I think if we were to sit down and make a list of all the things we had to feel grateful for in our lives, the list would get pretty long.

Sure, we can complain about all the things that we don’t yet have, or want, but gratitude is often the quickest way to feeling abundant.

We are so fortunate, and we have so many different freedoms in this very precious human life! But, do we really feel free?

What I’m getting at is, we have a tendency of feeling like we’re stuck. And, when we feel stuck, it can often feel like change is impossible or like things will always stay the same.

Do we even have the confidence to change? I’m sure when we think of bringing about change in our lives, there are many different things that come to mind that we’d like to change.

Perhaps we’d like to be more patient, a little kinder, more compassionate, or more loving. Maybe we would just like to adopt a new exercise routine, lose a few pounds, or eat better. The list goes on.

So how do we actually bring about the change we are seeking?

I know I used to think that spending hours in the self-help section at Barnes and Noble and reading more inspiring books would help me to change.

I’ve sought out change in all kinds of “gonna change your life” programs on the internet, to the point where I just don’t have time to read all the inspirational emails and information coming at me day in and day out.

So what’s the problem?

My meditation teacher shared something with me that really hit home (and honestly I’ve probably heard it hundreds of times already, so don’t feel bad if this doesn’t sink in the first time).

She said the problem is that deep down we don’t believe we can actually change.

Because of this, all the self-help books and inspirational emails in the world are not going to help us change, when we aren’t really bringing these ideas into our heart.

We try out a new idea with the belief deep inside that we can’t actually change, and then when we don’t succeed at changing, we fulfill this prophecy that we aren’t good enough and are on some level a loser.

Another part of the problem is that we expect change to happen overnight.

When we try to implement a new way of eating, exercising, meditating, etc., we try it out a few times and then maybe have an off day and throw our hands up and say, “Yep, I knew it, I really I am loser.”

Instead we need to work at things step by step, little by little.

So how do we do this? Well, first we have to actually start somewhere.

Last year I took a raw food certification course with David Wolfe and he shared something that made so much sense. He said if you brush your teeth everyday, then you are capable of developing a new habit.

Think about it. Do you brush your teeth everyday?

Try this experiment: If you spent five minutes every morning centering your mind and breathing some peace into your heart, your days would start from a completely different space and energy.

Today, take five minutes and practice focusing on your inhalation and exhalation of breath.

Breathe out any tension, aggravation and frustration you are feeling.

On the inhalation, breathe in pure white positive healing light that has the nature of peace, right into your heart chakra. Do this for several rounds allowing the light to fill your entire body.

Do you feel that? Do you feel your mind become a little more peaceful?

Even if your mind becomes just a tiny bit more peaceful than it was when you started, this is proof that we can become a lot more peaceful.

This is proof that we can change.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. What would it mean to you to actually bring about positive change in your life?

What would it look like? What benefits would you gain from bringing about this change?

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Apprentice Editor: Emma Ruffin / Editor: Catherine Monkman

Photo: Daniel Wehner/Flickr