‘Getting Proper Support’ improves success for life changes
May 5th, 2008 by spaceagesage
Certain changes we make in our lives don’t require help from others, but even exercise and diets are aided
when we partner up with someone who can keep us motivated. When we attempt deep and meaningful change, support and flocking together with friends or groups means greater success with the process.
“Getting Proper Support” is the fourth in a series where I take a deeper look at seven tools for transformation presented by authors Don Riso and Russ Hudson in their book The Wisdom of the Enneagram. In previous posts, I took a deeper look at the tools called Seeking Truth, Not Doing, and Willing to Be Open.
Here is a look at Getting Proper Support:
1) Take a break from draining or demanding environments
Getting Proper Support doesn’t happen when you are still engaged with people or situations that tax you physically, mentally or emotionally. For example, I caretake my mom who suffers memory loss from stroke and Alzheimer’s. If I want to do some inner work, I may attend a caretaker’s support group or ask my husband to take her to dinner or shopping. This may last only an hour or two, but even that span of time can be helpful in freeing up your heart and mind to tackle areas of change.
2) Surround yourself with supportive and motivating photos, slogans, or other items
Getting Proper Support means nurturing yourself with an environment that helps you grow. Photos of trees in winter don’t do much to motivate me, but a stuffed animal that my husband and I keep as a symbol of our love, images with my affirmations written on them, and an uncluttered office help create a space for me to feel supported and more willing to tackle change.
3) Take action to find outside support
Find friends, classes, support groups, workshops, and daily habits that create moments of personal development. This isn’t easy for some personality types like me. I prefer to find a cave or Google for an answer to my problems, but the value of not feeling alone when times of doubt, discouragement, or disillusionment hit you is incalculable. How many times has just one or two words from a friend or stranger picked up your spirits and made your day?
POCKET-THOUGHT:
In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.
~ Albert Schweitzer ~
May you find such human beings … and become one!
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Photo credit: speech path girl