How to Empower Yourself During Times of Change & Transition

Today is Inauguration Day and it brings mixed feelings for me as well as for many people.  Right now, our world feels divided between progress and undefinable change as the face of leadership in this country shifts hands. I found myself faced with this realization early in the day, observing the swell of emotions and opinions of discontent rolling through social media and the political stage.

I could feel the tug and pull of drama, inviting me to distraction and I said to myself…

“WAIT! NO!  There’s gotta be another way. I’m going to make the best I can of this day because…THIS…My Life…is the ONLY stage I can control.”

So I turned off the TV and silenced my email and social media stream.  I looked at my list and made note of my priorities. I grabbed my paperwork and headed to the Foundation Community Center and the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM) enrollment center.  I decided that with all the changes happening in the Affordable Care Act, I would TRY and see if I could qualify for health insurance.

Now mind you, here’s a little back story that might give you insight on the significance of this cause.  Over the last 16+ years that I worked as a registered nurse in a major acute care hospital system, I never had health care coverage. Through these years, I’ve been un-insured and paying for all my medical and dental visits in cash.  I’ve been truly blessed that I’ve not had to incur any major costs related to health care.

I operated this way because I chose to work PRN (as needed), which allotted me the highest wage per hour but came with the sacrifice of health and other benefits.  I chose to do this because I valued my “freedom” and didn’t want to be subject to someone else’s rules about my schedule.  Despite the lack of health insurance, I took great care of myself, my daughter and my partner.  We try to maintain healthy behaviors, eat as balanced as possible and take care of ailments as well as prevent conditions from becoming chronic.

I tried many times to qualify for affordable health care but I found paying over $500.00/month for “health insurance” – ridiculous and unjustifiable. Especially because this “health insurance” wouldn’t cover the kind of services I WOULD use on a normal basis such as acupuncture, massage or chiropractic adjustments.  In addition, trying to pay that much as a nurse and single-mother with a mortgage, car payment and business are just too much. So I operated in this fashion for many years, without any coverage or control.

Today changed ALL of that.  

See…I couldn’t afford health insurance at the job I had so I had to QUIT my job and work for myself so that I could afford health insurance through this mandatory government program.  And then, when HAAM stepped in, they covered my monthly premiums from my health plan, essentially giving me the most AMAZEBALLS insurance ever.  THIS is the benefit of living in a city which tries to take care of their musicians.  THANKS AUSTIN!

What? Is this for real you ask?

YES! And like I said, I’m going to make today the BEST day I can for myself because this is the only stage I CAN control.

I invite you to TRY and THINK this way when times get tough and you can’t seem to see the path ahead of you.  Simply put, you’ve got today to make a difference. That’s why during times of uncertainty and change, we have to push all the distractions around us aside so we can take just ONE STEP in a direction that empowers us.  And this step is different for everyone for we all have our own journeys and experiences to live.

This one step starts with one day and could be every day if that is a pattern that you would like to integrate into your life.  That is how habits become formed and how things get done.  When you accomplish even the smallest thing, you feel pretty good inside and if you truly love yourself…you’ll want to continue that feeling.

And honestly, continuing that feeling of goodness within is going to be important during these next four years of a new president.  Because we are in the forefront of change, we must cultivate our own inner barometer for peace and centered-ness within.  We cannot allow the external world to dictate how we create our inner realities.

So I hope you take advantage of the transition that is occurring in the world. Learn to control the only stage that matters – your stage and don’t forget to big yourself up and celebrate when those small single steps turn into BIG rewards in the end!

Bless up,
Anne

P.S.
If you find that you need assistance with all this energy and confusion moving through your life, let me know. I am here to assist you and your Soul Council when you are ready!