Move, Adjust, Grow: Knowing when to Shift Directions [Writing Yoga® Creativity Matrix Prompt #7]
Apr 21, 2025A colleague of mine moved across the country to be closer to her kids who moved out west from Long Island. She and her husband sold their house and settled in. Can you guess what happened? Her daughter-in-law got a great job in Chicago and moved. Now my friend is stuck in the desert. She misses the ocean and wants to get back home. I'm sure you have heard this expression before, but the only thing we can really count on is that things will change. Yes, life will shift.
Her new life could have been wonderfully exciting and different, except it wasn't. She made the change but not to a place that suits her own needs. Oops. She can move or adjust her mindset but something will have to shift.
What happens when you allow yourself to change course? To pivot instead of push? To shift instead of staying stuck? Often, we resist change because it feels uncertain, but sometimes a shift is exactly what we need to break free from old patterns and embrace new possibilities.
How to Shift and Why
Life isn’t always linear. It's more like a labyrinth or spiral. Growth isn’t always predictable. The ability to shift our mindset, our habits, our focus, keeps us adaptable and open. Without the willingness to shift, we risk becoming stuck in routines that no longer serve us. Shifting allows us to:
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Recognize when it’s time for change instead of forcing the same approach.
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Release what no longer serves us and step into something new.
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Experiment with different ways of thinking, creating, and moving through the world.
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Trust the process of change, even when the outcome isn’t clear.
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Embrace curiosity, seeing shifts as opportunities rather than obstacles.
Where can you shift in your day, week and life?
Sit, Write, Move: A Practice for Shifting Your Routine
Sit
Find a quiet moment to pause. Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Relax. Imagine a spiral shape or a Labyrinth if that is familiar to you. Picture yourself walking through and around that winding path. Notice how each turn offers a new perspective. Breathe as you imagine your walk. Notice how you feel.
Write
Set a timer for 5–10 minutes and reflect on a change you’ve been considering. What is pulling you in a new direction? What do you need to let go of in order to move forward? Describe what it feels like to embrace this shift rather than resist it. What would it feel like to shift?
Move
Go for a walk, but instead of following a straight path, take unexpected turns. Double back. Walk in a circle or spiral. Pay attention to how it feels to shift directions physically. How does this movement mirror the shifts you’re experiencing internally? Let your body lead your mind into a new perspective.
Trust the movement. Trust yourself.
Next week, we’ll "stretch" beyond what feels comfortable and see where expansion leads us.
For an in depth retreat experience, join our labyrinth expert, Lisa Kindle, and me on Long Island for the summer solstice. She and I have some pretty powerful activities to help you boost creativity, feel calm, and shift to big possibilities for your life. Read more here: https://www.writingyoga.com/solstice
More activities and resources can also be found at www.WritingYoga.com
Thank you for making the world a calmer, more creative and compassionate place!
