As I stare at this beautiful crystal, I see many complexities. Different angles, different shapes, subtle or bold changes in the colour. So beautiful, such a wonder of nature.
Every time there is a change in our lives, it generally comes with some, (or a lot) of fear….fear of the unknown; fear of wether it was the right change to make if we made the change; fear of a new adventure and perhaps if that new adventure will be all we hoped for. The what-if’s are hard to put out of our minds: what if the new city is not for me, what if the job turns out to be not what I expected, what if I fail, and on and on. Our mind can go overboard thinking of the what “could” happen. Fear in us can throw us off balance. It pulls us out of our comfort zone. It can create uncertainty. It can make us freeze and be afraid to move forward. Some of us adapt easier to change than others. Standing still and not moving forward because of fear doesn’t help us at all. Are you stuck? If we can little-by-little respect change, and see it as a new frontier, a new challenge, or a new beginning that could bring a better outcome, or more joy….wow, wouldn’t it be worth it? I am thinking of the cute little caterpillar…..what if his fear held him back from creating the chrysalis (pupa) around him….what if eventually his fear overtook him and he didn’t break through…..then we would not have the joy of a beautiful butterfly. Fear probably accompanies any change in your life, but can be so worth the journey through that fear. Writing out the pros and cons, the worries and the anticipation can help sort out the challenges for you. Feel the Fear - take a few deeps breaths - make the leap and celebrate your accomplishment!
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Welcome back! I feel like I am living someone else’s dream right now as my book gets closer and closer to being available to you all. This time last year, it was a small thought in my head that “maybe, maybe I could really do this…..write a book, and even publish it”. I kept pushing myself out of my comfort circle just a little each day as I sat down to write, and it is working! Today, not only has this big dream come through, but today I am confident and letting my thoughts wander to the next step in this 7th decade of mine. Today I wanted to give you a sense of the content of my book by introducing you to the Table of Contents that may inspire you to consider reading this. Yes, I was in rehabilitation for alcohol addiction. Yes I was happy on the outside, but had many shadows on the inside. Yes I am coming up on 4 years sober. And, Yes I am no longer allowing my shadows to haunt me, to slow me down, or stop me. In my experience, when I am open to other viewpoints, and take the time to listen and understand your views, I learn. That is not to say that I am necessarily changing my mind or viewpoint but rather that I have truly “heard” you and respect your opinions and thoughts. Have a look at the lyrics below from Simon and Garfunkel’s music, “The Sound of Silence”. “And in the naked light, I saw Ten thousand people, maybe more People talking without speaking People hearing without listening People writing songs that voices never shared And no one dared Disturb the sound of silence” I named the book Climbing the Stairs as I saw each milestone, each ah-ha moment, each victory as reaching yet another stair. As I say in the book, some stairs were taller than others, and I pictured a tiny ladder representing the baby steps to get to the next level. Whether you are working your way through addiction, or working on your past demons towards a happier life, I am confident this book will speak to you. The First Stair: The Decision to Seek Help The Second Stair: Arrival at the Treatment Centre The Third Stair: Life in Rehabilitation The Fourth Stair: Adjusting at Home The Fifth Stair: New Lessons The Sixth Stair: Exploring Options (to sobriety) The Seventh Stair: Expanding my Understanding The Eight Stair: Celebrate! The Ninth Stair: Mindfulness & Positivity The Tenth Stair: Connection & Gratitude The Eleventh Stair: Giving Back The Twelfth Stair: Focus & Curiosity The Thirteenth Stair: Trusting Your Instincts The Fourteenth Stair: Tripping on a Stair The Fifteenth Stair: The Art of Journaling (According to Me!) the Sixteenth Stair: Food for Thought The Seventeenth Stair: Secret Medicines & Miracles The Eighteenth Stair: …and Still Climbing Well, when you get your copy (find links to major retailers here) and read it I ask kindly that you suggest it to others in your circles… |
Cheryl's JournalCheryl A. Pasieka is an addiction recovery advocate and the author of Climbing the Stairs: My Journey from Addiction to Pure Joy. Archives
September 2024
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