When you out grow your current skin it becomes uncomfortable to remain in it.
I wasn’t paying much attention as I stood up from my desk and headed out to feed the horses lunch. In fact, I was so lost in thought I didn’t recall actually walking outside to the feed room, but here I was. As I was getting my bearings I looked down and saw it. Instantly I recognized it was in response to what I’d just been thinking about. A smile of gratitude and amazement crept across my face. The universe never wastes an opportune moment to provide guidance when one is open to recognizing and receiving it.
What caught my attention was a snake skin that had been shed, right next to the door. It hadn’t been there a few hours ago, but there it was.
As I bent down to pick it up, I asked from my heart if there was a message for me. In less than a heartbeat, I heard my answer.
“When you’ve outgrown your current skin, it becomes uncomfortable to remain in it. Finally, you get to the point you can no longer remain in the discomfort and you allow yourself to move through a vulnerable position to shed that skin. (As you may imagine, a snake is very vulnerable to predators while shedding its skin.) Once you’ve shed the skin, you enter a new cycle. A cycle in which you have no idea what you’ll experience or what lays ahead. However, you’ve made the commitment and can no longer go back and put the old skin back on. It doesn’t fit.”
Zing…message received! I’ve been going through a cycle of change, aka shedding my skin, and had found myself in an internal tug-of-war. Part of me was excited about what this transformation meant, and the new adventure that lays ahead. Another part was trying to make old pieces fit into the new space, and wanting to know exactly what was going to happen before I let go. Can you relate?
The cycle of shedding your skin and evolving is a natural one that happens frequently. Sometimes shedding your skin can be easy, and seem almost effortless. Other times, it can seem like the hardest thing you’ve ever done. Here are a few things to know about shedding your skin:
Stay present. When present you move through this cycle of change in your full power and will create life from the inside out, rather than being molded from the outside it. It’s important to traverse the gap between the old and the new as present as you can.
It’s often uncomfortable. Realize there are often times of discomfort as the old falls away and you create the new. Acknowledging this helps you stay present and remain in your power as you navigate the transformation.
It can look and feel messy. This doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong or making irreversible mistakes. Anything new has a learning curve. Allow mistakes, ask questions, seek guidance, and trust your intuition.
With the coming of 2018, you’re moving through a space of shedding your skin. Your dreams, wishes, accomplishments, and things left undone come to an transitional end as the calendar rolls forward from 2017 into the new year. This is a natural time of reflection and creating visions of what you want the coming year to bring. As you move through this cycle and begin the next, remember to stay present and create life from the inside out.
How do you stay in your power and not get sucked into doubt and fear? How will you know if you’re making the right decisions for you? What signs and guidance will you receive from the universe? What is possible?