Present Path Tarot
Navigate to your best life
Change is a Series of Shifts
Most of my clients come in for readings to figure out change.
Sometimes to make it happen.
Often to manage it.
Always to process it’s influence.
Tarot is a wonderful art to approach change from a place of curiosity and fresh perspectives. I believe the cards encourage leaning into shifts, especially when you have no choice in their arrival.
The best kind of change is the one where you get to control it’s activation. Even when we know that, it’s still hard to stick with upgrades. We can initiate and fail countless times before holding firm to a growth we know we need.
While listening to an audio book this week, I heard a description of the ‘Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change‘. It made me realize that, like a machine, we need to shift gears in stages to get up to speed.
I am going to explain it through a personal journey with exercise I had that I think many can relate to.
As you read this, remember that all bodies are beautiful. I definitely learned through this experience that judging myself was backtracking the goal.
Precontemplation (Not Ready / Denial) – Don’t see the need for change
“I move around a lot, I am fine. Besides, I loathe gym culture. I do yoga and dance once a week anyhow. I am fine.
Strategy: Assess risks of current behavior
Contemplation (Getting Ready) – Acknowledge the problem with ambivalence
“I ran out of breath going up that little hill. Maybe I need to get in shape. But I don’t have time. I am too busy.”
About here my friend Michael said something that stuck in my head:
“Imagine that there was a pill that would make you smarter, more relaxed, balance your emotions, stay healthier, and help you live longer. You would take that pill, right? Well it exists and it’s called a 20 minute workout.”
During 2020, I found myself getting depressed during shelter-in-place and his words kept ringing in my ears.
Strategy: Identify barriers
Preparation (Ready) – Taking the first baby steps
“Okay, Michael is right and I am going to do these Fitness Blender YouTube’s he suggested.”
I found that my depression would improve for about 48 hours after a workout, and so I got better about doing them. I no longer had the excuse of not enough time because during the COVID crisis I had lots of time.
Strategy: Prepare a plan on action and motivators
Action (Doing it) – Keep up a practice for 6 months
“I didn’t want to workout this morning and so I said I only had to do 10 minutes and then I did 40! I am so proud of myself!”
Strategy: Reward yourself and build community around practice
Maintenance (Fully integrated) – Normalize the new behavior and be aware of potential for relapse
“I love working out! I don’t even mind the gym anymore because I love the high I get from this.”
Strategy: More rewards and look out for pitfalls
Relapse (Stop the habit) – Fall out of practice and need to decide to continue (Note: This is NOT a moral failure, it’s just a cha cha dance of a reset. ‘Two steps forward, one step back.’)
“Yayyyy! We get to be social again! Oh man, life sure is busy. I’ll get to the exercise when I can . . . “
Keep in mind that the relapse doesn’t always drop back to the beginning. You might relapse and then jump back to maintenance, or need to go back to Contemplation.
Strategy: Notice how you can access the habit and contemplate what took you off course.
For psychologists, this concept means that they have to approach the change from an awareness of where the client is in the process.
You might need to first access a mental buy in before trying to take action.
For me, I bounced between relapse and action and maintenance for a couple years.
Then I came across a wonderful strength trainer, Shannon at Fireborne Fitness, who taught me how to build muscles.
It was much easier to keep up the maintenance stage this time because I had done it before. I also was able to build more consistency by joining my friend Matt in shared training sessions with Shannon. I love accountabili-buddies.
I found that I enjoy lifting weights more than cardio. My workouts now include a variety of exercise types, including good old yoga and dance. I get to do the kind I am in the mood for, which makes motivation more fun.
This week, take a few minutes to lovingly consider your journey in this cycle with a behavioral change you have wanted to make.
Have you already contemplated the best reasons for this change?
What is one thing you can do to better prepare mentally?
Is there a barrier to overcome to get more consistent with the habit?
Where do you see a risk of relapse, and can you prepare a plan for that?
How will you feel when you get through a month, 6 months, or a year of building this habit?
One Rule: No beating yourself up. Be neutral and curious.
For additional support from the cards in a shift you want to make, sign up for a personal tarot reading.
Begin to make your goal to learn the cards real with a tarot reading lesson.
Bring a buddy for support in for a Tarot Together session.
Give all your best friends the gift of shift when you hire a tarot or palm reader from Portlandia Fortune Tellers.
Remember that the best change comes from loving yourself into your best life. Have a great weekend.
Be the Change,
Jenna Lynne Roberts