The Art of Reinvention, Part 2

As previously discussed, in order to become more of who you are meant to be, the essential questions must be asked and answered.  Then you have to get moving because nothing happens by itself.

It is frightening to contemplate change, even a change for the better, because after all, it's still an unknown and we fear what we don't know.  But we can get it done with a little bit of determination and chutzpah.  This is your change, but it's okay to ask for help.  Just make sure you ask in the right quarter.  Remember the third question I asked in Part I: "What will you lose (and whom)...?"  There will be someone, or maybe two or three someones who will gladly obstruct your path as you work to uncover more of who you really are.  You see, some people aren't going to want you to become more because they will interpret your moreness as somehow making them less than.  Keep your eyes open and cut those folks loose, or at the very least feed them from a long-handled spoon.  Whether you change or remain the same, you always need people in your life who have your best interest at heart.  As the late Dr. Maya Angelou said, "When people tell you who they are, believe them...the first time."

If you think that you need help in finding direction and settling your ideas down, you might consider a life coach.  If you live in a major city, the local yellow pages are a resource; otherwise, search online at www.yellowpages.com and enter a larger city to which you would be willing to travel.  Bear in mind that some life coaches list themselves as counselors because they usually offer other services as well.  Whomever you choose will be working for you as well as with you, so make sure it's a good fit; and if it isn't, continue your search.  If you have trouble quitting people, remind yourself that this person is a professional whom you are paying, and not a friend or relative.  This can be a good exercise to help you build up that surgical muscle so that any future necessary dis-entanglements of the personal kind can be accomplished a little more easily.

Is your desired reinvention based on your physical appearance?  Do you hate your thighs or think that your gluteus has too much maximus?  Sometimes, we can be can be too self-critical when it comes to our own bodies; and sometimes we allow the opinions of others to dictate how we think that we should look.  If you decide that there truly is a need to change your physical appearance, maintaining it will still require an inside change.  You'll want to acquaint yourself with people who are where you want to be, and learn their habits and the tricks they use to discipline themselves because discipline is what helps you to win every time.  Just make sure the people you choose to emulate are in possession of the attributes that would make you feel great pride and self-confidence in yourself.  Make sure there is some substance there.

And remember:

To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.  --Unknown