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Jul 23

My Brain is Like My Closet

“Although difficult, change is always possible. What holds us back from making the changes we desire are our own limiting thoughts and actions.”

—Satsuki

I cleaned my closet this week because I had so many items that I hadn’t worn in awhile. One business suit was gorgeous, but it was a hand-me-down some years ago from a friend and totally out of style. One dress was from Nordstrom’s and it was kind of low cut and…just not me anymore. OMGoodness…my favorite white, Paul Stanley suit had shoulder pads that made me look like a football player.  I had worn two wool business suits until the sleeves on the jacket were worn. One pair of pants got thrown in the dryer by mistake and shrunk. There were other miscellaneous items that no longer served me. I folded them nicely and bagged them.  Some I left on the hangers in dry cleaner plastic and hauled them off to Goodwill.

My brain is kinda like my closet.  Some incorrect beliefs have been handed down to me by well-meaning people.  Some mindsets have become too small for who I want to become. Some over-used excuses are worn out and need to be discarded. Some of my thinking no longer serves me.  Some belief systems need to go the Goodwill Thought Cemetery.

It’s funny, though. There is some thinking that I know needs to go to Goodwill, but I hang onto it–like last year’s blue Fourth-of-July flip-flops with the glitter and the stars. Those went into the Goodwill bag 3 times and I still have them.  What is that all about?  Oh, right, the brain always likes the status quo. The brain doesn’t like change, either. It likes to keep everything the same.

This reminds me of when I quit drinking.  My life revolved around drinking. Geesh…could I quit? Could I do it? I tried
so many times and failed. I kept that habit for years, because it was the only way I knew how to live. I enjoyed it…most of the time, and it was comfortable.  I didn’t want
to change. I was afraid of the unknown. That’s who I was. That was a mindset that went into the Goodwill bag many times and jumped right back out.

One night, at 1:30 am, I made the decision, by the grace of God,  that I didn’t want to be that person anymore. That mindset no longer served me or my family or anyone else for that matter.  I wanted to be different. When I walked into Alcoholic’s Anonymous on August 12, 1989, I knew that I wasn’t going to have another drink…ever. I don’t know how I knew that, but deep down I knew that.

Hmmm…a decision. When I type that, it seems so simple. Dumping a belief that holds us back is just a decision away.  Simple, yes. Easy, no. There are a number of reasons why people don’t change, but I think the main one is because it’s hard. I couldn’t get sober alone. Many people helped me.

What’s in your closet? Need some help?  I’m just an email or phone call away.

Oh yeah, I got those flip flops for the 2017 Fourth of July Camping Trip with my kids. I guess the great memories are what’s keeping those flip-flops in my closet. Those are great thoughts to hold onto.

Embracing change (most of the time,)

Jan

Jan McDonald
The John Maxwell Team
Follow me on facebook @janmariemcdonald
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