught me I can never see what path I’m on until the end of it, but I can sure choose the high road along the way.

So at the end of the road of 2011, I can see one thing very clearly. It hits me as I sit here cross-legged in my own apartment, dog to my left loving me unconditionally, two purring kittens happy in their new home, experiencing such love and happiness I have never felt before, and feeling a sense of satisfaction that only comes from accomplishing great challenges. To create a shift in life and make a big change, the most important thing is to imagine deeply and clearly what it is you truly want to create with life.

When I wrote the title for my last blog, I had no idea how true it would ring as I sat here today. It really all does start with a vision.

So my advice to you all is this. 2012 is the perfect chance to change your life into something you are proud of. Just as a friend asked me this week, I ask you; if the world really were to end in 2012, how would you choose to live your life now? Take pen to paper, finger to keyboard and write the answers to the questions below. Shape what you would want today to be if there were no limits. Visualizing the brain pattern through the mush is the most important step- and the one most easily forgotten.

Vision Exercise:

1)      What are your biggest accomplishments this year?

2)      What were your biggest failures this year?

3)      What can you learn in 2012 that will shift your failures to accomplishments?

4)      Write down 3-5 core values (ex: Love, honesty, fun, family, integrity, etc)

5)      Sit and create a true vision for each value. Ask yourself: What would life look like if this value were completely fulfilled? How would it feel? What would be different? What would be the same? How would others be around you? Write it all down.

6)      Write down 1-2 actions you can take this week toward making this vision a reality. Can’t come up with an action? Share your vision with a loved one and ask for help.

Thank you, world of 2011. For letting me find and express who I am and what I’m truly passionate about; and turning it into inspiration in the world around me. I feel truly blessed.

Namaste.