Try Creating a New Context for It
By Brianna Bridges
Sometimes we just need a fresh start. Whether it’s hitting the reset button on something as small as going to the gym, or as monumental as moving on from a divorce, we crave a fresh start for the sense of control, renewal, and hope that it gives us.
But where do we start? Sometimes we think that if we just “start again tomorrow” or “try to move forward and let go of the past” we’ll be able to move into a new phase with success. That is just not the case – it leaves you in a disempowered state and your future up to chance, which you obviously don’t want!
Here’s the deal: your brain, without the proper tools, will continue to operate on the same thought patterns and associations that it always has if nothing around you changes. If you want things to change on the inside and have that incredible sense of entering a new chapter in your life, the first step is to make some changes to your environment on the outside.
I call this “creating the context for change,” and all it means is changing things up enough visually for your brain to register a situation as new. It primes your brain to loosen its connections to old patterns of thinking and behaving in a particular space and adopt new ones that will help you move into your next phase. A new setting is such a powerful tool for this, and it creates an immediate impact in your life so you get that “fresh start” feeling.
Here are some of my favorite ways to create a new context for the changes you might want to see in your life:
Decluttering! By getting rid of things that no longer belong in your life, you’re signaling to the brain that it’s time for new. In a way, it’s telling your brain that the thoughts and feelings associated with these things no longer apply. It’s also one of the most powerful tools for moving on from the past and moving into the future you desire.
Refresh your interior. Change the colors of the walls in your main living space! Rearrange the furniture! Get some new throw pillows and swap out the boring lamp for something cool and funky. Anything you do to update a space will make you look at it differently, which is incredibly helpful to the brain in establishing new connections with that space. And it doesn’t have to be drastic. Sometimes just changing up the furniture arrangement is enough to change the flow and function of a room.
Personal style refresh. I love this option for anyone who is looking to embody a new version of themselves in their fresh start. It’s so fun because you can tap into that version of yourself through fashion, a new haircut – whatever will make you feel like you’re ready for that new career or to get back into the dating world.
If you’re like any of my clients and looking to enter a new and exciting chapter in your life, start here. Of course, it requires attention to your mindset to continue forming new thought patterns and behaviors to make your fresh start stick – but this will go a long way to creating the foundation for it.
Contact Brianna at: Brianna@Briannasbestlife.com.
Please visit her website for more information: Briannasbestlife.com
