So Dramatically Different

 by Mary Jo Wehniainen

Ever have a deep-down feeling that you’ve been going through your life in the same manner for a long time while inwardly longing for things to be very different?

This longing for “things to be different” could be in regards to your relationships, your business, your job, your organizational skills, your health, your weight, etc.

It might even apply to every single area of your life!

If things have been the same way for a long time and you want something dramatically different for your life, do or be DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT right now!

Hmmmm.

How can you do that?

Easier said than done, right?

In Feng Shui, the art of balancing and harmonizing the flow of natural energies in our surroundings, there is a belief that in order to get out of a rut or become “unstuck” you should change 27 things!

This month’s coaching challenge is along those same lines.

I’m suggesting this exercise because sometimes you actually need to shake yourself and stretch yourself out of the “mold” you’ve been living in. Kind of like coming to your senses after you realize you’ve been operating on “auto-pilot” and didn’t even know it!

This month I’d like to suggest a coaching exercise for the brave of heart. An exercise for those who are really fed up with the way things have been, are ready for dramatic changes, and are willing to do what it takes to shake themselves out of their current way of being.

For one entire week, play a game of doing everything differently than you normally would. EVERYTHING!

I know you might not see the point in this immediately, and you might even think these examples are silly, but remember, this is for people who want their lives to be DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT! Wouldn’t it make sense that in order for that to happen you first need to shake yourself out of the rut you’ve been in for a long time? Of course….

OK, here are some ideas, but remember, this is an exercise for one week only. I’m not suggesting you keep these changes in place permanently … although it might be advisable for some of them! :-)

Get up from the opposite side of the bed, or if your bed is against a wall, sleep with your head at the opposite end.

If you go out to lunch and typically order a chicken Caesar salad, order a Reuben sandwich instead.

If you drive a certain route home every day, make a few different turns and go a different way.

If you shop at a particular grocery store or mall, try another one!

If you normally react strongly to something irritating that your children do repeatedly, take a deep breath and speak in a soft tone explaining why you don’t want them to do that. OR, maybe it’s the opposite for you. Maybe you’re not addressing certain issues strongly enough, and need to begin doing that!

In your relationships, if there’s something you’re not happy about but find yourself putting up with it constantly, in a very non-emotional tone, state why you’re not willing to put up with that any longer.

If you have certain household routines that you do all the time, change the routines!

The more you can stretch or shake yourself out of the mold, the stronger your “muscle” of choice will become, and more possibilities will become apparent to you. You’ll begin to realize that many things you do, you’ve been doing without even thinking about it. Like a robot that’s programmed to do certain things without ever questioning “why?”

This fun (and challenging) exercise will empower you to realize that you do have a choice in everything, and will broaden your horizons about what’s possible. After the week is over you very well may choose to return to doing certain things the way you did before. The difference will be that you’re aware that you are deliberately choosing to do it, not doing it because “that’s the way you’ve always done it”.

This is an extremely powerful place to live your life from!

Go ahead, shake yourself up. Shake up others around you. Break out of the mold for an entire week, and be open to the possibilities of where it might take you. (And make sure you’re having fun while you’re at it.)

Today could be the first day of a very exciting future for you.

I believe it will!