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Change Your Underwear, Change Your Life

November 16, 2009 by Beth Buelow Leave a Comment

Are you ready for this one?

Things happened around me this week that a few years ago would have sent me into a tizzy of stress, worry and unhappiness.

Tuesday evening, my husband Andy was rear-ended while driving home from work (no one was hurt, damage was relatively minor). Friday morning, while I was in Edmonds for a three-day training, my car died on the interstate as I drove to class. It was raining and rush-hour; I enjoyed some fleeting fame in traffic reports as “a disabled vehicle blocking traffic on 1-5 south just north of 524.”

It was Sunday afternoon before life quieted down enough for me to think about my reaction to the events of the week. My previous response to stress was to barely fight an overwhelming urge to go hide under the covers for a few days. Over the past year, my stress response has been more about curiosity than cursing.

As I was driving around during errands, a question went through my mind: “What’s different now?” Just at that moment, a red Hyundai pulled in front of me. An answer appeared on this bumper sticker:

After I stopped laughing, I reflected on what that statement meant to me. The next answer appeared: I have learned to step into my personal power, instead of giving it away. I trust that I can handle anything that happens to me and those I love. I no longer feel like a victim of circumstance. Instead, I understand that I am at choice in every aspect of my life. I am responsible – that is, response-able.

Are you ready to step into your personal power and change your life?

Getting Curious:
Notice when you feel stressed, overwhelmed or unfocused. Is someone or something taking away your power? Take a few quiet moments to breathe and ask yourself: What’s causing the energy drain? What choice do I have about the situation? What am I willing to do to take back my power?

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