I recently came across a model of behavioral change that is commonly utilized in psychotherapy and felt inspired by its bones - though I also felt an invitation to add a more soulful essence to it. The basic idea is that individuals tend to change in a sequence of stages as follows:

Pre-contemplation - I will call this Unconscious

Contemplation - Conscious of the conflict between identity and soul

Preparation- Exploration of conflicting impulses between identity and soul

Action - Expressing new way of being as soul through experience

Maintenance - external landscape shifts in relation to this beingness creating positive feedback loops

In the "contemplation" place, the conflicting impulses seem to create this crossroad in our lives where something likely will be sacrificed without clarity around what will replace it. This often brings up anxiety and fear - because of the uncertainty and vulnerability and as Open is illuminating this is a perfect place to be.

For example, as we are exploring in this thread...if we are here sharing about the challenge/resistance we feel around shifting to a vegan diet, then we are likely feeling this uncertainty - How will others feel and respond to this? How does this impact my beliefs about myself and other life forms? How does this impact subconscious agreements I have made with myself and others? (For example, if I don't challenge how "I/we do things," I will be loved and accepted, or I will be secure and feel I belong).

If we are willing to look at, feel these resistances, and inquire - then we may feel what way of being is invited - this may be a strong sense of personal sovereignty that isn't overloaded with emotional energy but just can claim its own path and ones right to be that. It may be empathizing with others' experience - like that of the creatures being ingested. Connecting to the energy of what is invited and expressing that is the action, and it will shift the landscape (which of course, many of us are scared of - but this change in landscape is not all about loss - it is about gaining authenticity AND then naturally drawing an environment around you that is a reflection of this authenticity). Of course this also mirrors the Breakthrough process - just another way to express that.

If you find yourself in the contemplation space - then that is wonderful because something unconscious has been made conscious - now, how can you meet this moment fully?

Lots of love to everyone here - this is a big one and brings up so much! Shared in support and with compassion, Jen